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. Later Jewish tradition described a demonic figure known as Lilith in a variety of ways. 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. Over time, the Western artistic tradition repeatedly depicted Mary as a prostitute and the mistaken association got stuck in the cultural consciousness. Click here for my affiliation policy. 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. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. 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). Your contributions mean so much. 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. The Bible never mentions "the Red Quarter." Also the guy who plays Jesus is Catholic, which is kind of cool. I hope you enjoy them! However, I'll acknowledge that what the show is suggesting about Mary's past life is certainly open to interpretation.]. It hints at where the show is going: This passage takes place after Jesus' death and resurrection at the end of the Gospels. Thank you for your input. Why do you think they were removed? [SPOILERS] what is Jordan Peele's 'Nope' about? While she shows up from time to time and engages in conversations with the other disciples, she no longer has her own personal plot. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. Personally, I would have been much more interested in a subplot about Mary's former pimp trying to coerce her back into her former life than I am with the overly long fish taxation plot. In the Bible, there is no indication that Nicodemus met Mary Magdalene or that he tried to heal her or exorcise her evil spirits. Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (Luke 8:1-3). In The Chosen, we see a brief flashback during Season 1, Episode 1 that strongly implies that Mary was raped by a Roman soldier. Over time, the label stuck and now many adaptations depict her this way. 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. 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. Thats as far off-script as they go for the rest of the season, everything else is pretty true to a harmonized Gospel narrative. However, Jesus knew her real name. I think Mary went by Lilith when she came to Magdala, not scripturally speaking, but for the story line. 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. Thank you! However, some biblical interpreters mistakenly labeled her as such because the story before Luke 8 is about a prostitute being forgiven. In The Chosen, Nicodemus meets Mary Magdalene in Season 1, Episode 1. It's a great comfort in the midst of the pandemic and other turmoil. 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. There you go! 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. 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. 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? 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. I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. 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. The Chosen introduces a lot of characters and expects us to just keep up. This is not a theologian or an apologist. 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. every time a new character showed up. 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. After sharing that information, you can ask: What stuck out to you about Mary Magdalene's depiction in The Chosen? If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. You may want to warn students beforehand that this episode contains some demonic activity. In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. I offer my work for free and rely on the generous support of readers like you. 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. 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. For Mary's actual fall, it felt like the show was trying too hard to keep her character PG. Jesus heals her evil spirit(s) at the end of Episode 1. As a general rule, the characters who follow Jesus aren't bad people; they're misunderstood and rejected and in need of love. What distinguishes Mary from the other women, however, is her association with prostitution. Catholic Christianity offers the world the fullness of the Christian Faith. Catholic priest burned to death, another shot in north Press J to jump to the feed. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene fell back into sin, backslid, or left Jesus. But why does Mary Magdalene get all the attention and not Joanna or Susanna, who are also mentioned? 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). ***Update: Learn more about the origin of "Lilith" in my recent post ***. By. This passage is one of the few appearances of Mary Magdalene in the Gospels. **Update: I explore the origin of the name "Lilith" in my recent post **. Mary Magdalene is never called Lili or Lilith in the Bible. Jesus clearly expected his disciples to sin frequently and made it clear that he was committed to pursuing them and offering forgiveness (. (he is God). 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. Why do you think The Chosen depicted Mary as a prostitute? 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. [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. Below I'll share an outline describing how to do a Viewing Party for The Chosen Episode 1 (I Have Called You by Name). Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. After Mary's encounter with Jesus, we never really get to see her deal with her former life. [SPOILERS] Is the Jon Snow spin-off really such a good idea? For more details, check out my post focused specifically on Lilith, Demons, and Evil Spirits. This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. These parallels are more than a neat bit of foreshadowing. Mary Magdalene was a female disciple who traveled with Jesus during his ministry (Luke 8:1-3). 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. 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. I love this series. 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. 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. 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. (he calls her by name at the end when he heals her). Luke notes that Mary had seven spirits exorcised from her, but the other women experienced miraculous healing as well. Episode 1 depicts how she got these demons cast out of her by Jesus. One challenge that film adaptations of Jesus' life need to overcome is the lack of significant female characters. In the Bible, there is no indication that Mary Magdalene was raped. Season 2 Reflection P1: What is The Chosen Season 2 about? 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. EDIT: I still have my concerns, but I believe my rash judgment is sinful, so I'll keep it to myself. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. How does that truth encourage you? Jesus is said to have cast seven evil spirits out of her (Luke 8:1-3). Nicodemus was brought in to perform an exorcism on her but failed, making him question the fullness of the Law. The important role that Mary Magdalene plays in The Chosen is not nearly as surprising as that of Nicodemus. (the Lord), Who is it that says these words in the show? 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. 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. You can find episode one, The Bible includes Mary Magdalene in a list of women who had evil spirits healed by Jesus. 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. 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. 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. 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. (Jesus), What about Jesus' identity does this hint at? Dallas Jenkins (Director) is not Catholic, but - in my mind - makes the best Christian films I have seen anywhere. 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. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. The Chosen invents this story to illustrate biblical teachings about Jesus' grace and forgiveness. Having offered some criticism, I will say that the scene of Jesus forgiving Mary was moving. The second passage is the Scripture that Mary has written down: This passage that Mary's father taught her is from the Book of Isaiah. In The Chosen, Nicodemus meets Mary Magdalene in Season 1, Episode 1. In The Chosen, when we first Mary Magdalene in Season 1 Episode 1, she has already been possessed by evil spirits for some time. Her association with prostitution was a result of the proximity between the first mention of her in Luke (. Its not perfect, but its a pretty great start. 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. 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. Yes, we see that Jesus had warm and empowering relationships with females. 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 Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. What's disappointing is that it doesn't delve too far into the implications of this. /r/Catholicism is a place to present new developments in the world of Catholicism, discuss theological teachings of the Catholic Church, provide an avenue for reasonable dialogue amongst people of all beliefs, and grow in our own spirituality. 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." In The Chosen, when we first meet Mary Magdalene, most of the characters refer to her as Lili. I think the producer said he wanted to do eight seasons total. In The Chosen, when we first Mary Magdalene in Season 1 Episode 1, she has already been possessed by an evil spirit, Lilith, for some time. He attempts to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit in her, but he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is beyond hope. 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