Im not sure many people caught this, but when Jesus follows Mary outside, he calls to her saying, Mary of Magdala! Mary then turns around, dropping her jar and says to him, How do you know my name? I think one could make sense of the Mary/Lilith name in that scene alone. For more details, check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, Demons, and Evil Spirits. Dallas Jenkins (Director) is not Catholic, but - in my mind - makes the best Christian films I have seen anywhere. The Chosen seems to be hinting that Mary is a prostitute (e.g. I love this series. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. This is Tom My 3 month old son is battling an extremely rare and [Free Friday] after an early miscarriage 3 weeks ago, I Our new campus chapel is so close to being ready! And just like one day Mary Magdalene will be the first witness to the risen Jesus (perhaps to Nicodemus as well as the disciples), the show also makes her the first witness that we see in action. Since I criticized Season 1 of The Chosen for making Mary too perfect, it's only fair that I acknowledge how Season 2 seeks to rectify that issue. LOTR, Harry Potter), In [adaptation], can you think of some characters or stories that were added by the film? Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (Luke 8:1-3). The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. Personally, I would have been much more interested in a subplot about Mary's former pimp trying to coerce her back into her former life than I am with the overly long fish taxation plot. You can also purchase the DVDs of season 1 on Amazon if you're worried about trying to stream & do Zoom at the same time. Can you think of moments when you may need to be reminded that God is with you? I can appreciate what theyre trying to do with the show: Theyre taking their time to build your relationship with the characters and to delve into some of the backstory so that everyone becomes a three-dimensional person, not just a mumbling zombie foil for Jesus. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. Why do you think the creators added them? For more details, check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, Demons, and Evil Spirits. I take comments made by The Chosen Twitter account with a grain of salt, especially since they are most likely made by digital marketers and not the actual creators of The Chosen. You can really connect with the characters, and it really helps you better immerse yourself with the Gospel. The Bible never mentions "the Red Quarter." The Chosen introduces a lot of characters and expects us to just keep up. The trauma of her rape is hinted at again in Season 2, Episode 5, and is the trigger that causes Mary to backslide. Thank you! There you go! I would have introduced her PTSD much earlier in the season, giving her more space to try to struggle with it on her own before eventually falling back into her old life. The ancient name Lilith derives from a Sumerian word for female demons or wind spirits. Click here for my affiliation policy. After Jesus heals her evil spirit, she resumes calling herself "Mary," her birth name, and refuses to answer to the name associated with her spiritual oppression. As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Still, at the end of the day, the 12 disciples who get the most screen time in the Gospels are all males. It hints at where the show is going: This passage takes place after Jesus' death and resurrection at the end of the Gospels. Because The Chosen seeks to be kid-friendly, it may use the term "Red Quarter" in order to hint to older viewers that Mary is either a prostitute or a sexually immoral woman without explicitly mentioning prostitution or sex. I have Bible studies/discussion guides for each episode of The Chosen Seasons 1-3, blogs exploring how The Chosen adapts key biblical figures, and articles exploring the controversial nature of adaptation. Hopefully though, season 2 will find more ways to develop her character in a manner that's dynamic and engaging, because there's still much that could be done. By noting how Mary is in the "Red Quarter", The Chosen is implying that she is a prostitute. Your contributions mean so much. Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. Its not perfect, but its a pretty great start. Instead of being a femme fatale that Jesus needs to resist and tame, Mary Magdalene the prostitute is seen as an object of compassion and pity that Jesus needs to provide acceptance and safety. Normally I wouldn't care but this is a movie about Jesus, and if the people behind it are trying to do good, but it is a great disservice for me to bad-mouth it until the full plot is revealed. (Jesus), What about Jesus' identity does this hint at? As it was, we didn't really get a good sense of why Mary responded the way she did. Interestingly, The King of Kings (1927) also uses Mary Magdalene to introduce us to Jesus for the first time. When making the Chosen, he is advised by a Catholic Priest, Rabbi, and Evangelical Pastor. Do you believe Jesus knows you by name? However, some biblical interpreters mistakenly labeled her as such because the story before Luke 8 is about a prostitute being forgiven. I hope you enjoy them! I will definitely continue watching it then, I just wanted to make sure! Although we'll have to wait in order to understand fully what the show wants us to conclude, this could be a subtle and effective way to show how Jesus' ability to heal and save is ultimately grounded in his willingness to die and rise again. Lilith was close to committing suicide by walking off a cliff before a dove (Holy Spirit) caught her interest and she followed it back to town, where she had an emotional moment being healed by Jesus who quoted her trusted childhood Bible verse from Isaiah and exorcised her with a hug. The creators of The Chosen probably chose this name because it is associated with demons in Jewish traditions. And the parallels don't end there. