Problem: In Mark 14:51-52, there is a reference to someone who ran away naked after being seized by a large crowd (Matt. 26:47; Luke 47-53). The large crowd appeared to be a Roman cohort that worked with the chief priests and Pharisees (John 18:3-11). So, who was this naked man in Mark? It doesn’t say. Therefore, we can’t say who it was for sure. Though the other Gospels contain the account of Jesus’ arrest, this particular event is found only in Mark. This might be significant. Let’s take a look.
Solution: “A young man was following Him, wearing nothing but a linen sheet over his naked body; and they *seized him. 52 But he pulled free of the linen sheet and escaped naked” (Mark 14:51-52).
Who was the naked man in Mark?
The most common theory is that the naked man in Mark’s gospel was Mark himself, the son of Mary, “the mother of John is also called Mark” (Acts 12:12). This is because it appears that it was John Mark’s home where the Last Supper may have taken place.
“A certain young man (νεανισκος τις [neaniskos tis]). This incident alone in Mark. It is usually supposed that Mark himself, son of Mary (Acts 12:12) in whose house they probably had observed the passover meal, had followed Jesus and the apostles to the Garden. It is a lifelike touch quite in keeping with such a situation. Here after the arrest he was following with Jesus (συνηκολουθει αὐτῳ [sunēkolouthei autōi], imperfect tense). Note the vivid dramatic present κρατουσιν [kratousin] (they seize him).”
Robertson, A.T. 1933. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.
Another possible person would be John, the disciple whom Jesus loved. “Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, “Lord, who is the one who betrays You?” (John 21:20). Some think it might have been him because of the closeness and humility with which John relates to Jesus. But this, too, is conjecture.
The stronger evidence in the Bible supports Mark as the one who ran away naked. If it was indeed him, it makes sense. After all, it is only found in his gospel—possibly because he experienced it and added that nugget of truth. The others don’t mention it because they fled and did not see what happened to him.
