Original Research

The cleansing of the leper in Mark 1:40–45 and the secrecy motif: An African ecclesial context

Ezichi Ituma, Enobong I. Solomon, Favour C. Uroko
HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies | Vol 75, No 4 | a5128 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v75i4.5128 | © 2019 Ezichi Ituma, Enobong I. Solomon, Favour C. Uroko | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 28 May 2018 | Published: 31 October 2019

About the author(s)

Ezichi Ituma, Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; and, Department of New Testament and Related Literature, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Nigeria
Enobong I. Solomon, Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; and, Department of New Testament and Related Literature, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Nigeria
Favour C. Uroko, Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria; and, Department of New Testament and Related Literature, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, Nigeria

Abstract

This article examines the reason behind the charge to secrecy imposed by Jesus on the leper in Mark 1:40–45, in the context of African experience, the implications of the meaning conveyed and the challenges posed on the church and the gospel enterprise in Africa. The ministry of Jesus could have been a platform for conflicts, self-glorification, hero worship and exploitation. Jesus resisted the temptation in those directions. The charge to silence in African context reveals the virtue of silence which is subsumed in integrity, modesty and character (trust and accountability). It calls the attention of the followers of Jesus to the worthiness of emulating such a lifestyle as a pattern for service to God and humanity. The textual and historical exegetical methodology is adopted in this research.

Keywords

Leper; Church; Ecclesial; Secrecy motif; Mark

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