Dr. Barclay with Something to Think About - THE YOUNG MAN

 

THE YOUNG MAN

There is a short passage in the Book of Mark which is as follows:

Now a certain young man followed Him, 

having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. 

And the young men laid hold of him, 

and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

(Mark 14:51-52)

This story is only related in Mark’s gospel and in many ways seems out of place in regard to the rest of the narration. Who was this young man and why did Mark relate this instance to us?

It is impossible to know for sure just who this young man was but many who have carefully studied the gospels believe that this was, in fact, Mark himself, who, at a young age, followed Jesus at a distance at the time of His betrayed and arrest. In fact, it has also been inferred that the Last Supper actually took place in a home owned by Mark’s family. In the book of Acts, it is related that:

…when he (Peter) had considered the thing (his circumstances), 

he came to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose surname was Mark, 

where many were gathered together praying.

(Acts 12:12)

If this were the case, then the young Mark would have known when Jesus and his followers left. He probably was also aware of where they would be going because Jesus was accustomed to go to Gethsemane.

Coming out, He went to the Mount of Olives, 

as He was accustomed, 

and His disciples also followed Him. 

(Luke 22:39)

So, for a young man to know this, for him to hurry and throw a linen sheet over himself and follow the crowd would not be unheard of. Neither would running away, after being discovered and accosted, leaving behind his linen sheet if that was really all he had on. It was, after all, dark and probably a few hours at least since the supper had taken place, and not far from home, if in fact the supposition is true that the Supper had taken place at Mark’s house.

But there may also be a deeper meaning to this vignette as well. We all seem to want to follow Christ at a safe distance so that we can merely observe without getting actually involved. But when we are confronted or become closely involved, do we not often run from the challenge, timid and figuratively naked, rather than standing as we ought? Such is not new for did not Adam do the same when confronted by God after he and Eve had sinned?

And he (Adam) said, 

“I heard your voice in the garden, 

and I was afraid, because I was naked; 

and I hid myself.” 

(Genesis 3:10)

Just as this young man and Adam, are we all not alone and naked when we leave Jesus and run away from Him? And is the world not really in the same position? For as we all leave God further and further behind, the entire planet becomes more vulnerable and exposed as is evidenced by our present situation.

We are all naked without God, especially when we run away and leave Him to suffer alone on our behalf.

It is something we should all think about.