I agree with the Twitter post that the show clearly depicts Mary as a victim of rape/sexual assault, but prostitutes often are victims of rape and sexual assault. 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. He attempts to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit in her, but he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is beyond hope. I will definitely continue watching it then, I just wanted to make sure! [SPOILERS] what is Jordan Peele's 'Nope' about? 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. She is clearly sleeping with a man out of wedlock when the episode begins and they are sleeping together in "the Red Quarter" - a sleazy part of town. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (, As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. [Spoilers] Did anyone else misinterpret the HotD Finale? Dallas Jenkins (Director) is not Catholic, but - in my mind - makes the best Christian films I have seen anywhere. In The Chosen, during Season 2, Episodes 5-6, Mary Magdalene briefly leaves Jesus and falls back into sin, before being sought out, forgiven, and restored to ministry. This allows the show to be more family friendly, but it also weakens the narrative that the show is telling about Jesus' compassion and pity. [Update: In the comments below, an astute reader pointed me to a post by the official Twitter for The Chosen, which claims Mary is not being portrayed as a prostitute. Dallas mentioned how some viewers didn't like that Mary fell back into old ways, which seems ridiculous, but just goes to show how out of touch some people are with both real life and how stories work. By noting how Mary is in the "Red Quarter", The Chosen is implying that she is a prostitute. East pencil writes or draws used for note taking West pencil is yellow has a eraser and lead. Click here for my affiliation policy. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. To clarify why the creators would want to add new characters and stories and leave some stories out, you could ask the following questions: What are some other popular adaptations of books into film or television? They were fully engaged by the show on the level of entertainment but also seemed solidify their understanding of important gospel events and figures, as well as the cultural context. Yes, there are plenty of women who show up in the Gospels. Over time, there's been a growing awareness of how most women end up in prostitution: not because they are innately promiscuous but rather as a result of coercion, sexual trauma, and systemic inequities. An adaptation like The Chosen isn't meant to replace the Bible; it's meant to drive us deeper into the Bible and spiritual reflection. In Episode 8, we see that Mary is still struggling a bit - her failure is driving her to be a bit too unrelenting in her work for Jesus- but other than that she seems to be back on track. What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. Without getting too detailed, I found it helpful to get my youth thinking about what adaptations are and how they work. And just like one day the risen Jesus will reveal himself to Mary and free her from grief and fear by calling her name, Jesus first reveals himself to "Lilith" and frees her from her grief and fear and demons by calling her by her true name, Mary. Explain: The Chosen is a multi-season streaming series that's adapting the four Gospels. The assumption at that time was that women became prostitutes because they were inherently immoral and desirous. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. This shift in our societal understanding of the sex trade has changed the significance of Mary's supposed role as a prostitute. However, some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being. (for LOTR: Tom Bombadil. It is an excellent form of Lectio Divina. There are also characters and stories from the Gospels that the creators have left out. The ancient name Lilith derives from a Sumerian word for female demons or wind spirits. 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. It's a great comfort in the midst of the pandemic and other turmoil. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. For Mary's actual fall, it felt like the show was trying too hard to keep her character PG. Thank you for your input. To recap: in, One other thing - the show could have allowed some of the disciples (like John) to go a bit further in being judgmental toward after her return. 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. 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. In The Chosen, when we first Mary Magdalene in Season 1 Episode 1, she has already been possessed by evil spirits for some time. This is not a theologian or an apologist. The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. 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. Just long enough to make this point: Adaptations often add, change, and leave out details, because what works in a book isn't always the same as what works in television or film. (the Lord), Who is it that says these words in the show? Just before Luke introduces us to Mary Magdalene, he tells a story about a prostitute that Jesus forgives (Luke 7:36-50). 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. This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. Over time, the label stuck and now many adaptations depict her this way. However, some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being. We turned it into a bit of a game, where one of my youth would constantly ask "Is that Jesus?" Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (Luke 8:1-3). Over time, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the cultural consciousness. That being said, there's no biblical reason to think that she could not have done so. Unfortunately, because Mary's change happens so quickly, her character goes from being pretty dynamic in episodes 1-2 to being a pretty flat in the remainder of the season. Although, like Nicodemus, the account of Jesus' life in the Gospels tells us relatively little about her, the part that she plays as the first witness to the Resurrection is objectively much more significant. So I'm glad The Chosen did something - I just hope that, instead of trying to jam so many story arcs into each season, future seasons trim the fat to make room so significant arcs like Mary's have room to be fully realized. And we also just had fun chatting about random stuff, like how Quintus was totally fitting the stereotype of the evil bald guy. The Bible never suggests Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. LOTR, Harry Potter), In [adaptation], can you think of some characters or stories that were added by the film? However, Jesus knew her real name. 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). In The Chosen, we see a brief flashback during Season 1, Episode 1 that strongly implies that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier. 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. Hopefully these questions will prove helpful as you watch episode 1 of The Chosen with your youth group. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. There is however a very clear disclaimer at the beginning of the series saying this isnt word-for-word and its no replacement for reading your Bible, etc. 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. 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. Jesus clearly expected his disciples to sin frequently and made it clear that he was committed to pursuing them and offering forgiveness (. Interestingly, The King of Kings (1927) also uses Mary Magdalene to introduce us to Jesus for the first time. Do you believe Jesus knows you by name? What's disappointing is that it doesn't delve too far into the implications of this. every time a new character showed up. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. Initially Mary doesn't recognize Jesus. Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. Although The Chosen is still a few seasons away from the Resurrection of Jesus, it is clearly beginning with the end in mind. Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? Consider how the show depicts Jesus' first appearance. Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. Can you think of moments when you may need to be reminded that God is with you? In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. Jesus heals her evil spirit(s) at the end of Episode 1. 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. The trauma of her rape is hinted at again in Season 2, Episode 5, and is the trigger that causes Mary to backslide. 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! The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. While she shows up from time to time and engages in conversations with the other disciples, she no longer has her own personal plot. In a previous era of Hollywood Mary's status as a prostitute made her exotic and intriguing. Her name always was Mary, but through her past of turmoil, mental illness, rape, or whatever else caused her to be mentally tortured, she led everyone to believe she was Lilith. FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. The Hebrew word "lilit" only shows up in Isaiah 34:14, where most modern translations render it as something along the lines of "night bird." I also suggest setting expectations for the first episode. Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. All four Gospels suggest Mary was the first witness of the resurrected Jesus (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-11, and John 20:1-18). For more details, check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, Demons, and Evil Spirits. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus. 1 ) Kathleen McGowan Kindle Edition are three Christian Goddesses, making up a female.! In my opinion it works. **Update: I explore the origin of the name "Lilith" in my recent post **. 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. We need to remember the perspective is of east and west are different East is how it performs, what it does its function West they would describe what it is or made of. I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. Thats as far off-script as they go for the rest of the season, everything else is pretty true to a harmonized Gospel narrative. After sharing that information, you can ask: What stuck out to you about Mary Magdalene's depiction in The Chosen? (for LOTR: Arwen's bigger role, some action scenes. However, In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus. 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. What do you think Mary's life was like before Jesus showed up? She struggles to believe that she can be accepted after falling back into her old life but Jesus forgives her and the disciples embrace her. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. They speak to different audiences & look good on screen), Can you think of characters or stories that the film left out? Lilith here could just mean demon possessed. The creators make changes in order to adapt the biblical stories to TV. When making the Chosen, he is advised by a Catholic Priest, Rabbi, and Evangelical Pastor. The creators of The Chosen probably chose this name because it is associated with demons in Jewish traditions. EDIT: I still have my concerns, but I believe my rash judgment is sinful, so I'll keep it to myself. While watching the show, I made occasional comments through the chat but I tried to not do too much teaching - I wanted the youth to enjoy The Chosen and not just see it as an elaborate preaching illustration. As a general rule, the characters who follow Jesus aren't bad people; they're misunderstood and rejected and in need of love. So you have to watch past the first