“Who was the young man who fled naked in Mark 14:51-52?”

Posted on September 29, 2012 by Dr. Mike Harmon


 This event occurred in the Garden of Gethsemane  the night Jesus was betrayed and captured. Mark 14:51-52 describes a young man who, wearing only a linen cloth, followed Jesus. When he was seized by the Roman soldiers, he escaped capture and ran, leaving the garment behind. The identity of the man is unknown, but since the Gospel of Mark is the only gospel that mentions the incident, many Bible scholars speculate that the young man was John Mark himself, the author of the Gospel of Mark.

It is impossible to know for sure who the young man was, since the Bible does not specifically identify him. There are all sorts of explanations and supposed hidden spiritual/allegorical meanings on the young man who fled naked. None of them have any explicit biblical support. The understanding that the identity of the young man who fled naked must have had meaning to the readers of the Gospel of Mark. The identity that makes the most sense, with that in mind, is John Mark.

About Dr. Mike Harmon

Dr. Harmon began preaching at the age of 15 while living in southern California. He has conducted over 600 revivals and evangelistic campaigns nationwide, and has served as Senior Pastor at seven churches. Dr. Harmon has degrees from Central Baptist College, the University of Central Arkansas, and a Ph.D. From the Christian Bible College and Seminary. He has served as trustee for Southeastern Baptist College and Chairman of the trustees for the BMA Theological Seminary. He also served as Chaplain for the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the Arkansas State Police and the Arkansas State Senate. His many sermons and articles on Christian Apologetics are widely published. He is married to one wife of 43 years; has two sons, and seven grandchildren. He considers the simple pleasures of cooking, dining with family and friends, and liesurely rides on his Harley through the Texas Hill Country to be some of the most enjoyable blessings from the Lord.
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