Who was the "Naked Man in the Garden" in Mark 14?
Dear Mike,
Who was the "naked man in the garden"
(Mark 14:51-52)?
51A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they seized him. 52But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked.
- Mark 14:51-52
The identity of the "naked man" in the Garden of Gethsemane, mentioned briefly in the Gospel of Mark (Mark 14:51-52), has been a subject of scholarly speculation for centuries. The passage describes a young man following Jesus, who, when seized, leaves his linen garment behind and flees naked. Some scholars propose that this figure could be John Mark, the traditionally accepted author of the Gospel of Mark, based on several premises:
1. Authorial Self-Reference
It is a common literary technique in ancient texts for an author to insert a brief, cryptic self-reference, especially if the author was an eyewitness to events. Some scholars believe that John Mark subtly included himself in the narrative to maintain humility or anonymity. By mentioning the young man but not naming him, Mark may have been referencing himself without drawing attention.
2. Eyewitness Detail
The detail of the young man fleeing naked is unusual and specific, suggesting an eyewitness account. Scholars who support the John Mark theory argue that this detail could reflect personal experience, with Mark including a personal vignette to reinforce his credibility as a witness to some of the events surrounding Jesus' arrest.
3. Connection to the Upper Room
Some scholars link the young man to the possible location of the Last Supper. It has been proposed that the Upper Room where Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples belonged to the family of John Mark (Acts 12:12 suggests his mother, Mary, owned a house where early Christians gathered). If the Garden of Gethsemane events took place near Mark's family home, he could have followed Jesus and the disciples after the meal, which would explain his presence at the arrest.
4. Symbolism of the Garment
In some interpretations, the linen garment is seen as symbolizing baptism or discipleship. The act of fleeing naked when it is stripped away could represent the abandonment of Jesus by his followers. If Mark was indeed this young man, this episode might reflect his own sense of failure or shame for fleeing during a critical moment.
5. Tradition and Early Church Fathers
Some early church traditions and scholars, though not unanimous, also connected John Mark to this passage. However, these interpretations are speculative, as no direct evidence from the text itself confirms this identification.
In summary, while there is no definitive proof that the naked man was John Mark, this identification is based on narrative details, authorial techniques, and later tradition that sees Mark inserting himself into the story in a humble and indirect way.
