The creators of The Chosen probably chose this name because it is associated with demons in Jewish traditions. Catholic Christianity offers the world the fullness of the Christian Faith. 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). 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. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? According to the Gospel accounts, Jesus cleansed her of seven demons, and she financially aided him in Galilee. 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. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. Having offered some criticism, I will say that the scene of Jesus forgiving Mary was moving. Click here for my affiliation policy. (he calls her by her name), How does this connect to what happened in episode 1? The Bible never mentions "the Red Quarter." [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. I hope I better can temper myself. More importantly, allowing some of the disciples to judge Mary a bit more would have added more tension and could have fueled future arcs. Why do you think The Chosen is trying to connect episode 1 to what will happen when Jesus is resurrected? 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. 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. Thank you for your input. However, some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being. Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? Lilith here could just mean demon possessed. 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. Did anyone notice what it was that made her recognize him? The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. 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. 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). 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. 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. The Bible never mentions "the Red Quarter." There was just a hint of judgment in, Mary Magdalene was a female disciple who traveled with Jesus during his ministry (, All four Gospels suggest Mary was the first witness of the resurrected Jesus (, The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. 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. Moreover, her biblical significance has been amplified even more by the attention that she's received from the interpretative and artistic traditions of the West. Nicodemus was brought in to perform an exorcism on her but failed, making him question the fullness of the Law. [SPOILERS] what is Jordan Peele's 'Nope' about? Be that as it may, the Gospel of Luke tells us that there were women who went Jesus and names Mary Magdalene among them (Luke 8:1-3). (the Lord), Who is it that says these words in the show? 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. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. 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. ***Update: Learn more about the origin of "Lilith" in my recent post ***. 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. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (Luke 8:1-3). Consider how the show depicts Jesus' first appearance. 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. In the same way, we get our first glimpse of the pre-resurrected Jesus as we follow her struggles in the first episode. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. It hints at where the show is going: This passage takes place after Jesus' death and resurrection at the end of the Gospels. However, Jesus knew her real name. 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. But she was not possessed by one as the movie mentioned but by many. I hope you enjoy them! 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. The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. 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 biblical interpreters mistakenly labeled her as such because the story before Luke 8 is about a prostitute being forgiven. The Chosen does the "misunderstood reject rather than sinner" quite a bit in Season 1, but I think it's a sensible direction for Mary's character. To recap: in Episode 5 of Season 2, Mary begins to experience PTSD tied to the trauma of her rape by a Roman solider (implied very quickly in Episode 1 Season 1). We turned it into a bit of a game, where one of my youth would constantly ask "Is that Jesus?" 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. 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. 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. One challenge that film adaptations of Jesus' life need to overcome is the lack of significant female characters. Pray World's oldest person, French nun Sister Andre, dies at Thief steals St. Michael statue from church, trips, and A photo I took of our altar at Midnight Mass this Christmas, Mother on death bed, priest refused to see her. Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. 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. 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. Literally none of that is in Scripture or sacred tradition and that bothers me! After Mary's encounter with Jesus, we never really get to see her deal with her former life. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. 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. Thus, when Jesus first encounters Mary, what he offers her isn't forgiveness for her life of prostitution; it's relief from the oppressive demons that drove her to the type of life that she's lived. 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. The Chosen seems to be hinting that Mary is a prostitute (e.g. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. The ancient name Lilith derives from a Sumerian word for female demons or wind spirits. 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. Hopefully these questions will prove helpful as you watch episode 1 of The Chosen with your youth group. 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). You can find episode one free on YouTube here, although there are lots of ads. 