Yes, Mary Magdalene is ONE of those three followers at all events leading to Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection . Lilith's creation is recounted in The Tales of Ben Sira, an apocryphal work from the tenth century C.E. When she met him, she held a plain egg in her hand and exclaimed, "Christ is risen!" [1][148][149] The misconception likely arose due to a conflation between Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany (who anoints Jesus' feet in John 11:112), and the unnamed "sinful woman" who anoints Jesus' feet in Luke 7:3650. [210], During the Counter-Reformation, Roman Catholicism began to strongly emphasize Mary Magdalene's role as a penitent sinner. After sharing that information, you can ask: What stuck out to you about Mary Magdalene's depiction in The Chosen? [315][308], In 2012, scholar Karen L. King published the Gospel of Jesus' Wife, a purported Coptic papyrus fragment in which Jesus says: "My wife she will be able to be my disciple." She displayed her hair to set off her face, but now her hair dries her tears. [211] A massive number of Baroque paintings and sculptures depict the penitent Magdalene,[211][214] often showing her naked or partially naked, with a strong emphasis on her erotic beauty. They speak to different audiences & look good on screen), Can you think of characters or stories that the film left out? 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. They are the first to find it empty. (which is Aramaic for "teacher"). [27][28] Consequently, her devotion to Jesus resulting from this healing must have been very strong. [155], In one of his preserved sayings, Gregory of Nyssa (c. 330 395) identifies Mary Magdalene as "the first witness to the resurrection, that she might set straight again by her faith in the resurrection, what was turned over in her transgression. After Jesus heals her evil spirit, she resumes calling herself "Mary," her birth name . [290] Indeed he said that she surpassed all the men of her time,[291] and that "crowns studded with the brilliant jewels of guidance" were upon her head. [184] Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume gradually displaced Vzelay in popularity and acceptance. [10] Instead, it received its title because it is about her. [36] By contrast, that Mary's exorcism receives little attention may indicate that either Jesus performed it privately or that the recorders did not perceive it as particularly dramatic. [67][68][69] An earthquake occurred and an angel dressed in white descended from Heaven and rolled aside the stone as the women were watching. Following this, Jesus continues his explanation with a parable about the owner of a house and a thief, ending with the common rhetoric, "Whoever has ears to hear let him hear". It's certainly not, Due to COVID restrictions, my youth group watched The Chosen online using Zoom. Before he finished speaking, the egg in her hand turned a bright red and she continued proclaiming the Gospel to the entire imperial house. [312] Numerous works were written in response to the historical inaccuracies in The Da Vinci Code,[313][314] but the novel still exerted massive influence on how members of the general public viewed Mary Magdalene. Mary lived in a village called Magdala on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. This confusing reference is already in the original manuscript. Many Christians still memorize this passage to remind them of how God is always with us, even in the most difficult trials. [6] He contends that the story of the empty tomb was invented by either the author of the Gospel of Mark or by one of his sources, based on the historically genuine fact that the women really had been present at Jesus' crucifixion and burial. [185][186] The governor and his wife sail for Rome to meet the apostle Peter in person,[185] but their ship is struck by a storm, which causes the wife to go into labor. [68][69][78] In Luke's account, Jesus never appears to the women,[68][69][79] but instead makes his first appearance to Cleopas and an unnamed "disciple" on the road to Emmaus. Explain: The Chosen is a multi-season streaming series that's adapting the four Gospels. Mary Magdalene (sometimes called Mary of Magdala, or simply the Magdalene or the Madeleine) was a woman who, according to the four canonical gospels, traveled with Jesus as one of his followers and was a witness to his crucifixion and resurrection. [13][14][15], Mary Magdalene's epithet Magdalene ( ; literally "the Magdalene") most likely means that she came from Magdala,[16][17][b] a village on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee that was primarily known in antiquity as a fishing town. Tell us the words of the Savior which you remember which you know, but we do not, nor have we heard them". The Eastern Orthodox churches also commemorate her on the Sunday of the Myrrhbearers, the Orthodox equivalent of one of the Western Three Marys traditions. It is clear, that the woman