Mk 14, 51-52 What is the "meaning" of this naked young man?

[chrpenka]

Hi,

on Palm Sunday we heard the reading from Mark. In Mk 14,51-52 there is mentioned a young man who followed Jesus when He was taken from Gethsemane to the high priest. This young man had on a linen cloth only. When he was caught he run away without this linen cloth.

It is only in Mark where this young man is mentioned. Do you know what does this naked man mean? I read gGospels many time but just a year ago I “spotted” this young man here. I wonder why is here? I mean, what does this nakedness mean in the very beginning of Jesus way to Calvary and cross?

I would have asked earlier, but only now I have a time to sit and write it. (quite busy with my work and study at the moment )

Thanks, God bless you,

 

[pugdog]

The cloth which the young man left behind when he fled according to Mark 14:52 is a bleached linen and the same word in Greek is also used in Mark 15:46 as the linen purchased by Joseph of Arimethea for the burial clothing for our Lord in Mark 15:46.

Colossians 2:11,12
In Him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcism done by the hands of men but with a circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with Him in baptism and raised with Him through your faith in the power of God, who raised Him from the dead.

We are buried with Jesus Christ, putting off the old sin nature and Mark 14:52 is a revelation of this in that we must follow Jesus Christ and be buried with in through faith.
We must not flee when trouble comes but continue in following our Lord.

 

[Hlafdige]

I can’t find a source for this, but there is a tradition that John Mark, to whom the authorship of this Gospel is ascribed, was describing himself in this scene.

 

[Crumpy]

I can’t find a source for this, but there is a tradition that John Mark, to whom the authorship of this Gospel is ascribed, was describing himself in this scene.

Yes, Mark was a young man, to begin with, and (I think) only he records the episode. He is probably making a type of confession about how he ran away, himself, and he’s showing how desparately he ran away. At the time of his writing this gospel, his shame was comparable or worse than that of his nakedness.

 

[colliric]

It is a very human thing to drop everything and run away naked at the first sign of danger. That is what that passage says to me. Just like if my fav football team was being thrashed, I would’nt want to stick around and see them get beat up. I’d grab everything and head quickly for the exit.

God forgives this human element of our nature.

 

[chrpenka]

Thanks to you all for your answers. !

I´ve got one more question about this young man. Do you know if it was usual in that time (2000 years ago) to wear sometimes just one linen cloth? I have no idea about a style of dressing among the Jews in that time. Just wondering that it was “normal” to be dressed like this.

 

[colliric]

Thanks to you all for your answers. !

I´ve got one more question about this young man. Do you know if it was usual in that time (2000 years ago) to wear sometimes just one linen cloth? I have no idea about a style of dressing among the Jews in that time. Just wondering that it was “normal” to be dressed like this.

It was quite common dress in the entire Roman Empire at the time. The peice of cloth was probally a Tunic, but may have been a Toga also.

 

[Crumpy]

Thanks to you all for your answers. !

I´ve got one more question about this young man. Do you know if it was usual in that time (2000 years ago) to wear sometimes just one linen cloth? I have no idea about a style of dressing among the Jews in that time. Just wondering that it was “normal” to be dressed like this.

In the book of Leviticus, which should make you think of very ancient times, the High Priest wore “breeches” or what we’d consider to be underpants, of some sort. There is a command to the priests to be careful not to exhibit their nakedness when they are ascending to the altar. On the other hand, they wore no shoes, because it was a sacred place. (the meaning of such rules seems to revolve around sanctity (confessing your sins beforehand, and such) and purity (spiritual and physical cleanliness) BEFORE coming into the presence of the LORD.

In two places in the Psalms, it says, “worship the LORD in holy attire.” Not a great endorsement for blue jeans, string tops, Senor Frog t-shirts, etc., which we have all seen in church at one time or another.