Ukutwasa –the Call of a Healer: An analogical lens into Jesus of Nazareth in Mark’s Gospel

Jesus’ retreat into the wilderness soon after being baptized by John has been interpreted from three perspectives –as an echo of exodus narrative, an echo of Isaiah restoration narrative and as a baptismal liturgy. Because Mark presents Jesus as the best folk-healer and inaugurator of an alternative...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Zorodzai Dube
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Africajournals 2019-10-01
Series:Pharos Journal of Theology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.pharosjot.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_24_vol_100_2019__up.pdf
_version_ 1818144083029262336
author Zorodzai Dube
author_facet Zorodzai Dube
author_sort Zorodzai Dube
collection DOAJ
description Jesus’ retreat into the wilderness soon after being baptized by John has been interpreted from three perspectives –as an echo of exodus narrative, an echo of Isaiah restoration narrative and as a baptismal liturgy. Because Mark presents Jesus as the best folk-healer and inaugurator of an alternative household within which healing, exorcism and teaching took place, I suggest that the analogue of ukutwasa (ritual whereby the healer retreats for the purpose of acquiring power) may provide illustrative insights into the importance of Jesus retreat; interpreted as rite of passage whereby the practitioner acquires healing powers. Using ukutwasa as an illustration and interpretive lense, Jesus’ retreat signifies three things –the role and power of the Spirit in initiation, the commitment of the practitioner staying on course during an initiative by avoiding things that could be prohibited and, lastly, being possessed by power which later became evident throughout his ministry.
first_indexed 2024-12-11T11:41:55Z
format Article
id doaj.art-e80ac6576c234c12aae8051e99c06c3b
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2414-3324
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-11T11:41:55Z
publishDate 2019-10-01
publisher Africajournals
record_format Article
series Pharos Journal of Theology
spelling doaj.art-e80ac6576c234c12aae8051e99c06c3b2022-12-22T01:08:35ZengAfricajournalsPharos Journal of Theology2414-33242019-10-01100Ukutwasa –the Call of a Healer: An analogical lens into Jesus of Nazareth in Mark’s GospelZorodzai Dube 0Faculty of Theology, University of PretoriaJesus’ retreat into the wilderness soon after being baptized by John has been interpreted from three perspectives –as an echo of exodus narrative, an echo of Isaiah restoration narrative and as a baptismal liturgy. Because Mark presents Jesus as the best folk-healer and inaugurator of an alternative household within which healing, exorcism and teaching took place, I suggest that the analogue of ukutwasa (ritual whereby the healer retreats for the purpose of acquiring power) may provide illustrative insights into the importance of Jesus retreat; interpreted as rite of passage whereby the practitioner acquires healing powers. Using ukutwasa as an illustration and interpretive lense, Jesus’ retreat signifies three things –the role and power of the Spirit in initiation, the commitment of the practitioner staying on course during an initiative by avoiding things that could be prohibited and, lastly, being possessed by power which later became evident throughout his ministry.https://www.pharosjot.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_24_vol_100_2019__up.pdfukutwasatemptationhealinganaloguesangoma
spellingShingle Zorodzai Dube
Ukutwasa –the Call of a Healer: An analogical lens into Jesus of Nazareth in Mark’s Gospel
Pharos Journal of Theology
ukutwasa
temptation
healing
analogue
sangoma
title Ukutwasa –the Call of a Healer: An analogical lens into Jesus of Nazareth in Mark’s Gospel
title_full Ukutwasa –the Call of a Healer: An analogical lens into Jesus of Nazareth in Mark’s Gospel
title_fullStr Ukutwasa –the Call of a Healer: An analogical lens into Jesus of Nazareth in Mark’s Gospel
title_full_unstemmed Ukutwasa –the Call of a Healer: An analogical lens into Jesus of Nazareth in Mark’s Gospel
title_short Ukutwasa –the Call of a Healer: An analogical lens into Jesus of Nazareth in Mark’s Gospel
title_sort ukutwasa the call of a healer an analogical lens into jesus of nazareth in mark s gospel
topic ukutwasa
temptation
healing
analogue
sangoma
url https://www.pharosjot.com/uploads/7/1/6/3/7163688/article_24_vol_100_2019__up.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT zorodzaidube ukutwasathecallofahealerananalogicallensintojesusofnazarethinmarksgospel