There is an unusual event that occurred in the Book of Mark, chapter 14. It was the night Jesus was arrested in the garden of Gethsemane. Mark records in his Gospel that Jesus had prayed three times as His disciples slept through the night, just before the soldiers came to take Jesus. As everyone was running away, Mark describes one man who ran away naked. Who this peculiar young man is has been debated for years now and unfortunately has led to some confusion among the church. Most scholars tend to lean toward this strange individual as being John Mark himself, the author of Mark. Those who believe this say that Mark was confessing his guilt of running away instead of defending Christ. John Mark or Mark, was the son of a woman named Mary, recorded in Acts 12:12. Traditions say that this was often the meeting place of study and worship for Jesus' disciples. Mark was also Barnabas' cousin and was involved in Paul and Barnabas' first missionary journey. Paul regarded Mark as one of the few who were faithful to the church to the end, 2 Timothy 4:11.
Mark 14:50-52 "And they all forsook him, and fled, and there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked." This "certain" young man must be significant. Significant enough that the soldiers tried to arrest him or "laid hold on him."
Its very possible that Mark was the one running away naked and through his Gospel is confessing guilt for running away and not denying he was Jesus' disciple. Mark's Gospel is the only one that records this incident, making it more plausible the identity of this individual. But if it was John Mark, why was he already half naked BEFORE the arrest? Only wearing a linen cloth? There maybe another explanation as to the identity of this individual.
John 18:3-6 In these passages, Judas confronts Jesus with about 600 Roman soldiers and officers of the chief priests. Jesus, "knowing all things that should come upon him," asked them whom they are looking for. They of course answer and say, "Jesus of Nazareth". Now, lets focus closely on what the text says: "Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground." The words that our Lord spoke were so powerful, that something supernatural may have occurred that night. A Divine "force" caused the soldiers to be knocked on the ground, as the text reveals to us. The text is NOT telling us that the soldiers just simply took a step back to evaluate the situation. They may have been knocked off their feet and onto their backs! Also, when we research the area of Gethsemane and what the culture in ancient times did there, we find that wealthy Jews buried their loved ones near or around this area. This leads us to consider if someone could have been resurrected by the powerful spoken words of Jesus Christ, "I am he." A young man may have recently died, which would explain only the "linen cloth" that covered this person during this event. This young man may have been confused and wanted to see Jesus after being resurrected only to encounter soldiers trying to "laid hold on him."
Jesus knew what was to come and the raising of the young man was a clear reminder to everyone of the resurrecting power of God and the blood He shed for us. So, the question remains, was John Mark confessing his guilt or was he revealing to us a supernatural event of God?
Mark 14:50-52 "And they all forsook him, and fled, and there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him: And he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked." This "certain" young man must be significant. Significant enough that the soldiers tried to arrest him or "laid hold on him."
Its very possible that Mark was the one running away naked and through his Gospel is confessing guilt for running away and not denying he was Jesus' disciple. Mark's Gospel is the only one that records this incident, making it more plausible the identity of this individual. But if it was John Mark, why was he already half naked BEFORE the arrest? Only wearing a linen cloth? There maybe another explanation as to the identity of this individual.
John 18:3-6 In these passages, Judas confronts Jesus with about 600 Roman soldiers and officers of the chief priests. Jesus, "knowing all things that should come upon him," asked them whom they are looking for. They of course answer and say, "Jesus of Nazareth". Now, lets focus closely on what the text says: "Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them. As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground." The words that our Lord spoke were so powerful, that something supernatural may have occurred that night. A Divine "force" caused the soldiers to be knocked on the ground, as the text reveals to us. The text is NOT telling us that the soldiers just simply took a step back to evaluate the situation. They may have been knocked off their feet and onto their backs! Also, when we research the area of Gethsemane and what the culture in ancient times did there, we find that wealthy Jews buried their loved ones near or around this area. This leads us to consider if someone could have been resurrected by the powerful spoken words of Jesus Christ, "I am he." A young man may have recently died, which would explain only the "linen cloth" that covered this person during this event. This young man may have been confused and wanted to see Jesus after being resurrected only to encounter soldiers trying to "laid hold on him."
Jesus knew what was to come and the raising of the young man was a clear reminder to everyone of the resurrecting power of God and the blood He shed for us. So, the question remains, was John Mark confessing his guilt or was he revealing to us a supernatural event of God?
-
1
- Show all
