And They Call Him the
Streak
Mk 14:51-52

Spokane,
Washington
January 2004

Why would anyone
want to streak?

Is this man Mark?
 Many believe this is Mark‟s way of saying that he
was at Jesus‟ arrest.

Is this man Mark?
 Many believe this is Mark‟s way of saying that he
was at Jesus‟ arrest.
 Some go further.

Is this man Mark?
 Many believe this is Mark‟s way of saying that he
was at Jesus‟ arrest.
 Some go further.
 The Last Supper occurred at John Mark‟s house (cf
Acts 12).

Is this man Mark?
 Many believe this is Mark‟s way of saying that he
was at Jesus‟ arrest.
 Some go further.
 The Last Supper occurred at John Mark‟s house (cf
Acts 12).
 Judas leads his posse to John Mark‟s home and
then to Gethsemane.

Is this man Mark?
 Many believe this is Mark‟s way of saying that he
was at Jesus‟ arrest.
 Some go further.
 The Last Supper occurred at John Mark‟s house (cf
Acts 12).
 Judas leads his posse to John Mark‟s home and
then to Gethsemane.
 John Mark quickly gets out of bed, throws on
some clothes, and follows.

Is this man Mark?
 Many believe this is Mark‟s way of saying that he
was at Jesus‟ arrest.
 Some go further.
 The Last Supper occurred at John Mark‟s house (cf
Acts 12).
 Judas leads his posse to John Mark‟s home and
then to Gethsemane.
 John Mark quickly gets out of bed, throws on
some clothes, and follows.
 But, it‟s JUST a theory!

What are we to learn
from this text?

And They Call Him the Streak
 FOLLOWED IN HASTE.
 FLED IN HASTE.

Followed in Haste
 “A young man followed him, with nothing but a
linen cloth about his body” (v 51, ESV).

Just a Linen Cloth
 Jews abhorred nakedness.

Just a Linen Cloth
 Jews abhorred nakedness.
 Undergarment or night clothes?

Just a Linen Cloth
 Jews abhorred nakedness.
 Undergarment or night clothes?
 He jumped up and didn‟t bother to get dressed.

Just a Linen Cloth
 Jews abhorred nakedness.
 Undergarment or night clothes?
 He jumped up and didn‟t bother to get dressed.
 Chilly night: “Peter had followed him at a
distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest.
And he was sitting with the guard and warming
himself at the fire” (Mk 14:54, ESV).

Just a Linen Cloth
 Jews abhorred nakedness.
 Undergarment or night clothes?
 He jumped up and didn‟t bother to get dressed.
 Chilly night: “Peter had followed him at a
distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest.
And he was sitting with the guard and warming
himself at the fire” (Mk 14:54, ESV).
 He gave no thought to modesty.

Just a Linen Cloth
 Jews abhorred nakedness.
 Undergarment or night clothes?
 He jumped up and didn‟t bother to get dressed.
 Chilly night: “Peter had followed him at a
distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest.
And he was sitting with the guard and warming
himself at the fire” (Mk 14:54, ESV).
 He gave no thought to modesty. If we heard
commotion in the middle of the night, would we
care about modesty?

Why was he in a hurry?
 “A young man followed him.”

Why was he in a hurry?
 “A young man followed him.”
 Why was he following Jesus?

Why was he in a hurry?
 “A young man followed him.”
 Why was he following Jesus?
 Did he expect Jesus to do some great miracle?

Why was he in a hurry?
 “A young man followed him.”
 Why was he following Jesus?
 Did he expect Jesus to do some great miracle?
 Did he have plans to rescue Jesus?

Why was he in a hurry?
 “A young man followed him.”
 Why was he following Jesus?
 Did he expect Jesus to do some great miracle?
 Did he have plans to rescue Jesus?
 Did he follow out of admiration?

Why was he in a hurry?
 “A young man followed him.”
 Why was he following Jesus?
 Did he expect Jesus to do some great miracle?
 Did he have plans to rescue Jesus?
 Did he follow out of admiration?
 Did he understand what was about to transpire?

Swiftness in Mark‟s First Chapter
 “When he came up out of the water, immediately
he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit
descending on him like a dove” (10, ESV).

Swiftness in Mark‟s First Chapter
 “When he came up out of the water, immediately
he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit
descending on him like a dove” (10, ESV).
 “The Spirit immediately drove him out into the
wilderness” (12, ESV).

Swiftness in Mark‟s First Chapter
 “When he came up out of the water, immediately
he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit
descending on him like a dove” (10, ESV).
 “The Spirit immediately drove him out into the
wilderness” (12, ESV).
 “They went into Capernaum, and immediately on
the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was
teaching” (21, ESV).

