Who Is The Young Man In The Linen Cloth?

One of the mysteries of holy week is found in the Gospel of Mark. In the midst of the arrest of Jesus, a story is found which is unique to the Gospel of Mark. The story involves a young man clothed only in a linen cloth who narrowly escaped capture by leaving the cloth behind in the hands of the soldiers.

This story is not found in any other gospel account and no explanation is given. The reader is left to discern what this means and why it was included in Mark’s account.

“A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind” (Mark 14:51-52).

Three questions naturally arise from this passage. Who was the young man and why was he involved? Why did Mark include such an incident? What enduring message does this leave for the reader?

Who was the young man and why did Mark include the incident?

Most commentators agree that only two possibilities concerning identification are possible. Either the young man is John Mark (the author of the Gospel) or he is an unidentifiable person who simply happens to show up at the wrong time.

Could the young man have been John Mark? The fact that no other gospel writer mentions this event lends credence that Mark is telling a story that affected him greatly but had no relevance to the other writers. Like every other author, the gospel writers had to decide what would be included and what would be left out.

This leads us to the most important question. What enduring message should we receive from these two verses?

Is Mark telling us a cute story or does he have a very important point? As with every passage of Scripture, the context must help discover the meaning of the passage. This passage falls between two important statements. First, Mark says “everyone deserted him and fled” (Mark 14:50). Included in the everyone was a young man clothed in a cloth or towel or sheet. When the soldiers sought to take him, he dropped the linen cloth and fled.

The first sentence after the passage in question says, “They took Jesus to the high priest. . .” (Mark 14: 53). Thus, Jesus is left alone.

Mark shows us that Jesus is willing to do whatever necessary to effect our salvation–even to the point of being totally isolated and alone. Everyone fled–the eleven, Simon Peter, even the young lad in the linen cloth. Jesus suffers and dies, alone and forsaken. “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows. . .” (Isaiah 53:4).

Alone he faces his enemies, alone he suffers, and alone he is going to lay down his life, in order that all those who accept him as their Savior and Lord may never be alone. Hallelujah, what a Savior!” (William Hendriksen, The Gospel of Mark, 602).

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4 Responses

  1. “For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and everyone members one of another.”

    “I am the vine, ye (all of you) are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye (each of you by yourself) can do nothing.”

    “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you (personally): continue ye (all of you) in my love.”

    “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”

    May we all, like Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received in the Lord, that thou fulfill it.” AMEN.

    Thank you Dr. Bailey. (Romans 12:4&5; John 15:5&9; Isaiah 55:11; Colossians 4:17) Facts, Promise and prayers?

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