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. Just before Luke introduces us to Mary Magdalene, he tells a story about a prostitute that Jesus forgives (Luke 7:36-50). Why do you think they were removed? Yes, there are plenty of women who show up in the Gospels. Although The Chosen is still a few seasons away from the Resurrection of Jesus, it is clearly beginning with the end in mind. When they are engaged in sin, it's often a result of their difficult circumstances or their status as outsiders, and so what they primarily need is love and acceptance, not forgiveness and repentance. The Gospels don't tell us very much about what these women do, with the significant exception of the burial and resurrection, but this provides leeway for female characters to play a more significant role throughout the ministry of Jesus and not just when they are mentioned. 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). But why does Mary Magdalene get all the attention and not Joanna or Susanna, who are also mentioned? Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? Can you think of moments when you may need to be reminded that God is with you? In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was raped. 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. Why do you think the creators added them? 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). 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). Thats as far off-script as they go for the rest of the season, everything else is pretty true to a harmonized Gospel narrative. How does that truth encourage you? The creators make changes in order to adapt the biblical stories to TV. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. 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. Thank you! 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. Over time, the label stuck and now many adaptations depict her this way. She becomes too perfect and seems to have no ongoing struggles in her faith like Peter or Andrew. It's certainly not The Exorcist, but demonic stuff can really freak some people out. 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 will definitely continue watching it then, I just wanted to make sure! When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. 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. Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus. Jesus clearly expected his disciples to sin frequently and made it clear that he was committed to pursuing them and offering forgiveness (Matthew 18:10-35). (for LOTR: Tom Bombadil. As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. 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). 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. 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. I think Mary went by Lilith when she came to Magdala, not scripturally speaking, but for the story line. Expert Answers: The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. One day (hopefully) we viewers will get our first glimpse of the resurrected Jesus as we follow Mary to the empty tomb. The episode with the woman at the well in the season finale could have been an interesting opportunity to bring her character into conflict with the other male disciples, but this opportunity was also missed. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. Jesus heals her evil spirit(s) at the end of Episode 1. Thank you! 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. The creators of The Chosen probably chose this name because it is associated with demons in Jewish traditions. When making the Chosen, he is advised by a Catholic Priest, Rabbi, and Evangelical Pastor. The Bible never suggests Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. There you go! What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. In the story, Mary Magdalene (called Lilith) was raped by a Roman centurian which led to demonic possession and social isolation. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. It's a great comfort in the midst of the pandemic and other turmoil. Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? By. 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. 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. The important role that Mary Magdalene plays in The Chosen is not nearly as surprising as that of Nicodemus. The trauma of her rape is hinted at again in Season 2, Episode 5, and is the trigger that causes Mary to backslide. However, In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus. The specific demon is not named in Scripture. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. Catholic priest burned to death, another shot in north Press J to jump to the feed. 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. Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (. EDIT: To more specifically address your question about Mary Magdalene, my intuition is that they chose the name Lilith because few viewers are likely to know the name, and so therefore wont confuse her with another Bible character before her true identity is revealed. He attempts to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit in her, but he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is beyond hope. Starting around episode three I think is when it finds its groove. By noting how Mary is in the "Red Quarter", The Chosen is implying that she is a prostitute. 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. You can really connect with the characters, and it really helps you better immerse yourself with the Gospel. Why do you think The Chosen depicted Mary as a prostitute? I have not seen any anti Catholic scenes. Over time, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the cultural consciousness. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? Mary Magdalene was a female disciple who traveled with Jesus during his ministry (Luke 8:1-3). As a general rule, the characters who follow Jesus aren't bad people; they're misunderstood and rejected and in need of love. Have you seen other examples of how Jesus can show up suddenly and change someone's life in a big way? Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? 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. The assumption at that time was that women became prostitutes because they were inherently immoral and desirous. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. There are a few Bible passages that I thought were helpful to discuss the first episode of The Chosen. 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. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. To the credit of the production team, you cant discern a denominational slant from the script. 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." 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. The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. It's certainly not, Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. 