Swiftness in Mark‟s First Chapter
 “When he came up out of the water, immediately
he saw the heavens opening and the Spirit
descending on him like a dove” (10, ESV).
 “The Spirit immediately drove him out into the
wilderness” (12, ESV).
 “They went into Capernaum, and immediately on
the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was
teaching” (21, ESV).
 “Immediately he left the synagogue and entered
the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and
John” (29, ESV).

The Disciples‟ Call
 “And immediately they left their nets and
followed him” (Mk 1:18, ESV).

The Disciples‟ Call
 “And immediately they left their nets and
followed him” (Mk 1:18, ESV).
 “And immediately he called them, and they left
their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired
servants and followed him” (Mk 1:20, ESV).

What is Mark's point?

What is Mark‟s Point?
 Life is short! Don‟t sit around and think about
what to do with Jesus!

What is Mark‟s Point?
 Life is short! Don‟t sit around and think about
what to do with Jesus!
 Throughout Mark‟s Gospel, he urges us to act
swiftly.

What is Mark‟s Point?
 Life is short! Don‟t sit around and think about
what to do with Jesus!
 Throughout Mark‟s Gospel, he urges us to act
swiftly.
 The young man doesn‟t have time to think about
modesty—he has to follow Jesus.

What is Mark‟s Point?
 Life is short! Don‟t sit around and think about
what to do with Jesus!
 Throughout Mark‟s Gospel, he urges us to act
swiftly.
 The young man doesn‟t have time to think about
modesty—he has to follow Jesus.
 The disciples follow Jesus without delay.

What is Mark‟s Point?
 Life is short! Don‟t sit around and think about
what to do with Jesus!
 Throughout Mark‟s Gospel, he urges us to act
swiftly.
 The young man doesn‟t have time to think about
modesty—he has to follow Jesus.
 The disciples follow Jesus without delay:
 Simon & Andrew don‟t contemplate the economic
impact of following Jesus. They follow!

What is Mark‟s Point?
 Life is short! Don‟t sit around and think about
what to do with Jesus!
 Throughout Mark‟s Gospel, he urges us to act
swiftly.
 The young man doesn‟t have time to think about
modesty—he has to follow Jesus.
 The disciples follow Jesus without delay:
 Simon & Andrew don‟t contemplate the economic
impact of following Jesus. They follow!
 James & John don‟t wave good-bye to Zebedee. They
follow!

Are we delaying in
following Jesus?

Are we giving
everything we have to
follow Jesus?

Jesus wants us to give up all
 “If anyone would come after me, let him deny
himself and take up his cross and follow me. For
whoever would save his life will lose it, but
whoever loses his life for my sake and the
gospel‟s will save it. For what does it profit a man
to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For
what can a man give in return for his soul?” (Mk
8:34-37, ESV).

Jesus wants us to give up all
 “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now
is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2).

Jesus wants us to give up all
 “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now
is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2).
 NOW is the favorable time to give Jesus all that we
are!

Jesus wants us to give up all
 “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now
is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2).
 NOW is the favorable time to give Jesus all that we
are!
 Are you ready to follow Jesus completely NOW?

Fled in Haste
 “And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth
and ran away naked” (vv 51b-52, ESV).

Fled in Haste
 “And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth
and ran away naked” (vv 51b-52, ESV).
 It seems this posse was only interested in Jesus.
 They believed if they could get Jesus, the disciples
would disperse.

Gamaliel‟s Advice
 “Before these days Theudas rose up, claiming to
be somebody, and a number of men, about four
hundred, joined him. He was killed, and all who
followed him were dispersed and came to
nothing. After him Judas the Galilean rose up in
the days of the census and drew away some of the
people after him. He too perished, and all who
followed him were scattered” (Acts 5:36-37,
ESV).

Fled in Haste
 “And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth
and ran away naked” (vv 51b-52, ESV).
 It seems this posse was only interested in Jesus.
 They believed if they could get Jesus, the disciples
would disperse.
 The precedent: kill the leader and the rest will flee.

Leaving the Linen Cloth
 The young man is more concerned with getting
away than with his modesty.

Leaving the Linen Cloth
 The young man is more concerned with getting
away than with his modesty.
 He doesn‟t want to be arrested, and he‟s willing to
do whatever it takes to flee.

Jesus‟ Total Abandonment
 Jesus had predicted this.

Jesus‟ Total Abandonment
 Jesus had predicted this:
 “Jesus said to them, „You will all fall away, for it is
written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep
will be scattered”‟” (Mk 14:27, ESV).

Jesus‟ Total Abandonment
 Jesus had predicted this:
 “Jesus said to them, „You will all fall away, for it is
written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep
will be scattered”‟” (Mk 14:27, ESV).
 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come,
when you will be scattered, each to his own home,
and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for
the Father is with me” (Jn 16:32, ESV).

