This is my third time going through the Bible in 90 days. Always it is a journey, although at times it can feel like a sprint. The journey brings up so many things in my heart and my mind.
Redemption.
Faith.
The cycle of life.
Provision.
Mercy.
And yet I am constantly troubled by two verses. They disturb me and cause me to think deeply, and yet I still don’t exactly know what to think about them.
One young man following behind was clothed only in a long linen shirt. When the mob tried to grab him, he slipped out of his shirt and ran away naked. Mark 14:51-52
I have asked people much more scholarly than me about this young man. No one can tell me who he is. What the linen shirt means. Why the mob grabbed him. Why he ran. I can only guess, based on what I do know.
He wasn’t one of the Twelve, but he was a Christ follower. He was such a Christ follower that he was present when Christ was taken. When the disciples scattered, so did he. He wore linen. Linen was a common material for clothing to be made from, but in the Bible linen also indicated purity and being set apart, as in the priests in the days of the Tabernacle.
He was so desperate to get away that he escaped with nothing but his skin. I think what disturbs me most about this is that our human nature is so much like this man.
We LOVE to follow Christ. To walk as close to him as possible. To be there to see his wonders, feel his Spirit, be a witness to everything that he is doing in our lives and the lives of others. The change comes when it gets hard. When conflict arises, we stand firm with Christ… until the situation gets really hot, only to disappear until things cool down. To run away naked.
I don’t want to be that naked person, fleeing for my life with nothing. Lord, let your Spirit always be with me, and my faith be a garment around me. Always.
My pastor mentioned that guy that ran away naked, and said he was John Mark. I can't remember now what his reasons were…
I definitely want to live my life in a way that I'm not afraid of being associated with Christ.
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I don't think that's correct, unfortunately, because all of the disciples were there AND this young man was mentioned, as in he was ALSO there. It just said "a young man". All the other disciples who took part were named. I am sure he was another fringe follower. Just trying to dicipher why.
I agree with you. I hope that we will be more stronger that that unnamed person on professing our faith in God. However, maybe it was test for him as well; to risk his dignity or to deny the Lord. Who knows?
Some commentaries suggest that this attack on the young man is meant to show the rage & fury of the soldiers. It is also suggested that the young man woke up in the night to the noisy procession, and was wearing either a linen nightshirt or nothing & hastily grabbed linen cloth as a wrap, went outside and inadvertently was caught up in the proceedings. Some suggest that the young man could be John, the youngest disciple or Jesus brother James.