previously used the unguent to perfume her flesh in forbidden acts. "Mary appears to have been a disciple . Lilith is the name of Mary Magdalene when she first appears in episode one. "[136][134][137] This story was supposedly the basis for the Borborite Eucharist ritual in which they allegedly engaged in orgies and drank semen and menstrual blood as the "body and blood of Christ" respectively. The Benedictine Order always celebrated Mary of Bethany together with Martha and Lazarus of Bethany on July 29, while Mary Magdalene was celebrated on July 22. [233], The 2018 film Mary Magdalene, starring Rooney Mara as the eponymous character, sought to reverse the centuries-old portrayal of Mary Magdalene as a repentant prostitute, while also combating the conspiracy statements of her being Jesus' wife or sexual partner. Of Purgatory", "Selected Topics of Comparison in Christianity and the Bah Faith", The Incorrupt Left Hand of St. Mary Magdalene, "Mary Magdalene: Author of the Fourth Gospel? [70] This passage made no mention of Mary Magdalene, the other women, or the story of the empty tomb at all,[71][72] but rather credits Simon Peter with having been the first to see the risen Jesus. [169], In an eastern tradition supported by the western bishop and historian Gregory of Tours (c. 538 594), Mary Magdalene is said to have retired to Ephesus in Asia Minor with Mary the mother of Jesus, where they both lived out the rests of their lives. [6][7][8] Nonetheless, very little is known about her life. Menu. In chapter 8, when the Pevensie children are speaking to Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, they learn that a human must rule Narnia, and while she claims to be human, the White Witch is not at all human. [82][75] According to John 20:1118, Mary, now alone in the garden outside the tomb, saw two angels sitting where Jesus' body had been. Your contributions mean so much. Mary Magdalene was Jesus's wife. For these reasons, Mary Magdalene is known in some Christian traditions as the "apostle to the apostles". "[219][220], The common identification of Mary Magdalene with other New Testament figures was omitted in the 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar, with the comment regarding her liturgical celebration on July 22: "No change has been made in the title of today's memorial, but it concerns only Saint Mary Magdalene, to whom Christ appeared after his resurrection. It is not about the sister of Saint Martha, nor about the sinful woman whose sins the Lord forgave. [231][226] Ki Longfellow's novel The Secret Magdalene (2005) draws on the Gnostic gospels and other sources to portray Mary as a brilliant and dynamic woman who studies at the fabled library of Alexandria, and shares her knowledge with Jesus. [168] Starting in around the eighth century, Christian sources record mention of a church in Magdala purported to have been built on the site of Mary Magdalene's house, where Jesus exorcized her of the seven demons. [106] The Gospel of Thomas consists entirely of 114 sayings attributed to Jesus. Come and See is a devotional journal designed specifically for studying Bible movies and shows like The Chosen. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. [Christ] loved Mary more than [all] the disciples, [and used to] kiss her [often] on the [mouth]. "John Rivera, "Restoring Mary Magdalene" in "Worldwide Religious News", "Pseudo-Rabanus Maurus' Life of Mary Magdalene and her sister Martha Magdalen College Oxford", "Mulieris Dignitatem, John Paul II, 15 August 1988 Apostolic Letter", "St. Mary Magdalene, Disciple of the Lord - Information on the Saint of the Day", "The liturgical memory of Mary Magdalene becomes a feast, like that of the other apostles, 10.06.2016", "J. Frank Henderson, "The Disappearance of the Feast of Mary Magdalene from the Anglican Liturgy" (2004), pp. With Shahar Isaac, Jonathan Roumie, Elizabeth Tabish, Paras Patel. [115], The Gospel of Mary is the only surviving apocryphal text named after a woman. February 02, 2023. If you're like me, watching The Chosen is about more than entertainment. Jesus then sent her to tell the other apostles the good news of his resurrection. [215] Estates of nobles and royalty in southern Germany were equipped with so-called "Magdalene cells", small, modest hermitages that functioned as both chapels and dwellings, where the nobility could retreat to find religious solace. [176] From the twelfth century, Abbot Hugh of Semur (died 1109), Peter Abelard (died 1142), and Geoffrey of Vendome (died 1132) all referred to Mary Magdalene as the sinner who merited the title apostolorum apostola (Apostle to the Apostles), with the title becoming commonplace during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Mary Magdalene is considered to be a saint by the Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, and Lutheran denominations. [16][19][20] Mary was, by far, the most common Jewish given name for girls and women during the first