THE MAN WHO WORE THE LINEN CLOTH
Mark Chapter Fourteen

July 24, 2011

In Mark chapter fourteen verse fifty-one is a verse that is on­ly found in Mark. It is a verse that makes us wonder why is it there. It seems to have no relevance to what is going on, but it is there. Here it is: "And a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth cast about him, over his naked body: and they laid hold on him; but he left the linen cloth and fled naked."

Who was this naked young man? Why was he out at night wearing only a linen cloth? Why did they grab him? Some say it was the Apostle John and there are other guesses as well, but the great majority of people who venture a guess say that it must have been John Mark. This was his way of revealing to us that he was there and was an eye-witness to what was going on that night when they seized the Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane.

We know that John lived in Jerusalem—in Acts twelve we are told that the disciples gathered together at the house of Mary the mother of John Mark. This home was a popular place for members of the early church to gather. They did not gather there to eat pizza, but we know that they did gather there to pray.

Now why was he on the street at this time of night? It was late; clad only in a linen cloth? No doubt he heard all the racket of the mob as they hurried Jesus along for trial and he wanted to see what he could do to help the Lord. He grabbed the first thing he could get hold of which was the linen cloth and wrapped that around him and away he went. Evidently Mark did not sleep in pajamas.

Why did they lay hold on him? It was because he was follow­ing Jesus. It says —a certain young man followed with Him. In the Garden no one tried to grab the clothing of Peter or John—the reason was because all the disciples left Him and fled. When you are in a retreating posture, even though you may have cut some­body's ear off, the world is not going to pay too much attention to you. It is only when you are evidently following Him that they make their grabs for you. They grabbed at him and got hold of his garment—he twisted away and left the linen cloth in their hands and fled naked!

If you are going to follow the Lord today and venture out in­to the camp of certain people, be sure that you wear more than a linen cloth cast about over your naked body. If I were going to preach on the eighth chapter of Acts to a group of people who did not believe in immersion, I would be sure to wear more than a linen sheet. When they saw that I was following the Lord that closely, they might snatch my sheet. If I am going to preach at a place on the necessity of being immersed for the remission of sins to people who believed you were saved before you were baptized, I would be sure to wear more than a linen cloth cast over my nak­ed body. They might snatch my sheet when they saw that I was following the Lord that closely. In fact, I would almost be afraid to preach anywhere in any Church clad only in a linen cloth; peo­ple are so liberal in their thinking today that they would no doubt snatch my sheet before I got in the door.

What we see here is typical of John Mark. Paul and Barnabas came to Jerusalem and John wanted to go to Antioch with them. When they got to Antioch and the Holy Spirit sent Barnabas and Saul to go on the first missionary tour, John wanted to go with them. It wasn't long before he decided to return home. Saul and Barnabas did not snatch his sheet. He took his sheet and went on home. When Paul and Barnabas were about to go on the second missionary tour Paul did not wish to take Mark with them. He wanted to go, sheet and all, but Paul said, "NO!" Paul felt so strongly about it that he and Barnabas split. Paul took Silas and Barnabas took Mark. Evidently no one grabbed his sheet on this trip. If they did he held on to it. Later on when Paul was writing Timothy he told him to bring Mark because he was profitable for ministering. He had learned that you don't turn back in the Lord's work. Jesus also found something for him to do even though he had fled that night. Jesus needed four men to write the story of His life, and Mark was one of the quartet that was chosen to do it.

For these reasons we believe that Mark was the man who followed Jesus that memorable night clad only in a linen cloth. This was his signature to the story that he wrote. The man with the linen cloth had some important things to say. He tells us in this fourteenth chapter about the MAN WITH THE PIT­CHER — THE WOMAN WITH THE FLASK—AND THE MAN AND THE ROOSTER. These three people and these three ob­jects will give us in general the contents of this chapter in Mark, one of the longest in the New Testament.

THE MAN WITH THE PITCHER

Jerusalem would be crowded for the Passover. Sometimes there were as many as three million people in town for this event. It is my understanding that there was no charge for any room. People came to stay with friends or relatives and because of the religious significance. At any rate a room for the Lord to observe the Passover might be hard to find. When the Apostles asked the Lord where it was to be observed, He told them—Peter and John—to go into the city and they would see a man bearing a pit­cher. He told them to follow him and when he went into a house that they were to go in and say to the master of the house, "The Master saith, where is the guest chamber where I shall eat the Passover with My disciples? He will show you a large upper room furnished."

At first glance we might wonder why all the secrecy. Why the mysterious flair about the whole proceeding? No doubt it was to keep Judas from finding out where it was going to be. Jesus would not flee from the crucifixion, but when He was about to in­stitute the Lord's Supper, He did not want to be disturbed. There was no room for Him at the Inn when He was born, but He made sure there was room when He instituted the Lord's Supper. We need to follow this example and make room for the Supper also— don't let anything crowd it out. The man with the pitcher did not know at the time that he was playing such an important part in the life of the Lord. No doubt later on he bragged many times about how he had been used in setting up this institution. He did not know that day that two men were following him, and he did not know that the two were Apostles. This story reminds us that the Lord sometimes works in our lives in ordinary every­day events. Sometimes the smallest happening in life can have eternal significance.