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. The creators of The Chosen have published interactive Bible Studies that are meant to explore some of the Scripture and biblical themes that inspired Season 1 and help viewers apply them to everyday life. They speak to different audiences & look good on screen), Can you think of characters or stories that the film left out? The creators of The Chosen have published a series of interactive Bible Studies that help viewers explore some of the Scripture and biblical themes that inspired the show. This association with prostitution opens a variety of directions for adaptations to take in their portrayal of her, especially given the affection Jesus shows for her (John 20). As a result, adaptations of the Gospels from previous generations place a greater emphasis on how Jesus calls Mary to repent and brings about her moral transformation. (for LOTR: Tom Bombadil. Episode 1 depicts how she got these demons cast out of her by Jesus. Many characters and stories are based on events in the Gospels, but there are also characters and events that the creators made up to tie things together. Under the influence of this tradition, many people see Mary as being emblematic of Jesus' compassion for lost and broken souls, and this makes her a perfect candidate for the kinds of stories that The Chosen wants to tell. The Chosen Season 3: What to Expect & How to Watch, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 & Episode 2: Reaction and Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episodes 1 & 2: Questions to Discuss Before the Premiere, Preparing for The Chosen Season 3: 7 Episodes to Watch, I am the Law of Moses (The Chosen Season 3 Controversy), Little James in The Chosen & Scripture ***Season 3***, Judas in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Matthew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Simon and Andrew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Lilith, Demons, & Evil Spirits in The Chosen, Simon the Zealot & Nathanael in The Chosen, Quintus, Gaius, and the Romans in The Chosen. She was a witness of Jesus' crucifixion and burial (Mark 15:40-47) and also the first person to discover the empty tomb, witness the resurrected Jesus, and share the good news with the disciples (John 20:1-18). Over the past year, we've been exploring how The Chosen adapts biblical characters like Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, Peter, Andrew, Matthew, Jesus, and the Romans. This is not a theologian or an apologist. Over time, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the cultural consciousness. (Plots & Theme), Episode 2 Guide: Philip, Nathanael, & Matthew, Episode 3 Guide: Life Among the Disciples of Jesus, Episode 4 Guide: Simon the Zealot & the Man at the Bethesda Pool, Episode 5 Guide: Mary's Demons & the Destiny of John the Baptist, Episode 8 Guide: Judas, Matthew, & the Sermon on the Mount, Episode 1 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Lilith, and the Redeemer, Episode 2 Guide: Mary Magdalene, Nicodemus, and Shabbat, Episode 3 Guide: Depicting Jesus in Art, Film, and TV, Episode 4 Guide: When Jesus Met Simon (Peter), Episode 6 Guide: Jesus, Shmuel, & the Pharisees. The Bible never suggests Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM, Mary Magdalene in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), Mary and Nicodemus in Season 1 of The Chosen, The important role that Mary Magdalene plays in The Chosen is not nearly as surprising as that of, Be that as it may, the Gospel of Luke tells us that there were women who went Jesus and names Mary Magdalene among them (, But why does Mary Magdalene get all the attention and not Joanna or Susanna, who are also mentioned? And just like one day Mary will initially fail to recognize the risen Jesus, confusing him for a gardener, she initially fails to recognize Jesus when he first comes to her, confusing him for one of the men who's been hassling her. In the modern vernacular, a "red light district" is a term that refers to an area of the city known for prostitution, strip clubs, and other immoral establishments. ***Update: Learn more about the origin of "Lilith" in my recent post ***. Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (Luke 8:1-3) and a story about a prostitute (Luke 7:36-50). In Episode 6, Jesus sends Peter and Matthew to find Mary and bring her back. Although there's nothing in the Gospels that suggests that these two figures should be linked together, Mary mistakenly became identified with the forgiven prostitute in the interpretative tradition of the Western Church. However, some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being. When he encounters her again in Season 1 Episode 2, he is surprised to discover that she has been completely healed and is free of the evil spirits. The creators make changes in order to adapt the biblical stories to TV. Yes, there are plenty of women who show up in the Gospels. Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? The Chosen Season 3: What to Expect & How to Watch, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 & Episode 2: Reaction and Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episodes 1 & 2: Questions to Discuss Before the Premiere, Preparing for The Chosen Season 3: 7 Episodes to Watch, I am the Law of Moses (The Chosen Season 3 Controversy), Little James in The Chosen & Scripture ***Season 3***, Judas in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Matthew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Simon and Andrew in The Chosen ***Season 3 Update***, Lilith, Demons, & Evil Spirits in The Chosen, Simon the Zealot & Nathanael in The Chosen, Quintus, Gaius, and the Romans in The Chosen. In The Chosen, Nicodemus meets Mary Magdalene in Season 1, Episode 1. Your contributions mean so much. It's certainly not The Exorcist, but demonic stuff can really freak some people out. Consider how the show depicts Jesus' first appearance. The second passage is the Scripture that Mary has written down: This passage that Mary's father taught her is from the Book of Isaiah. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. These parallels are more than a neat bit of foreshadowing. It's a great comfort in the midst of the pandemic and other turmoil. Catholic Christianity offers the world the fullness of the Christian Faith. Thank you for your input. I have not seen any anti Catholic scenes. This is symbolically tied to her encounter with another demon, Belial, who calls Mary Lilith, asserting the continued existence and power of her old identity. However, some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being. Luke briefly describes how Mary Magdalene was exorcised by Jesus and became one of his traveling followers (Luke 8:1-3). Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? Anyway, I love the series. The last passage is an optional bonus for youth that like digging deeper. Over time, the label stuck and now many adaptations depict her this way. He attempts to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit in her, but he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is beyond hope. That being said, there's no biblical reason to think that she could not have done so. The first passage is regarding Mary Magdalene (Lilith): In case you didn't catch it, at the end of The Chosen episode 1 we discover that the character called Lilith for most of the episode is actually named Mary Magdalene. It's odd? 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