Abstract:
The aim of this study is to examine the Markan understanding of discipleship in the light of the Tongan culture. This will be done progressively through a critical reading of Mark 8:27-9:13. The Tongan cultural concept ‘fafangu’ will be used as a hermeneutical lens for the critical reading of the text. Fafangu as a concept in Tongan means bell and derived from it is the reference to the act of waking someone up from sleep. This study also employs the socio-rhetorical criticism in rereading Mark 8:27-9:13 identifying the intersection of nexus between Markan understanding of discipleship and fafangu hermeneutic. Through the analysis of Jesus’ interaction with his disciples in the text, it informs contemporary Tongan Christians (fafangu readers) advancing their understanding on discipleship within the Tongan context. In a thorough hermeneutical exploration of the connection between the Markan understanding of discipleship and fafangu hermeneutic, contemporary (modern) Tongan Christians find that discipleship is a way of life that continuously awaken to the teaching of the Markan Jesus. And, according to Mark 8:27-30, is not confined to a particular place. By way of teaching on the way, the Markan Jesus redefines his messiahship by introducing the ‘new messianic way’ which is the way in which he redefines conventional understanding of discipleship. Discipleship is voluntary and before one attunes to the new messianic way, he/she has to make a decision first. Since this new way potentially leads to suffering and the cross, a fafangu reader finds that it is not a lonely journey. The Markan Jesus is a companion teacher and the disciples have to spend time alone with him not just to know his ways but to consolidate the bond of companionship. In fact, the new messianic way cannot be fully comprehended by the disciples and as a result, the Markan Jesus issued the injunction to silence allowing time for his new ways to be clarified. The intrinsic quality that I seek in this study is for contemporary Tongan Christians to critically examine discipleship in Mark and through dialogue with fafangu hermeneutic, advance their knowledge of discipleship within Mark 8:27-9:13 which leads to a development of a way of life that continuously alerts them to the teaching of Jesus.