⁵¹ And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, ⁵² but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.” Mark 14:51-52

The text from Mark includes this story – the story of a young man who is also a follower of Jesus and who gets away from the angry mob BAREly with his life but without his linen cloth. There is much speculation about this text, its meaning and purpose, but the NAKED truth is that there are no definitive answers to this mystery. It could serve as a short story that BUFFers the text of Jesus’ arrest and his appearance in front of the high priest. Another purpose that the story could serve is as a foreshadowing of the High Priest tearing his own clothes, or of Jesus being STRIPPED of his own dignity, or being EXPOSED to those who will mock him, humiliate, and kill him. Some even see this as a foreshadowing of the cloth that will be draped over the naked body of Jesus in the tomb—what we know now as the shroud of Turin. Whatever the purpose, we may not be able to UNDRESS the mystery, but we can enjoy the cameo of the young man and wonder, maybe just wonder, if it was all just a bad dream.

Pastor Dave

¹² And on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they sacrificed the Passover lamb, his disciples said to him, “Where will you have us go and prepare for you to eat the Passover?” ¹³ And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, ¹⁴ and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ ¹⁵ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.” ¹⁶ And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.” Mark 14:12-16

Jesus commands the disciples to find a man who is carrying a jar of water – this man shall lead them to the room – a room prepared for them –  where they will share the Passover meal. There are so many aspects of this story that require our time and attention, but this one simple gesture, seeking and finding a room prepared for our Lord is one that has salvific implications. Have you prepared a room for Jesus? Have you prepared room in your hearts, room in your homes, room in your lives? Jesus tells us in John 14 that he is preparing a room for each one of us, that when we are ready to pass onto the next existence, Jesus himself will come to take us to that room.

Jesus comes to share a meal with us each Sunday, but, in reality, Jesus comes each day to share the Good News with us.  Are we ready for the Master to come? We were already told this week to “keep awake” – to be ready, for we know not the day or the time of day…

Pastor Dave