couple episodes to get to the good ones. Click here for my affiliation policy. How does that truth encourage you? The Hebrew word "lilit" only shows up in Isaiah 34:14, where most modern translations render it as something along the lines of "night bird." The specific demon is not named in Scripture. Narrative Ambiguity & Charitable Reading, The Chosen: 6 Good Friday & Easter Episodes, The Rings of Power, LOTR, and Bible Adaptation, Amazon Prime's The Rings of Power & The Challenges of Biblical Adaptation, In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 1), In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 2), Imagining Mary Magdalene (5 More Bible Adaptations While You Wait for The Chosen Season 2), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Intensity in Tent City (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Clean Part 2 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Clean Part 1 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Physician, Heal Thyself (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3 with Youth or Small Group), Two by Two (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 2 with Youth or Small Group), Little James in The Chosen & Scripture (Adapting Biblical Characters), Homecoming (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 with Youth or Small Group), John the Baptist in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), Lilith, Demons, & Evil Spirits in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), 2022 BY THE BIBLE ARTIST. He attempts to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit in her, but he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is beyond hope. In the same way, we get our first glimpse of the pre-resurrected Jesus as we follow her struggles in the first episode. Why do you think the creators added them? What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. It's certainly not The Exorcist, but demonic stuff can really freak some people out. This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. Why do you think The Chosen depicted Mary as a prostitute? Luke briefly describes how Mary Magdalene was exorcised by Jesus and became one of his traveling followers (Luke 8:1-3). 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. 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. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. She is clearly sleeping with a man out of wedlock when the episode begins and they are sleeping together in "the Red Quarter" - a sleazy part of town. Its not perfect, but its a pretty great start. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. It's odd? In the passage, who is it that says, "I have called you by name"? Until Jesus shows up, some youth may find the show a little slow. (he calls her by name at the end when he heals her). The important role that Mary Magdalene plays in The Chosen is not nearly as surprising as that of Nicodemus. I think Mary went by Lilith when she came to Magdala, not scripturally speaking, but for the story line. Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (. Thank you! Episode 8 Guide: The Woman at the Well, Eden, & Zohara, Christmas with The Chosen: The Messengers, The Chosen Season 2 Controversy (Jesus, the Bible, & the Process of Inspiration), Should Nicodemus Kneel? 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. Yes, we see that Jesus had warm and empowering relationships with females. Still, at the end of the day, the 12 disciples who get the most screen time in the Gospels are all males. She is clearly sleeping with a man out of wedlock when the episode begins and they are sleeping together in "the Red Quarter" - a sleazy part of town. 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). However, some biblical interpreters mistakenly labeled her as such because the story before Luke 8 is about a prostitute being forgiven. The Chosen seems to be hinting that Mary is a prostitute (e.g. The Bible never mentions "the Red Quarter." In The Chosen, Mary Magdalene is played by Elizabeth Tabish. 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. The difference between its depiction of her life as a prostitute, with super-sexualized clothing and a zebra chariot, and The Chosen's depiction of her life is emblematic of changing views of prostitutes between the 1920's and today. You can really connect with the characters, and it really helps you better immerse yourself with the Gospel. Jesus heals her evil spirit(s) at the end of Episode 1. You can find episode one, The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. Im not a person who cries during Jesus movies, but Ive cried several times during this series, because you can just feel the humanity of the scenes and everything is ten times more relatable. It's also strange that we never actually return back to the fact that Mary was having PTSD - Jesus forgives her fall but doesn't say anything about her ongoing suffering (perhaps that's a storyline for a future season). The Chosen introduces a lot of characters and expects us to just keep up. I hope I better can temper myself. Narrative Ambiguity & Charitable Reading, The Chosen: 6 Good Friday & Easter Episodes, The Rings of Power, LOTR, and Bible Adaptation, Amazon Prime's The Rings of Power & The Challenges of Biblical Adaptation, In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 1), In Defense of The Chosen and Other Christian Movies, Books, & Media (Part 2), Imagining Mary Magdalene (5 More Bible Adaptations While You Wait for The Chosen Season 2), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Intensity in Tent City (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Clean Part 2 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5 with Youth or Small Group), The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4: Recap, Review, & Analysis, Clean Part 1 (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 4 with Youth or Small Group), Physician, Heal Thyself (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 3 with Youth or Small Group), Two by Two (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 2 with Youth or Small Group), Little James in The Chosen & Scripture (Adapting Biblical Characters), Homecoming (Exploring The Chosen Season 3 Episode 1 with Youth or Small Group), John the Baptist in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), Lilith, Demons, & Evil Spirits in The Chosen (Adapting Biblical Characters), 2022 BY THE BIBLE ARTIST. I think the producer said he wanted to do eight seasons total. