Peace031 – What does Mark 14:51-52 mean? This is about the young man in linen cloth who fled naked.?

Question

After the Last Supper, Jesus and His disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus said to His disciples, “Sit ye here, while I shall pray.” And He took with Him Peter and James and John. Then He asked them to stay and watch while He prayed. (Mark 14:32-35)

When Jesus was arrested, Matthew 26:56 states: “Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.” Mark 14:50 also states: “And they all forsook him, and fled.”

However, Mark14:51-52 states: “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.”

One of the listeners of the Holy Spirit told me what He said regarding these verses. He said that the linen cloth represents flimsy faith or weak faith, and becoming naked means losing one's faith.

How about you? Could you please explain what you think these verses mean?

Answer 1

The word used here is "Gumnos" which does have a connotation of "Spiritual Nakedness" and the "Imputed Righteousness of Faith". So yes, it is synonymous with the "Disciples Loss of Faith Under Fire" so to say. This from Strongs' Lexical Aids to the N.T., not H.S., just study. John

Answer 2

The original manuscripts pretty much clear it up that it was Lazarus. Why? Because since his being brought back to life by Christ, He (Christ) left each and every following evening and returned to Bethany - and, Lazarus was Christ's lookout,
so they probably left to go there each nite
together; The linen robe is a key here, because it is a statement to his social position, and esspecially because he was wanted - the chief priests were having private consultations that they might also put Lazarus to death - and Lazarus knew
it, so thats why he took off, thinking they were going to turn him in.
A side note: the word utilized for "naked" when it reads "and fled from them naked",
does not mean completely bare; it means
not to wait to put on any additional garments, since as the cloth - but he would
not have taken off with no clothes on, or
he would be in more jeopardy, because people would have thought he was crazy and killed him.
Anyway, thats what the manuscripts say in
the Greek Text, and remain clear in the Massorah.

Answer 3

It means that this guy was clothed in linen and that when the Gang from the Temple came to get Jesus they grabbed this guy by his clothes and he left the clothes behind and ran. Remember the story of Joseph and Potiphurs wife, he left his cloak in her hands and ran! Mnay people try to spiritualize everything but I think some things are just what they are!

Answer 4

That was Mark,inserting himself into the narrative. Mark's book is widely known to be Peter's version of the Gospel. Mark was probably 10 or 12 when all that happened .He was still a young man when he traveled with Paul and Barnabas.Mark just wanted to show that he was there in the garden that night,afterall the Last Supper was at his mother's house.

Answer 5

I just read that the other day, and laughed hysterically! You know how the writer's always talk about themselves like John calls himself the one that Jesus loved? Well, when I read this I thought that streaker must have been John Mark..but he doesn't want to admit that it was him. And also, Mark is the only one who reveals this detailed account.
I am not sure what it means exactly..I know it was put in there for a reason other than the humor of it all. :o)

Answer 6

I hadn't considered the young man as a metaphor.

I've assumed since the author of Mark included the story (and the editor of Mathew chose to edit it out) that the young man was literally there, dressed in their version of pajamas, who, when they were attacked by the Romans, ran away.

I also assumed that when the followers of Christ later heard the story, or actually read it, they probably knew who the young man was.

Small, seemingly random mentions like this young man mean nothing to us, today, or we try to read metaphors in where there isn't really a place for them. But AT THE TIME, for the people who remembered or heard first hand about this event, they know EXACTLY who the young man was, and these extra facts helped confirm the entire story.

For all we know, the young naked man was the author of the Gospel of Mathew. So when he read about himself in Mark's version, he cut himself out of his draft of the story.

Godspeed you on your study of scripture.

Answer 7

A lot of bible scholars think this was the gospel writer, Mark, himself. I dunno about the symbolism of the linen. What you said sounds good. But the exegesis I've read says Mark might have been known for his humble linen drapings instead of fancy robes, and this was his way of putting himself in the gospel narrative, kinda like Hitchcock did in his movies. Kinda like M. Night Shamalan does in his movies.

Answer 8

I would recommend you pick up a copy of "The Secret Gospel" Sub title, The hidden gospel of Mark, by Morton Smith. It would appear that the incident in the bible was not the only encounter Jesus had with young men at night clothed in a linen cloth. I will say no more here and let you read and draw your own conclusions.

Answer 9

Not sure about the symobolism but i read that the naked man was Mark himself.
God bless

Answer 10

I never heard anything like that but I heard that the naked person was Mark.