century,[16][c][21] so it was necessary for the authors of the gospels to call her Magdalene in order to distinguish her from the other women named Mary who followed Jesus. [277] Anglican Christians refer to her as a saint and may follow her example of repentance;[278][279] While some interpret the Thirty-Nine Articles as forbidding them to call upon her for intercession,[280] other Anglicans, citing the Episcopal burial service, say they can ask the saint to pray for them. If you liked this post, you might want to check out some of my other posts on The Chosen and Bible adaptation. Jusino based his argument largely on the Nag Hammadi Gnostic books, rejecting the view of Raymond E. Brown that these books were later developments, and maintaining instead that the extant Gospel of John is the result of modification of an earlier text that presented Mary Magdalene as the Beloved Disciple. [248] Apart from the Crucifixion, Mary was often shown in scenes of the Passion of Jesus, when mentioned in the Gospels, such as the Crucifixion, Christ Carrying the Cross and Noli me Tangere, but usually omitted in other scenes showing the Twelve Apostles, such as the Last Supper. [227] Mary is likewise portrayed as a reformed prostitute in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's 1971 rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. [180][181] At first, the existence of the skeleton was merely asserted,[181] but, in 1265, the monks made a spectacular, public show of "discovering" it[181] and, in 1267, the bones were brought before the king of France himself, who venerated them. What do you think Mary's life was like before Jesus showed up? [229][226][230] In Superstar, Mary describes her sexual attraction to Jesus in the song "I Don't Know How to Love Him", which shocked many of the play's original viewers. [55] Maurice Casey concurs that the presence of Mary Magdalene and the other women at the crucifixion of Jesus may be recorded as an historical fact. One folk tradition concerning Mary Magdalene says that following the death and resurrection of Jesus, she used her position to gain an invitation to a banquet given by the Roman emperor Tiberius in Rome. "[150] The aspect of the repentant sinner became almost equally significant as the disciple in her persona as depicted in Western art and religious literature, fitting well with the great importance of penitence in medieval theology. His sister,[e] his mother and his companion were each a Mary. Later Jewish tradition described a demonic figure known as Lilith in a variety of ways. [299] Jeffrey J. Kripal writes that "the historical sources are simply too contradictory and simultaneously too silent" to make absolute declarations regarding Jesus' sexuality.[324]. 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? [53] Ehrman states that the presence of Mary Magdalene and the other women at the cross is probably historical because Christians would have been unlikely to make up that the main witnesses to the crucifixion were women[54] and also because their presence is attested in both the Synoptic Gospels and in the Gospel of John independently. In 1969, Pope Paul VI removed the identification of Mary Magdalene with Mary of Bethany and the "sinful woman" from the General Roman Calendar, but the view of her as a former prostitute has persisted in popular culture. [122] Ehrman says that the Essenes, a contemporary Jewish sect who shared many views with Jesus, and the apostle Paul, Jesus' later follower, both lived in unmarried celibacy,[298] so it is not unreasonable to conclude that Jesus did as well. [225], Nonetheless, despite the Vatican's rejection of it, the view of Mary as a repentant prostitute only grew more prevalent in popular culture. Why was Mary Magdalene called Lilith in The Chosen? This passage is one of the few appearances of Mary Magdalene in the Gospels. [86] In the "shorter ending", which is found in very few manuscripts, the women go to "those around Peter" and tell them what they had seen at the tomb, followed by a brief declaration of the gospel being preached from east to west. [257] The Gospel reading in the Tridentine Mass was Luke 7:3650[258] (the sinful woman anointing the feet of Jesus), while in the present version of the Roman Rite of Mass it is John 20:12, 1118[259] (meeting of Mary Magdalene with Jesus after his resurrection). 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. [179] The widespread artistic representations of Mary Magdalene in tears are the source of the modern English word maudlin,[240][241][242] meaning "sickeningly sentimental or emotional". (She wasn't.) For instance, some have said Mary and Jesus were either lovers and husband and wife. I've condensed the lesson into an easily printable pdf below. By noting how Mary is in the "Red Quarter", The Chosen is implying that she is a prostitute. "[104] Jesus assures her, "Any of those filled with the spirit of light will come forward to interpret what I say: no one will be able to oppose them."