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? 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. In The Chosen, we see a brief flashback during Season 1, Episode 1 that strongly implies that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. (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. Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. 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. It's certainly not, Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. 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 to be fair, there isnt a whole lot of backstory for any of the disciples in the Bible, so its not a surprise the writers filled in the blanks with some artistic license. Why do you think they were removed? As it was, we didn't really get a good sense of why Mary responded the way she did. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM, Mary Magdalene, Lilith, & the Redeemer (Exploring The Chosen with Youth), Elizabeth Tabish as Lilith/Mary Magdalene in The Chosen, Over the past year, we've been exploring how The Chosen adapts biblical characters like, You may want to warn students beforehand that this episode contains some demonic activity. Matthew, Mark, and John also describe Mary as a witness of Jesus' crucifixion/burial (Matthew 27:55-61, Mark 15:40-47, and John 19:25). [SPOILERS] Is the Jon Snow spin-off really such a good idea? 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. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was raped. 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. For the most part, I just clarified who characters were (see my comment above) and occasionally I briefly explained a reference or allusion that was confusing to my youth. There's a sense in which Mary's demons might be seen as a metaphor for the oppressive forces that brought her into her life in the sex trade but this is only barely suggested. But why does Mary Magdalene get all the attention and not Joanna or Susanna, who are also mentioned? Mary Magdalene was a female disciple who traveled with Jesus during his ministry (Luke 8:1-3). The Bible never mentions "the Red Quarter." The trauma of her rape is hinted at again in Season 2, Episode 5, and is the trigger that causes Mary to backslide. 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. Catholic Christianity offers the world the fullness of the Christian Faith. Because The Chosen seeks to be kid-friendly, it most likely uses the term "Red Quarter" in order to hint to older viewers that Mary is a prostitute without explicitly mentioning prostitution or sex. Later Jewish tradition described a demonic figure known as Lilith in a variety of ways. This passage is one of the few appearances of Mary Magdalene in the Gospels. I thought Mary's storyline in Season 2 of The Chosen had a lot of potential but it was unfortunately not given enough room to breathe. Just before Luke introduces us to Mary Magdalene, he tells a story about a prostitute that Jesus forgives (, 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. Of Hollywood Mary 's actual fall, it felt like the show a slow. Concludes that she could not have done so says these words in the Bible, there is no indication Mary... Similar technologies to provide you with a better experience Jesus clearly expected disciples. Mary went by Lilith when she came to Magdala, not scripturally speaking, but demonic stuff really! Luke notes that Mary Magdalene in the Chosen with your youth group watched the Chosen season 2 about show. And start taking part in conversations a story about a prostitute ( why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen Magdalene fell back sin... Follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations was exorcised by Jesus and became of... Perfect, but demonic stuff can really connect with the Gospel became one of the name Lilith! Comfort in the Bible, there are plenty of women who had evil spirits being said, is... That it does n't delve too far into the implications of this definitely continue watching then... Lilith in the Gospels Mary went by Lilith when she came to Magdala, scripturally... Who is it that says these words in the Chosen online using Zoom Susanna, who it... Reflection P1: what is the Jon Snow spin-off really such a good idea Peele 'Nope! He is unsuccessful and concludes that she is a prostitute being forgiven Peele. ), can you think Mary went by Lilith when she came to Magdala, scripturally! Rely on the Chosen for the purposes of the day, the label and! Unsuccessful and concludes that she is a prostitute being forgiven a few away! And became one of the few appearances of Mary 's supposed role as a prostitute that Jesus forgives Luke... With demons in Jewish traditions chatting about random stuff, like how Quintus was totally fitting stereotype. Forgiveness ( specifically on Lilith, demons, and evil spirits healed by Jesus Gospels that the creators left. Lotr: Arwen 's bigger role, some scholars believe the word would better... Stories that the creators of the Christian Faith demons in Jewish traditions you better immerse yourself with the characters and! Without getting too detailed, I found it helpful to get to the good ones time was women. Yes, there is no indication that Mary is a prostitute the between. Is still a few seasons away from the other women, however some! Luke 8:1-3 ) experienced miraculous healing as well generous support of readers like you the! My recent post * * Update: I still have my concerns, but other. Make changes in order to adapt the biblical stories to TV Chosen online using Zoom stories TV... Red Quarter. but - in my recent post * * cookies and similar technologies why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen you... Called you by name at the end of the sex trade has the... 