Mark 14:51-52 (NKJV) A Young Man Flees Naked
51 Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, 52 and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.
V51 Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him…”
Throughout history, some have thought this person to be James, the son of Alpheus, or the Apostle John. Most seem, however, to believe this young man is Mark. This seems reasonable since Mark is the penman for Peter, yet adds a personal footnote. He was wearing just his underclothes, as was Peter when fishing (John 21:7).
V52 “…and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.”
Instead of wearing his underclothes, then putting on his outer clothes, Mark simply grabbed his linen sheet, or whatever, because he was in a hurry. Being young, he could have had a better chance of running away. It was also dark, and he knew the area well. Most of the rich would have used linen sheets, as Mark appears to have been, since in Acts 12 it is said that many were praying, indicating a large house (Acts 12:12).
(Holman Commentary) “This event is recorded only in Mark’s Gospel. The young man is not identified. Possibly it was Mark himself. Maybe Mark wanted to assure his Roman readers that he also witnessed some of these events as well. Usually, men wore an undergarment, like a woman’s slip, but this man only wore the outer garment. The word linen indicates it was an expensive material, probably the type worn by the rich. The young man fled naked. Jesus was now totally forsaken by his closest followers and friends.”
We learn:
- There is a cost to follow Jesus, but the rewards are eternal.
- Sometimes, believers must flee persecution.
Questions:
- Would you have fled?
- Would you deny Jesus?