Jesus ate the Passover with the Apostles, before He in­stituted the Lord's Supper. When the Passover was observed the first time the people were told not to leave the house. When Jesus observed the Passover feast and then instituted the Lord's Supper we are told that they sang a hymn and went out into the Mount of Olives. Thos^,, who ate the Passover were told not to go out lest they die. Jesus, our Passover, sang a hymn and went out—He went out unto His death.

In observing the Lord's Supper Jesus told them to all drink of the cup—just one cup. There is not enough in one cup for that many people. Not enough if we are thinking of physical food. The Lord's Supper is not physical food, it is soul food. The little bit that we eat and the little bit that we drink is enough to nourish the soul if it is eaten with that thought in mind. Many who would not think of going without their physical meals think nothing of starving their souls. Paul would say later, "For this cause many among you are weak and sickly and not a few sleep."

The man with the linen cloth tells us about the man with the pitcher. Now he tells us about the woman and the flask.

THE WOMAN AND THE FLASK

While in the house of Simon the leper, Mary the sister of Lazarus came and brake an alabaster cruse or flask of exceeding precious ointment and poured it upon His head as He sat at meat. Jesus said that what she had done would be spoken of as a memorial for her wherever the gospel was preached and so it has.

This event brought down the wrath of Judas Iscariot upon her as well as the other Apostles who followed suit. It is a serious thing to be criticized by an Apostle. I would suppose that even then it must have frightened Mary at first until the Lord spoke up for her.

At this point in the lives of the Apostles they were not com­pletely aware of the will of the Lord in all matters. It would be more traumatic to be criticized by the Apostles today. If they would come back to earth today in human form we can only im­agine what they might say.

This was the event that put the final touch on the intention of Judas to betray the Lord. It was then that he went and bargained for the life of Jesus.

During the Supper, Jesus predicted the betrayal. He said, "The Son of man goeth even as it is written of Him, but woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed." Some seem to think that because it was prophesied that he would do it, that Judas was not responsible. How could he help doing it? Surely the Lord will not condemn him. Jesus said, "Woe to that man through whom the Son of man is betrayed." In His prayer in John seven­teen, He called Judas the son of perdition. It is true that it was prophesied. It is also true that Judas did what he did of his own free will. As long as the term WHOSOEVER WILL is found in the word of God we are responsible for our actions. The words of Jesus are haunting words—"Good were it for that man if he had not been born." So it is with^- many. Better that you had never been born than to reject the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Good for you if you had never been born than to come into the Church, remain faithful for awhile, and then quit. You who deliberately miss the Lord's Supper week after week, better for you if you had never been born. You who trifle with the responsibility of being a Chris­tian, better for you if you had never been born. We are all respon­sible for what we say, and what we do.

The man with the linen cloth tells us about the woman with the flask and now he has something to say about the man and the rooster.

THE MAN AND THE ROOSTER

In Mark chapter fourteen Jesus predicted the denial of Peter. He told them that all the disciples would be offended in Him. Peter said that even if the rest did he would never do it. "Even if I die with Thee, yet will I not deny Thee." None really knows what we will do when sorely tried until that moment comes. All four of the gospel writers record this prediction of   Jesus and they all record all three denials. Mark is the only one who tells us that Jesus said, "Before the cock crow twice thou shalt deny Me thrice." And when he thought thereon he went out and wept.

That phrase—he thought thereon—is a statement that should speak volumes to us. HE THOUGHT THEREON. He thought not only did I deny Him as a DISCIPLE, I did it as an APOSTLE. He thought thereon. Did he remember how he said on the Mount of Transfiguration—"It is good for us to be here?" Cer­tainly he remembered how he said, "Even if I must die with thee yet will I not deny thee." He thought thereon. He remembered that it was he who walked on the water with Him. He thought thereon. There was much to think about.

How about you? Did you ever think thereon? Have you ever spent any time thinking about the times you have missed the Lord's Supper? Do you ever think thereon as you think about what you contribute to the Lord's work? Did you ever think thereon as you remember all the times when the television or whatever has occupied your time on Sunday evening when there was a chance to be a witness in the service? Go look at the booze in your ice box and think thereon. Think about the day of Judg­ment. Think about the time you make the confession and the mo­ment that you were baptized for the remission of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Go ahead! Think thereon. Peter thought thereon and he went out and wept.

There's a beauty in the cross of Christ,

Seen through repentant tears. That will help us see the glory,

That will last down through the years.

For there are marks of teardrops all along,

Where all the saints have trod.

For teardrops mingled with their tears have

Brought them close to God.

The soul's made pure by suffering, As unto God it cries.

Our vision is made clearer,

As unto God it cries.

And when we get to Heaven

I wouldn't be surprised,

To find the jewels in our crowns,

Are teardrops crystallized.

(Author unknown to me)