[104]. [185][186] Mary persuades the governor of the city not to offer sacrifices to a pagan god[185] and later persuades him to convert to Christianity after she proves the Christian God's power by successfully praying to Him to make the governor's wife pregnant. (he calls her by her name), How does this connect to what happened in episode 1? I Have Called You by Name: Directed by Dallas Jenkins. [6] According to E. P. Sanders, the reason why the women watched the crucifixion even after the male disciples had fled may have been because they were less likely to be arrested, they were braver than the men, or some combination thereof. 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 Episode 4: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 5: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episode 6: Recap, Review, & Analysis, The Chosen Season 3 Episodes 7 & 8: 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***, Pontius Pilate & his Wife in The Chosen ***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, Episode 8 Guide: The Feeding of the 5,000. [246] As Gothic painted crucifixions became crowded compositions, the Magdalene became a prominent figure, with a halo and identifiable by her long unbound blonde hair, and usually a bright red dress. [293] Bahs have noted parallels between Mary Magdalene and the Bab heroine-poet Thirih. In The Chosen, it is not entirely clear whether Mary Magdalene was engaging in prostitution before the events of Season 1, Episode 1. The Chosen isn't trying to mess with the Bible. [62] Casey argues that Jesus was given a proper burial by Joseph of Arimathea,[63] noting that, on some very rare occasions, Roman governors did release the bodies of executed prisoners for burial. Why do you think The Chosen depicted Mary as a prostitute? [185][187] Fourteen years after Jesus' crucifixion, some pagans throw Mary, Martha, Lazarus (who, in this account, is their brother due to a conflation with Mary of Bethany), and two other Christians named Maximin and Cedonius onto a rudderless boat in the Mediterranean Sea to die. [68][69][67] Then the risen Jesus himself appeared to the women as they were leaving the tomb and told them to tell the other disciples that he would meet them in Galilee. Dan Ben-Amos explains that although this is the first extant text that records the legend of Lilith, her story probably existed earlier: [Lilith's] story seems to hover at the edges of literacy with sporadic references. [203], In the middle of the fourteenth century, a Dominican friar wrote a biography of Mary Magdalene in which he described her brutally mutilating herself after giving up prostitution,[197] clawing at her legs until they bled, tearing out clumps of her hair, and beating her face with her fists and her breasts with stones. [56], All four canonical gospels, as well as the apocryphal Gospel of Peter, agree that Jesus' body was taken down from the cross and buried by a man named Joseph of Arimathea. [107] Many of these sayings are similar to ones in the canonical gospels,[108] but others are completely unlike anything found in the New Testament. . Jesus heals her evil spirit(s) at the end of Episode 1. [256], During the Counter-Reformation and Baroque periods (late 16th and 17th centuries), the description "penitent" was added to the indication of her name on her feast day, July 22. [186] Mary cries tears of joy[186] and, after taking it, she lies down and dies. [86] The "longer ending", which is found in most surviving manuscripts, is an "amalgam of traditions" containing episodes derived from the other gospels. See a Roman centurion fill Lilith/Mary s sight, a suggestion that the woman have. The story of Jesus is told in four gospels. [48][49][50][51] James Dunn states of baptism and crucifixion that these "two facts in the life of Jesus command almost universal assent". [287] `Abdu'l-Bah, the son of the founder of the religion, said that she was "the channel of confirmation" to Jesus' disciples, a "heroine" who "re-established the faith of the apostles" and was "a light of nearness in his kingdom". [281] The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America honors Mary Magdalene on July 22 as an Apostle, albeit as a Lesser Festival. Robert Kiefer Webb, Richard J. Helmstadter (editors), Mclaughlin, Lisa and David Van Biema. [88] In fact, if they had made the story up, they would have had strong motivation to make Peter, Jesus' closest disciple while he was alive, the discoverer of the tomb instead. [294], Many of the alleged relics of the saint are held in Catholic churches in France, especially at Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, where her skull (see above) and the noli me tangere are on display; the latter being a piece of forehead flesh and skin said to be from the spot touched by Jesus at the post-resurrection encounter in the garden. [276], Modern Protestants honor her as a disciple and friend of Jesus. She