Who do you think this is?

[rug]

Mark 14

51 Now a young man followed him wearing nothing but a linen cloth about his body. They seized him,
52 but he left the cloth behind and ran off naked.

http://www.usccb.org/bible/mark/14

He suggests to me Adam, the stand-in for us all, come to witness the consequence of his pride, naked once again.

[meow2u3]

1. That's a good question

The young man who had to STREAK to avoid being arrested was probably an unnamed disciple.

[rug]

2. There's really nothing but speculation on it.

Since the Passion hearkens back in so many ways to OT prophecies, it would not surprise me to see a reference back to Adam who started the whole thing.

Today my son nudged me during the Gospel and said, "Who the hell was that?"

[No Vested Interest]

3. I don't know if it is Adam, but there must be a reason this is mentioned.

If there were no reason or meaning, there would be no need to include this incident in the Gospels.

Your explanation is rather poetic, or deep. I'm just not sure.

[UrbScotty]

4. I was thinking along those lines too.

Right in the middle of the narrative about the arrest of Jesus.

Someone escaping while Jesus is not so lucky.

Something to contemplate, that's for sure.

As you mentioned, there has to be a reason for that. Presumably, that reason is divine in nature - something that ties into (or at least refers to) something else in Scripture. Of course, maybe the reason it's in there is just because it's so odd. Let's face it: These days, if a guy escapes arrest by taking off his clothes, we'd be talking about it in the Weird News forum!

But perhaps the mystery of it all is meant to get us to contemplate things a little more - to bring us closer to the Scripture, or to put ourselves into the Passion narrative, as though we ourselves were there.

[okasha]

5. I've seen speculation that this figure

was either Jesus son or a younger brother, escaping to warn his mother. Many scholars believe that there is eyewitness testimony in the passion narrative, so this young man may be that witness.

On the other hand, I really like the interpretation you've suggested. It brings the whole Biblical narrative full circle, doesn't it? Jesus redeems Adam, and he is restored to innocence, Paradise once again open to him.

[nxylas]

6. The explanation I've always seen is that it was Mark himself

I'm no biblical scholar, though.

[trackfan]

8. That's what I always thought. n/t

[47of74]

7. Judah Ben-Hur.

If you've ever read the original novel behind the movies that's who Lew Wallace says the man was.

Seriously, I'm not sure who he was. I never really gave it too much thought - I guess I've always thought it was one of his disciples who the authorities decided should be brought along with Jesus but who happened to get lucky and escape.

[olegramps]

9. Could he have been an Essene?

It is generally accepted that John the Baptist was an Essene and as we all know he had direct ties to Jesus. A inductee into the Essene cult wore only a simple white garment and during the period of their novitiate were referred to a youths even if the were advanced in years. I am of the opinion that Jesus had more direct association with the Essenes then is commonly held by Christian scholars who seem determined to deny any relationship.