One of the oddest accounts in Scripture is found in Mark 14:51-52. It occurs just after Jesus has been arrested in Gethsemane. We read: "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."
This is recounted only in the gospel of Mark. None of the other three gospels mention it; none of the Old Testament prophesies of it; none of the rest of the New Testament alludes back to it. It seems to be a very personal item to the writer himself, something that does not help or hinder everything else going on around it. Right in the midst of the arrest, trial and crucifixion of Jesus, it stands out as an oddity.
But there is no filler material in the Bible, everything is there for a reason.
The main mystery concerning this account has always been the identity of the young man. A bit of "Bible CSI" work gives us enough evidence, I think, to name our suspect with very reasonable certainty. Here are the facts we are given:
One, this was not one of the remaining 11 apostles; all of them had fled in fear one verse earlier. Two, this was at least a nominal follower of Christ. Verse 51 says that the young man was following "him," as in Jesus.
Three, this was someone who lived in Jerusalem and was from a wealthy family. The garment he had hastily thrown about himself was a sindon, an extremely expensive piece of linen, something no one from the middle or lower classes could afford.
Four, when things got scary, his response was to run. Five, this is recounted for us as eyewitness testimony. All of the other apostles were gone, so the only person there to see all of this was the writer of the gospel himself, a man who fits every description given above, John Mark.
Mark's mother had a large-enough home in Jerusalem to hold a multitude of believers. He followed Christ, which led him to join in a missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas. When they faced opposition, he ran home. Later, though, he grew up enough that Paul called him "profitable to me for the ministry." He grew up so much, in fact, God used him to pen the gospel that bears his name, where he, seemingly embarrassed at the memory, recounted his night-time flight when Jesus needed him most.
This young man was given something rare and precious, a chance at greatness for God. All the prominent people, the apostles, were running for their lives. John Mark had come into the garden at some point along the way, perhaps roused from sleep by the noise of the band of soldiers. When others ran, he followed for a few steps more. But when the soldiers assumed him to be a follower of Christ and grabbed him, he ran. He could have gone down in history and eternity as the man who followed Jesus all the way, but he ran.
Opportunities for greatness for God do not come in moments of peace and ease, but in moments of danger and fear. Is a teacher or professor mocking God in front of a class scared into silence? There is your opportunity. Does someone have a need that God is moving you to step out on pure faith and help with? There is your opportunity. Has the Macedonian call come your way, beckoning you to the mission field? There is your opportunity. Has the master summoned you away from a lucrative career to pastor a church? There is your opportunity.
If you run, you will leave more than an expensive piece of clothing behind, you will leave an opportunity that may never come your way again.
Bo Wagner is pastor of the Cornerstone Baptist Church of Mooresboro, N.C., and the author of several books which are available at wordofhismouth.com. Contact him at 2knowhim@cbc-web.org.