is mentioned several times in the Gospels as a devoted follower of Jesus who was present at his crucifixion and burial. [103] The document takes the form of a long dialogue in which Jesus answers his followers' questions. In all the four canonical gospels, Mary Magdalene was a witness to the crucifixion of Jesus and, in the Synoptic Gospels, she was also present at his burial. When Nicodemus encounters her, we discover that the evil spirit that is possessing her is named Lilith. [285][286], There are many references to Mary Magdalene in the writings of the Bah Faith, where she enjoys an exalted status as a heroine of faith and the "archetypal woman of all cycles". Thayer and Smith. [232] Lady Gaga's song "Judas" (2011) is sung from Mary's perspective, portraying her as a prostitute who is "beyond repentance". [157] Augustine of Hippo (354 430) entertained the possibility that Mary of Bethany and the unnamed sinner from Luke might be the same person,[159] but did not associate Mary Magdalene with either of them. [263] She mentions in particular Hugh of Cluny (10241109), Peter Abelard (10791142), and Bernard of Clairvaux (10901153) among those who gave Mary Magdalene the title of apostolorum apostola (apostle of the apostles). Making a Woman 5 1 ) Kathleen McGowan Kindle Edition are three Christian Goddesses, making up a female.! 14", "39 Articles of Religion XXII. If the savior made her worthy, who are you to reject her? Mary Magdalene is first mentioned by name in Mark, the second Gospel. [75][84] She at first mistook him for the gardener,[82][75] but, after she heard him say her name, she recognized him and cried out "Rabbouni!" Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2023). Jane Schaberg adds Geoffrey of Vendme (c. She turned the mass of her crimes to virtues, in order to serve God entirely in penance. [47] Mark 15:47 lists Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of Jesus as witnesses to the burial of Jesus. He attempts to heal her and exorcise the evil spirit in her, but he is unsuccessful and concludes that she is beyond hope. "[136][134][137] Upon hearing this, Mary instantly fainted, to which Jesus responded by helping her up and telling her, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? In her first few scenes, people refer to her as Lilith. [13][10][98] Sanders summarizes the scholarly consensus that: very, very little in the apocryphal gospels could conceivably go back to the time of Jesus. [178], In western Europe, elaborate and conflicting legends began to develop, which said that Mary Magdalene had travelled to southern France and died there. Simon Peter said to them: Let Mary go forth from among us, for women are not worthy of the life. During the Counter-Reformation, the Catholic Church emphasized Mary Magdalene as a symbol of penance. [271] The Gospel of John[272] emphasizes the special role of Mary Magdalene. Some of these writings were cited as scripture by early Christians. [52] Nonetheless, the gospels' accounts of Jesus' crucifixion differ considerably[53] and most secular historians agree that some of the details in the accounts have been altered to fit their authors' theological agendas. (for LOTR: Tom Bombadil. There are also characters and stories from the Gospels that the creators have left out. Mary Magdalene was a prominent figure in the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. [107] In saying 21, Mary herself asks Jesus the perfectly innocuous question, "Whom are your disciples like? (he is God). She had coveted with earthly eyes, but now through penitence these are consumed with tears. [27][28][29] That seven demons had possessed Mary is repeated in Mark 16:9,[30][31] part of the "longer ending" of that gospel this is not found in the earliest manuscripts and is actually a second-century addition to the original text, possibly based on the Gospel of Luke. Season 2 Reflection P2: What was The Chosen Season 2 about? [10] The main surviving text comes from a Coptic translation preserved in a fifth-century manuscript (Berolinensis Gnosticus 8052,1) discovered in Cairo in 1896. In these myths, Lilith was banished by . How does that truth encourage you? [112] The Gospel of Philip also contains another passage relating to Jesus' relationship with Mary Magdalene. [307] There is no historical evidence (from the canonical or apocryphal gospels, other early Christian writings, or any other ancient sources) to support these statements. [224] Mary of Bethany's feast day and that of her brother Lazarus is now on July 29, the memorial of their sister Martha. I am glad and blythe that St Jerome should say so". This story was invented by The Chosen for the purposes of the plot. In the New Testament she is mentioned among the women who accompanied Christ and ministered to Him (Luke, viii, 2-3), where it is also said that seven devils had . [79][80], Mary Magdalene's role in the resurrection narrative is greatly increased in the account from the Gospel of John.