Although The Chosen is still a few seasons away from the Resurrection of Jesus, it is clearly beginning with the end in mind. 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. 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. 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. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. 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. (he calls her by name at the end when he heals her). If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. In The Chosen, we see a brief flashback during Season 1, Episode 1 that strongly implies that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier. 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? 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 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. In my opinion it works. There are a few Bible passages that I thought were helpful to discuss the first episode of The Chosen. 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. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. 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. (Jesus), What about Jesus' identity does this hint at? 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. In The Chosen, Mary Magdalene is played by Elizabeth Tabish. Anyway, I love the series. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. **Update: I explore the origin of the name "Lilith" in my recent post **. 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. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was raped. 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. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? Why do you think The Chosen is trying to connect episode 1 to what will happen when Jesus is resurrected? The Chosen seems to be hinting that Mary is a prostitute (e.g. 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). Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her 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. 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. Interestingly, The King of Kings (1927) also uses Mary Magdalene to introduce us to Jesus for the first time. You can find episode one free on YouTube here, although there are lots of ads. 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. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus. 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. However, some scholars believe the word would be better translated as demoness and see it is a reference to a Mesopotamian spiritual being. 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. Everything is very true to the Gospels, and theres no dialogue written to score theological points. 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. 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. This is not a theologian or an apologist. Describe a pencil. 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). I also suggest setting expectations for the first episode. 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. 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. 1 ) Kathleen McGowan Kindle Edition are three Christian Goddesses, making up a female.! When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Without getting too detailed, I found it helpful to get my youth thinking about what adaptations are and how they work. So you have to watch past the first couple episodes to get to the good ones. But why does Mary Magdalene get all the attention and not Joanna or Susanna, who are also mentioned? How does that truth encourage you? Your contributions mean so much. After sharing that information, you can ask: What stuck out to you about Mary Magdalene's depiction in The Chosen? For Mary's actual fall, it felt like the show was trying too hard to keep her character PG. The Chosen isn't trying to mess with the Bible. She becomes too perfect and seems to have no ongoing struggles in her faith like Peter or Andrew. 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). More importantly, allowing some of the disciples to judge Mary a bit more would have added more tension and could have fueled future arcs. Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (. The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. 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. Enough said.). In the passage, who is it that says, "I have called you by name"? In a previous era of Hollywood Mary's status as a prostitute made her exotic and intriguing. Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? Episode 7 Guide: Did Nicodemus Follow Jesus? 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. The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. Why do you think The Chosen depicted Mary as a prostitute? I will definitely continue watching it then, I just wanted to make sure! Do you believe Jesus knows you by name? 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. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. It's a great comfort in the midst of the pandemic and other turmoil. 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). [SPOILERS] what is Jordan Peele's 'Nope' about? In Episode 6, Jesus sends Peter and Matthew to find Mary and bring her back. It is an excellent form of Lectio Divina. Catholic priest burned to death, another shot in north Press J to jump to the feed. 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. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (Luke 8:1-3). Click here for my affiliation policy. Explain: The Chosen is a multi-season streaming series that's adapting the four Gospels. Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. 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 Bible never mentions "the Red Quarter." The Bible never mentions "the Red Quarter." Below I'll share an outline describing how to do a Viewing Party for The Chosen Episode 1 (I Have Called You by Name). And we also just had fun chatting about random stuff, like how Quintus was totally fitting the stereotype of the evil bald guy. 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. 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. (the Lord), Who is it that says these words in the show? Consider how the show depicts Jesus' first appearance. ***Update: Learn more about the origin of "Lilith" in my recent post ***. 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. In The Chosen, we see a brief flashback during Season 1, Episode 1 that strongly implies that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier. 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). What do you think Mary's life was like before Jesus showed up? FYI: As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. 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. Initially Mary doesn't recognize Jesus. I hope you enjoy them! 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." 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 the parallels don't end there. Many Christians still memorize this passage to remind them of how God is always with us, even in the most difficult trials. Have my posts about Bible adaptation helped you learn more about the Bible and explore it with your ministry or family? We turned it into a bit of a game, where one of my youth would constantly ask "Is that Jesus?" Why do you think they were removed? Later Jewish tradition described a demonic figure known as Lilith in a variety of ways. 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. Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus. However, I'll acknowledge that what the show is suggesting about Mary's past life is certainly open to interpretation.]. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. 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). Still, at the end of the day, the 12 disciples who get the most screen time in the Gospels are all males. 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. (ex. The implications of Mary living in the "Red Quarter" are still there. 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. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. 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. Dallas Jenkins (Director) is not Catholic, but - in my mind - makes the best Christian films I have seen anywhere. 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. every time a new character showed up. These parallels are more than a neat bit of foreshadowing. There was just a hint of judgment in Episode 7, but it gets brushed aside way too quickly, given the cultural expectations. The specific demon is not named in Scripture. 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). 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. 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. What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. [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. 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. It's odd? See a Roman centurion fill Lilith/Mary s sight, a suggestion that the woman have. 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. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? 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. 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. Over time, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the cultural consciousness. As I noted above, in the Bible there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute. 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. Yes, we see that Jesus had warm and empowering relationships with females. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. (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. 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. This passage is one of the few appearances of Mary Magdalene in the Gospels. The last passage is an optional bonus for youth that like digging deeper. Expert Answers: The Gospels never refer to Mary as Lilith. 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. The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. 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. . (he is God). As it was, we didn't really get a good sense of why Mary responded the way she did. The Chosen introduces a lot of characters and expects us to just keep up. 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?
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