Who was that?

Day 72

OT Reading: Deuteronomy 20-22

NT Reading: Mark 14:26-52

The Gospel of Mark, like all the gospels, has its own unique features, one of which we read today. In the later part of chapter 14 during the scene of Jesus' arrest we read this:

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 (NIV)

None of the other gospels include this little detail, which leads us to ask the question, "What was this all about?"

In reality we don't know. There is no definitive answer to be found in the Bible or in history about exactly who it was or why the detail was included. But church tradition leads us to believe that this man who ran off naked...was none other than...the gospel writer Mark himself.

And that seems to make some sense. I mean, nobody else finds it important enough to mention, but if I were there I would love to get a bit of my own story in. And frankly the story isn't a flattering one, so we'll just call the guy "a young man" instead of putting my own name out there. It's like going to the doctor or a counselor or a minister to tell him about a problem your "friend" has.

Is it relevant to anything? Not really. Though I'm positive entire sermons have been made out of that little detail. I just find it as an interesting little addition in the Biblical narrative.