Why is there mention of the young man who fled naked in Mark?
Question:
In Mark 14:51-52, it reads, "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."
What could be the purpose of these two verses being in here? Was this John Mark?
Answer:
Seeing their Lord arrested, all the disciples fled for safety. Mark alone mentions that a young man, probably awakened from sleep by the mob, had thrown a linen sheet around him and attempted to follow, but the Roman soldiers grabbed him. The soldiers are called young men here because it was young men who made up the Roman army. In order to escape, he had to leave the sheet behind and fled naked from the crowd.
Since only Mark mentions this detail and knowing that Mark’s mother lived in Jerusalem (Acts 12:12, 25), many suppose that the young man was John Mark, but he doesn’t name himself. If you notice in the other Gospel accounts, none of the writers name themselves. However, it is complete speculation on everyone’s part to guess that the young man was John Mark.
The purpose of mentioning it, though, emphasizes why the disciples did not stay with Jesus. The mob wasn’t just after Jesus. They were trying to bring anyone associated with him along as well.