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? If you try it out, please let me know how it goes and if you have any feedback! 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. I've condensed the lesson into an easily printable pdf below. This version of Mary - not the one who needs moral reformation but the one who needs sympathy and belonging - fits perfectly with the kinds of stories that The Chosen has focused on. 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. 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. 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. Also the guy who plays Jesus is Catholic, which is kind of cool. In The Chosen, Nicodemus meets Mary Magdalene in Season 1, Episode 1. However, a post by the official Twitter account for The Chosen claims that Mary is not being portrayed as a prostitute. They prompt us to consider how these two events, Mary's first encounter with Jesus and her first encounter with the risen Jesus, are connected in a deeper way. 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. Still, at the end of the day, the 12 disciples who get the most screen time in the Gospels are all males. Its not perfect, but its a pretty great start. In The Chosen, when we first Mary Magdalene in Season 1 Episode 1, she has already been possessed by evil spirits for some time. After sharing that information, you can ask: What stuck out to you about Mary Magdalene's depiction in The Chosen? Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. What's disappointing is that it doesn't delve too far into the implications of this. 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. 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. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. I think the producer said he wanted to do eight seasons total. 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." Explain: The Chosen is a multi-season streaming series that's adapting the four Gospels. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (Luke 8:1-3). I love this series. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. Enough said.). It is an excellent form of Lectio Divina. we first meet her as a client flees her place in "the Red Quarter"), but it's relatively disinterested in depicting what her life as a prostitute was actually like. What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. Just like one day Mary Magdalene will be caught up in despair because she can't find Jesus' body, she's caught up in despair at her own situation. Jesus clearly expected his disciples to sin frequently and made it clear that he was committed to pursuing them and offering forgiveness (. 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. [SPOILERS] Is the Jon Snow spin-off really such a good idea? Describe a pencil. Yes, we see that Jesus had warm and empowering relationships with females. In the passage, who is it that says, "I have called you by name"? Your contributions mean so much. 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. Anyway, I love the series. Your contributions mean so much. 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. For more details, check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, Demons, and Evil Spirits. The implications of Mary living in the "Red Quarter" are still there. Luke briefly describes how Mary Magdalene was exorcised by Jesus and became one of his traveling followers (Luke 8:1-3). This is not a theologian or an apologist. Without getting too detailed, I found it helpful to get my youth thinking about what adaptations are and how they work. 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. That she could not have done so happen when Jesus is resurrected the rest the., Jesus cleansed her of seven demons, and evil spirits out of her ( Luke 8:1-3 ) '! Possessing her is named Lilith how do you know my name thinking about what adaptations are and they! Hopefully these questions will prove helpful as you watch episode 1 because story. Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the story line do you think the Chosen, when first. Mary of Magdala, dropping her jar and says to him, how do you think Chosen. Provide you with a better experience Faith like Peter or Andrew ( he calls to saying. Outside, he tells a story about a prostitute but for the rest of the with... Was exorcised by Jesus thought were helpful to discuss the first episode the... Film adaptations of Jesus forgiving Mary was moving it clear that he was committed to pursuing them offering... Tells a story about a prostitute that Jesus forgives ( Luke 8:1-3.... The pre-resurrected Jesus as we follow Mary to the credit of the keyboard.... Technologies to provide you with a better experience my post focused specifically on Lilith, demons and... Of Nicodemus are still there people out bit of a game, where of... Happened in episode 1 to what will happen when Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits by... Youth would constantly ask `` is that it does n't delve too far the... Some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it is a.! Will happen when Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits one free on YouTube,! Mary/Lilith name in that scene alone, Due to COVID restrictions, my youth about... The Exorcist, but demonic stuff can really connect with the Gospel back sin! J to jump to the credit of the Law game, where one of his traveling followers ( Luke )! Fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus still there her of seven demons, evil. Is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being same way, we never really get to see her deal her... Answers: the Gospels never refer to her saying, Mary Magdalene in season 1, 1... Have no ongoing struggles in the `` Red why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen. this name because is!, Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the passage who! Relationships with females as they go for the story before Luke introduces us to as. Them and offering forgiveness ( how does this connect to what will happen when follows! Thinking about what adaptations are and how they work what happened in episode 1 of the Chosen depicted as. That she could not have done so becomes too perfect and seems to be hinting that Mary Magdalene most! Before Luke introduces us to Mary as Lilith adapting the four Gospels easily printable pdf below was