Who was the naked boy in the Garden of Gethsemane?
Mark 14:51 and a young man was following Him, with nothing but a linen cloth (sheet) thrown about [his] naked [body]; and they laid hold of him, 52 But, leaving behind the linen cloth ([j]sheet), he fled from them naked.
Just about the time Jesus was finished healing the ear of the servant of the high priest
named Malchus, the Gospel of Mark tells us a naked young man was found in the
Garden of Gethsemane. Mark 14:51, 52 says, “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.”
1. Who was this young man?
2. Why was he following Jesus?
3.
4. Why was he draped in a linen cloth instead of wearing normal clothes?
5. Why was the Holy Spirit so careful to include this unique story in Mark’s account of the Gospel?
What is the significance of this event?
The key to identifying this young man lies in the “linen cloth” he had lightly draped about his
body. The particular Greek word that is used for this “linen cloth” is used in only one other event in
the New Testament to depict the “linen cloth” in which the body of Jesus was wrapped for burial
(Matthew 27:59, Mark 15:46, and Luke 23:53). Thus, the only reference we have for this kind
of cloth in the New Testament is that of a burial shroud used for covering a dead body in the grave.
Some scholars say when Mark heard about Jesus’ arrest, he quickly jumped out of bed and dashed to the Garden of Gethsemane. But the Garden was remotely located, and no one could have run there so quickly. It is simply a physical impossibility. Others have speculated that Mark threw off his clothes in an attempt to shock and distract the soldiers so Jesus could escape. This idea is preposterous. Others have tried with similar vain attempts to assert that this naked young man was the apostle John. But why would John be walking naked in the Garden of Gethsemane?
The answer to this naked young man’s identity lies in the cloth he had wrapped around
his body. You see, when a body was prepared for burial, it was washed, ceremonially cleaned, and buried
naked in a linen cloth exactly like the one described here in the Gospel of Mark. Furthermore, the
Garden of Gethsemane was situated on the side of the Mount of Olives. Toward the base of that mount
is a heavily populated cemetery, with many of its graves going back to the time of Jesus.
When Jesus said, “I AM,” the power that was released was so tremendous that it knocked the
soldiers backward (John 18:4-6). But evidently it also caused a rumbling in the local cemetery! When
that blast of power was released, a young boy, draped in a linen burial cloth in accordance with the
tradition of that time, crawled out from his tomb RAISED FROM THE DEAD!
The reason he “followed” Jesus was to get a glimpse of the One who had resurrected him. The
word “followed” here means to continually follow. This tells us that this resurrected young man trailed
the soldiers as they took Jesus through the Garden on the way to His trial. When the soldiers discovered
the young man who was following Jesus, they tried to apprehend him. But when they reached out to
grab him, he broke free from their grip and fled, leaving the linen cloth in their possession.
Today, I want you to reflect again on the amazing power that was active at the time of Jesus’
arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. He later told Pilate, “…Thou couldest have no power at all
against me, except it were given thee from above...” (John 19:11). Indeed, there was so much power
present that NO ONE could have withstood Jesus had He chosen to resist. Jesus was not taken by the
will of man; He was delivered by the will of the Father.
Think how marvelous it is that Jesus freely gave His life for you and me! So much power was at work
in Him even at the time of His arrest that no one had sufficient power to forcibly take Him. The
only reason Jesus was taken was that He chose to willingly lay down His life for you and for me.
In His dust,
Lois
Mark 14:51 and a young man was following Him, with nothing but a linen cloth (sheet) thrown about [his] naked [body]; and they laid hold of him, 52 But, leaving behind the linen cloth ([j]sheet), he fled from them naked.
Just about the time Jesus was finished healing the ear of the servant of the high priest
named Malchus, the Gospel of Mark tells us a naked young man was found in the
Garden of Gethsemane. Mark 14:51, 52 says, “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.”
1. Who was this young man?
2. Why was he following Jesus?
3.
4. Why was he draped in a linen cloth instead of wearing normal clothes?
5. Why was the Holy Spirit so careful to include this unique story in Mark’s account of the Gospel?
What is the significance of this event?
The key to identifying this young man lies in the “linen cloth” he had lightly draped about his
body. The particular Greek word that is used for this “linen cloth” is used in only one other event in
the New Testament to depict the “linen cloth” in which the body of Jesus was wrapped for burial
(Matthew 27:59, Mark 15:46, and Luke 23:53). Thus, the only reference we have for this kind
of cloth in the New Testament is that of a burial shroud used for covering a dead body in the grave.
Some scholars say when Mark heard about Jesus’ arrest, he quickly jumped out of bed and dashed to the Garden of Gethsemane. But the Garden was remotely located, and no one could have run there so quickly. It is simply a physical impossibility. Others have speculated that Mark threw off his clothes in an attempt to shock and distract the soldiers so Jesus could escape. This idea is preposterous. Others have tried with similar vain attempts to assert that this naked young man was the apostle John. But why would John be walking naked in the Garden of Gethsemane?
The answer to this naked young man’s identity lies in the cloth he had wrapped around
his body. You see, when a body was prepared for burial, it was washed, ceremonially cleaned, and buried
naked in a linen cloth exactly like the one described here in the Gospel of Mark. Furthermore, the
Garden of Gethsemane was situated on the side of the Mount of Olives. Toward the base of that mount
is a heavily populated cemetery, with many of its graves going back to the time of Jesus.
When Jesus said, “I AM,” the power that was released was so tremendous that it knocked the
soldiers backward (John 18:4-6). But evidently it also caused a rumbling in the local cemetery! When
that blast of power was released, a young boy, draped in a linen burial cloth in accordance with the
tradition of that time, crawled out from his tomb RAISED FROM THE DEAD!
The reason he “followed” Jesus was to get a glimpse of the One who had resurrected him. The
word “followed” here means to continually follow. This tells us that this resurrected young man trailed
the soldiers as they took Jesus through the Garden on the way to His trial. When the soldiers discovered
the young man who was following Jesus, they tried to apprehend him. But when they reached out to
grab him, he broke free from their grip and fled, leaving the linen cloth in their possession.
Today, I want you to reflect again on the amazing power that was active at the time of Jesus’
arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. He later told Pilate, “…Thou couldest have no power at all
against me, except it were given thee from above...” (John 19:11). Indeed, there was so much power
present that NO ONE could have withstood Jesus had He chosen to resist. Jesus was not taken by the
will of man; He was delivered by the will of the Father.
Think how marvelous it is that Jesus freely gave His life for you and me! So much power was at work
in Him even at the time of His arrest that no one had sufficient power to forcibly take Him. The
only reason Jesus was taken was that He chose to willingly lay down His life for you and for me.
In His dust,
Lois
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