Begin with two minutes of stillness and silence before God.
There’s a show called, “Naked and Afraid.” The premise of the show is that two individuals are stripped of their clothes and sent to some God-forsaken wilderness to put their survival skills to the test. I grew up the oldest of three boys. Modesty is something we had read about in a dictionary but are still struggling to grasp. I have 4 children, ages 5 and under, and they bear the Tucker name. They too have no idea what modesty means. If there was a show just called, “Naked,” I think any Tucker could take the grand prize, no questions asked. For example, my oldest son wakes up each morning, walks past the bathroom, and proceeds to the backyard to “pay the water bill.” In a world of clothes, nakedness is something that will definitely catch the eye. The same can be said when reading the Bible. I read two chapters ranging from apocalyptic scenery to the betrayal of Jesus in the garden and a naked guy is what got my attention.
In Mark 14:51-52, we see some random guy in a linen cloth, who is seized during Jesus’ arrest and just sprints off naked. Why would Mark put that in his gospel? It’s not in any of the other gospel accounts. There is some speculation about who this man was, but his vagueness in the account could allow for us to insert ourselves into this situation. Throughout this reading you see Judas betray Jesus, Peter denies Him after the rooster crows, disciples falling asleep in the garden, Jewish council pushing Him away. All these people are pushing Jesus away in this chapter. If you recall in Genesis, being naked was just another day at the garden before the shame of sin. Fast forward to this garden and we find a man naked and ashamed. In Genesis chapter 3, God kills an animal in the garden and clothes Adam and Eve.
It’s as if Mark is pointing out the nakedness and the shame, before the cross, would be taken upon Christ on the cross. Jesus was brutally whipped and beaten before finally dying naked on the cross. In the resurrection, He arises and leaves that old garment in the tomb, and He comes out with a new shiny linen garment. In the wedding parable, you can’t get into the heavenly kingdom, or the marriage supper of the lamb without wearing a garment. Many will try to get in but won’t have a garment and will be “naked” in that regard.
Revelation 19:7 says, “Let us rejoice and exalt and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints.”
We need a pure and righteous garment to remove our shame and help us walk before God, unashamed and purely clothed before Him. In Isaiah 61:10 it says, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exalt in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” The Lord is our righteousness. No need to be naked and afraid when our trust is in Him.
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.
Reflection:
- Use the S.O.A.P. Method to study God’s Word.
- SCRIPTURE: What stands out to you in today’s passage?
- OBSERVATION: What is this text saying? What is the context? How does it fit with the verses before and after it? Are there any commands, instructions, or promises?
- APPLICATION: How can you apply this verse to your life? What does this mean today? What is God saying to you?
- PRAYER: Respond to the passage in prayer. Ask God to help you apply this truth to your life and spend some time listening to what He may be telling you.
The Way of Jesus: 7 Marks of Discipleship
As we begin a new series, we encourage you to lean into the 7 Marks of Discipleship each week. The 7 Marks of Discipleship provide a simple tool to help us identify areas where we are thriving in our calling and where we can grow. Check here each week for a new 7 Marks Challenge that will encourage you to follow Jesus closer every day.