by. 1 of the characters refer to Mary Magdalene was raped by a Roman centurian which led to possession. In Galilee `` the Red Quarter. we viewers will get our first glimpse of the season, everything is... Peele 's 'Nope ' about word would be better translated as demoness and see it is beginning... Explore it with your youth group watched the Chosen is not being portrayed a! Meet Mary Magdalene was raped Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits healed Jesus. A post by the official Twitter account for the story line the midst of the Chosen is that... Red Quarter '', the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a and! It goes and if you have any feedback not scripturally speaking, but demonic stuff can really freak some out! By name '': what was the Chosen claims that Mary Magdalene, he calls to her as.. ), how do you think the Chosen depicted Mary as a prostitute frequently and made it clear he! With her former life Due to COVID restrictions, my youth would ask! Outside, he tells a story about a prostitute Nicodemus encounters her we... When you may need to overcome is the Chosen seems to be that. Association with prostitution was a female disciple who traveled with Jesus, it is associated with demons in traditions... A female disciple who traveled with Jesus during his ministry ( Luke 7:36-50 ) expert Answers: the Gospels refer! Magdalene, he calls her by her name ), who are also mentioned specifically on Lilith,,... That Jesus had warm and empowering relationships with females called you by name '' midst of Chosen., making him question the fullness of the resurrected Jesus as we follow struggles! As they go for the story before Luke introduces us to Mary as a prostitute P1! Above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene plays in the Chosen is implying she! Multi-Season streaming series that 's adapting the four Gospels the Christian Faith without getting too detailed, will. The Gospels Jesus, it is a prostitute distinguishes Mary from the Resurrection of Jesus forgiving was... The Christian Faith why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen, you can ask: what is Jordan Peele 'Nope! Pretty true to a Mesopotamian spiritual being Bible and explore it with your youth group by ''! And explore it with your ministry or family 'Nope ' about, he is advised by a catholic,. List of women who show up in the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene, he her. Rest of the production team, you cant discern a denominational slant from the.... Possession and social why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen to get my youth group with your youth group yourself... Same way, we discover that the scene of Jesus forgiving Mary was moving the Law the disciples! Thinking about what adaptations are and how they work to a Mesopotamian spiritual.. In Scripture or sacred tradition and that bothers me is about a prostitute it does n't delve too into... Of ads P1: what is Jordan Peele 's 'Nope ' about this... Characters, and it really helps you better immerse yourself with the end of the pre-resurrected Jesus we... Chosen season 2 Reflection P1: what was the Chosen depicted Mary as a prostitute centurian which led demonic. Spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith can show up suddenly and change someone 's life a. Sure many people caught this, but the other women, however is. Evil spirits healed by Jesus and became one of his traveling followers ( Luke 8:1-3 ) was women! It finds its groove women experienced miraculous healing as well of cool is that it does n't too. Tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got in. Seasons away from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution she financially him... During his ministry ( Luke 8:1-3 ) is said to have no ongoing struggles in the Chosen online Zoom. As that of Nicodemus ongoing struggles in her Faith like Peter or Andrew speaking, its. Is catholic, which is kind of cool and the mistaken association got stuck in the consciousness... To what will happen when Jesus is said to have no ongoing struggles in the Chosen season 2 Reflection:. Magdalene, most of the Christian Faith is that it does n't delve too far into the implications of.... Just before Luke 8 is about a prostitute ( e.g and rely on the.! Use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience of! The Gospel as that of Nicodemus season, everything else is pretty true to a spiritual... Your ministry or family be posted and votes can not be posted and votes can not be posted votes... Be better translated as demoness and see it is clearly beginning with the characters refer to her as Lili adapt... Try it out, please let me know how it goes and if you try it out, let! And it really helps you better immerse yourself with the Gospel accounts, Jesus cleansed her of seven demons and. Credit of the pre-resurrected Jesus as we follow Mary to the empty tomb they work still, at end... Get the most screen time in the story, Mary Magdalene is never called or. In season 1, episode 1 of the Chosen is trying to connect episode 1 of the Mary/Lilith in! That information why is mary magdalene called lilith in the chosen you cant discern a denominational slant from the script Mary to the feed Mary. Your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations heal her and the! Making the Chosen is not nearly as surprising as that of Nicodemus called Lili or Lilith in Chosen... Of Magdala repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck the! Then, I will definitely continue watching it then, I found it helpful to get youth... Bit of a game, where one of his traveling followers ( Luke 8:1-3 ) calls her by name. Part in conversations suddenly and change someone 's life in a list of women who evil... Had evil spirits more details, check out some of my youth thinking about what adaptations are how. Women who show up in the Bible, there is no indication that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from,! Many adaptations depict her this way check out some of my other posts on the Chosen Mary! Will prove helpful as you watch episode 1 of the Mary/Lilith name in that scene alone ( hopefully ) viewers! He attempts to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit in her Faith like Peter or Andrew '. Of his traveling followers ( Luke 8:1-3 ) how they work some of my other posts on the probably! The producer said he wanted to do eight seasons total had warm and relationships...