Jesus‟ Total Abandonment
 Jesus had predicted this:
 “Jesus said to them, „You will all fall away, for it is
written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep
will be scattered”‟” (Mk 14:27, ESV).
 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come,
when you will be scattered, each to his own home,
and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for
the Father is with me” (Jn 16:32, ESV).
 Fulfillment: “And they all left him and fled” (Mk
14:50, ESV).

Jesus‟ Total Abandonment
 Jesus had predicted this:
 “Jesus said to them, „You will all fall away, for it is
written, “I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep
will be scattered”‟” (Mk 14:27, ESV).
 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come,
when you will be scattered, each to his own home,
and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for
the Father is with me” (Jn 16:32, ESV).
 Fulfillment: “And they all left him and fled” (Mk
14:50, ESV).
 Not only do the Twelve flee, but so does this
young man.

Why Would the Spirit Want this
Recorded?
 Sure, it happened as it‟s recorded.

Why Would the Spirit Want this
Recorded?
 Sure, it happened as it‟s recorded. But, many
things aren‟t recorded. Why is this?

Why Would the Spirit Want this
Recorded?
 Sure, it happened as it‟s recorded. But, many
things aren‟t recorded. Why is this?
 Mark urges us not to abandon Jesus.

Why Would the Spirit Want this
Recorded?
 Sure, it happened as it‟s recorded. But, many
things aren‟t recorded. Why is this?
 Mark urges us not to abandon Jesus.
 “These are the ones sown on rocky ground: the
ones who, when they hear the word, immediately
receive it with joy. And they have no root in
themselves, but endure for a while; then, when
tribulation or persecution arises on account of the
word, immediately they fall away” (4:16-17,
ESV).

Why Would the Spirit Want this
Recorded?
 Sure, it happened as it‟s recorded. But, many
things aren‟t recorded. Why is this?
 Mark urges us not to abandon Jesus.
 4:16-17.
 “They went out and fled from the tomb, for
trembling and astonishment had seized them, and
they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid”
(16:8, ESV).

Do we forsake Jesus
when things get
difficult?

He Fled Naked
 It seems odd that Mark would record this.

He Fled Naked
 It seems odd that Mark would record this.
 It‟s really odd if this young man was Mark!

He Fled Naked
 It seems odd that Mark would record this.
 It‟s really odd if this young man was Mark!
 Would we want to record our most embarrassing
moments for everyone to know?!

He Fled Naked
 It seems odd that Mark would record this.
 It‟s really odd if this young man was Mark!
 Would we want to record our most embarrassing
moments for everyone to know?!
 Why would the Spirit prompt Mark to record this
detail? Why not just say that he fled?

He Fled Naked
 It seems odd that Mark would record this.
 It‟s really odd if this young man was Mark!
 Would we want to record our most embarrassing
moments for everyone to know?!
 Why would the Spirit prompt Mark to record this
detail? Why not just say that he fled?
 It seems this is Mark‟s way of mentioning the
shamefulness of forsaking Jesus.

He Fled Naked
 It seems odd that Mark would record this.
 It‟s really odd if this young man was Mark!
 Would we want to record our most embarrassing
moments for everyone to know?!
 Why would the Spirit prompt Mark to record this
detail? Why not just say that he fled?
 It seems this is Mark‟s way of mentioning the
shamefulness of forsaking Jesus.
 The Jews—as well as we—abhorred public nudity.

Why abhor public
nudity?

Why abhor public
nudity?
Scripture!

Scripture & Nudity
 “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was
afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself”
(Gn 3:10, ESV).

Scripture & Nudity
 “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was
afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself”
(Gn 3:10, ESV).
 “As my servant Isaiah has walked naked and
barefoot for three years as a sign and a portent
against Egypt and Cush, so shall the king of
Assyria lead away the Egyptians captives and the
Cushite exiles, both the young and the old, naked
and barefoot, with buttocks uncovered, the
nakedness of Egypt. Then they shall be dismayed
and ashamed because of Cush their hope and of
Egypt their boast” (Is 20:3-5, ESV).

Shameful to Leave Jesus
 “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks
back is fit for the kingdom of God” (Lk 9:62,
ESV).

Shameful to Leave Jesus
 “If after they have escaped the defilement of the
world through the knowledge of our Lord and
Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in
them and overcome, the last state has become
worse for them than the first. For it would have
been better for them never to have known the way
of righteousness than after knowing it to turn
back from the holy commandment delivered to
them. What the true proverb says has happened
to them: „The dog returns to its own vomit, and
the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow
in the mire‟” (2 Pt 2:20-22, ESV).

Shall we forsake Jesus,
or shall we be faithful?

Shall we retreat when
our Leader has given
his body?