WHY DID MARK INCLUDE THE STREAKER BIT?
Why would he insert such a trivial detail in so solemn a story? Was this Mark’s way of saying, “I was there”? Why he was there is not explained. Alfred Hitchcock was famous for including himself in each of his films in the most minor way, as a person standing in a crowd, or in the queue waiting to get on the bus. John includes himself in his gospel, and Mark does here. This young man had only a sindon, an outer garment gathered around a person at night like a blanket. Usually this garment was made of wool. His, however, was linen, an expensive material worn only by the rich. When he fled without his sindon, he was actually naked. v51 Perhaps the main point of the story-and the reason Mark included it-was to show that the forsakenness of Jesus was total. Even this youth forsook him. Mark was probably raised from his sleep by the noise which the rabble made who came to apprehend Jesus. He wrapped his blanket about him, becoming more conspicuous. He was seized; but he spun out of their gr
