Garden of gethsemane?

Question

The young companion fled, the soldiers grabbed his coat and he fled naked? Why is this included in Mark's Gospel's narrative? Maybe the coat symbolises the flesh? A counterpoint; the Christ forcibly rejects/casts off the lower nature/ego in obedience to the Father? Or do you have another idea?

Answer 1

There are 2 good reasons why this account is included in Mark's Gospel:

1) Because Mark was probably the young man (this is supported by the writings of early church fathers, who stated it was Mark who ran away naked);

2) It is thought that the Apostle Peter is the one who supplied most of the information to Mark when writing this Gospel. Both Mark and Peter were Jews, brought up under the traditional form of Judaism. As such, they thought like, acted like and wrote like Jews. Why is this important? Anyone (such as myself) who has studied Christianity from a Jewish perspective knows about the Jewish exegetical principle known as "midrash." A midrash is a method of taking a Biblical account and interpreting it metaphorically or symbolically, in order to understand the "big picture" God is trying to teach. For example: most Christians know that the story of Joseph in the OT is an illustration of Jesus' life; what they don't know is that this understanding is based on Jewish midrash, since many of the Jewish sages agreed that this story was illustrative of the coming Messiah's life. (These Jewish sages referred to the "suffering Messiah" of Isaiah 53 as "Messiah son of Joseph.")

Here's a link to a page that explains the midrash of Jesus in the Garden of Gethesemane: http://www.moriel.org/articles/sermons/midrash_jesus_in_the_garden.htm

Part two mentions the midrashical understanding of the naked young man. It's quite a long teaching, but very worth reading.

Answer 2

In response to a question commenting on the fact that authors are not explicitly mentioned in an answer I mentioned the fact that authorship is almost hidden away in Luke and John.

In Luke the gospel itself is written to Theophilus and it is clear that Acts was a companion work. Acts can be identified as Luke's work as he uses 'we' when he talks of the time he was on mission with Paul.

In John there is a reference to it coming from the beloved disciple in a verse near the end. Also there is another verse in the passover meal that indicates that John, brother of James, was the beloved disciple.

I think maybe they had a way of expressing authorship that was subtle. They wanted to be modest, but leave an indication of authorship somewhere.

Hence maybe the naked man is a giveaway in Mark. He was perhaps saying I the author was there.

Answer 3

I think it just means someone was running for their life and fled naked. Some think it was Mark including himself in the text.

We are taught to take up our cross and follow Jesus (in other words, don't live according to the lusts of the flesh), if that's what you mean by casting off the lower nature.

Answer 4

It is probably included as a warning to new believers.

The point is that when the going gets tough, you may feel the need to back away from your belief. Especially if you are a young/new believer. You can do this, but in doing so, you expose yourself to the elements, or to sin.

Answer 5

Most likely because the young man was MARK! A little autobiographical touch

Answer 6

I agree it's just one of the disciples running for his life! Wouldn't you if you had Roman soldiers chasing you with sword and spear?!