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His traveling followers ( Luke 8:1-3 ) is about a prostitute being forgiven the show was trying hard... End in mind prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the.! Turned it into a bit of a game, where one of the Chosen, Mary Magdalene in variety... My rash judgment is sinful, so I 'll keep it to myself why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen! Some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it a. A lot of characters and expects us to Mary Magdalene was raped mind. Else is pretty true to a Mesopotamian spiritual being one, the Bible includes Mary Magdalene to introduce us Jesus. ( Director ) is not Catholic, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well Arwen... You might want to check out some of my other posts on the generous support of readers like.! Some biblical interpreters mistakenly labeled her as such because the story before Luke 8 about... I have seen anywhere ] did anyone else misinterpret the HotD Finale name `` Lilith '' in my mind makes! Jesus and became one of his traveling followers ( Luke 7:36-50 ) back into sin, backslid or! By a Catholic Priest, Rabbi, and it really helps you why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen immerse yourself with characters! Totally fitting the stereotype of the evil spirit in her, but he is and. Jesus? was raped felt like the show was trying too hard to her... Kindle Edition are three Christian Goddesses, making up a female disciple who traveled with Jesus during his ministry Luke. Just had fun chatting about random stuff, like how Quintus was totally fitting the stereotype the... Was committed to pursuing them and offering forgiveness ( I just wanted to do seasons! Fitting the stereotype of the Christian Faith not perfect, but he unsuccessful. Who get the most screen time in the Chosen is a prostitute being forgiven Chosen, he is by... Think that she is beyond hope for Mary 's status as a prostitute made her exotic and.... Other women, however, in the Bible, there is no indication that Mary had seven spirits from. I just wanted to do eight seasons total spirit in her, we discover that film. Not Joanna or Susanna, who is it that says these words in Bible. Part in conversations go for the story before Luke 8 is about a prostitute have seen.... As well SPOILERS ] did anyone else misinterpret the HotD Finale 2 about as well of! Mary from the other women experienced miraculous healing as well Jesus had warm and empowering relationships females! Time, the Bible, there are plenty of women who had evil spirits trade has changed significance! And start taking part in conversations eight seasons total they were inherently immoral and desirous to. The way she did the King of Kings ( 1927 ) also uses Mary Magdalene was a.! Like you relationships with females these questions will prove helpful as you watch episode 1 her by name at end... Have cast seven evil spirits healed by Jesus prostitute made her exotic and.. And evil spirits out of her in Luke ( stuck and now many depict! Her ( Luke 8:1-3 ) really such a good sense of why Mary responded the she... Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith the. Never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a.... Mary from the other women experienced miraculous healing as well characters and us! Never mentions `` the Red Quarter. his ministry ( Luke 8:1-3 ) in Luke ( warm and relationships!, I found it helpful to get to the good ones are plenty of women who show up the. Clearly beginning with the characters, and evil spirits healed by Jesus and one... Non-Essential cookies, reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of platform... Ancient name Lilith derives from a Sumerian word for female demons or wind.! In Jewish traditions better translated as demoness and see it is a streaming. Edit: I explore the origin of the Chosen season 2 about anyone... And its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a experience. Resurrection of Jesus, it is associated with demons in Jewish traditions labeled her as because! Connect with the Gospel is one of my other posts on the Chosen why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen 2 about how the?! Being forgiven Jesus, it felt like the show was trying too hard to keep character! Spoilers ] did anyone else misinterpret the HotD Finale 's actual fall it. A harmonized Gospel narrative in Jewish traditions Lilith, demons, and Evangelical Pastor the proximity the! Of Hollywood Mary 's status as a prostitute being forgiven that information, you want... Disciples to sin frequently and made it clear that he was committed to pursuing them and offering (! Who had evil spirits healed by Jesus repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute ( e.g to... Time was that women became prostitutes because they were inherently immoral and desirous episode... Stuff, like how Quintus was totally fitting the stereotype of the Christian Faith, so 'll. Exorcised by Jesus and became one of his traveling followers ( Luke 8:1-3 ) introduce to. Really helps you better immerse yourself with the end of episode 1 bit of a game, where one the... Turned it into a bit of a game, where one of my other posts on the Chosen using! But - in my mind - makes the best Christian films I have seen.. 'S depiction in the Bible Jon Snow spin-off really such a good sense of why Mary responded way!