St Mark 14:1-15:46/Isaiah 49:1-7
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
The Gospel accounts are not exactly the same in their recording of the events of the Passion of our Lord. This is expected. They are eye-witnesses, each with a different vantage point and recollection. That they do not agree precisely lends to the veracity of their accounts; there is no evidence of collusion.
For instance, St Mark is the only gospel writer to include the incident of the young man running away naked. Some have thought that perhaps this is an autobiographical reference, meaning that it was Mark himself who followed Jesus and His disciples and then ran away when they fled. We like to put names to the characters, to personalize them, perhaps try to empathize with them or justify their actions and choices. Really it is an attempt to justify ourselves.
The truth is all men are cowards. We attempt to rely on our own strength and courage in the face of temptation and Satanic attack. Like Peter we talk big in front of our friends, pledging ourselves to Christ, even to death; but we tremble at the voice of a servant girl and compromise our confession to save our own necks.
Maybe it was St Mark; maybe not. Either way he was a coward who abandoned our Lord and no amount of empathy will change that. But this is not the first time there was a naked guy in a garden. This detail reminds us that what is happening in the Garden of Gethsemane started back in the Garden of Eden.
Man threw away God’s Word. He was a coward who failed to defend the veracity of the Word of the Lord. He remained silent in the face of Satan’s lies and trickery and fell into sin, nakedness and shame. He was eventually run out of the Garden.
But here is Jesus, God-with-us, in the Garden, this time holding fast to the Father’s Word. Not a coward, but steadfast and firm, obedient to the Father’s will. And He is not driven away from the Garden, but led away captive. He will be tried and sent before the governor to be condemned. He will be ruthlessly mocked, horribly beaten and scourged, and finally stripped and nailed to the Cross. His clothing will be taken by sinners while He hangs naked upon the Tree.
He answers. not a word. But His silence is not cowardice. He does not justify Himself. He does all this to justify you, so that you are declared “Not guilty.” His actions and choice are all selfless, made with you in mind.
All this is to cover the naked man running away. And to cover His disciples. And to cover you. Not from physical nakedness, but to cover your sin. To wrapped you up in His righteousness so that the Father may not see your shame and guilt; so that you will escape the devil who tries to snatch you away. So that you may flee into the arms of Jesus where you will be safe.
In Holy Baptism you were clothed with Christ. You are covered in His righteousness. In Him there is no shame or guilt. The cherubim with their flaming swords have been removed. On the Last Day you will enter the Garden of God and eat from the Tree of Life.
In the meantime we enter the Garden of Christ’s Church and feast on the fruit of the Cross: the body and blood and forgiveness which flowed there. Such gifts cover us naked sinners. Now we stand before God pure and holy in Christ Jesus. No more running away; no more hiding. He comes to us and He brings us to Himself.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
The Gospel accounts are not exactly the same in their recording of the events of the Passion of our Lord. This is expected. They are eye-witnesses, each with a different vantage point and recollection. That they do not agree precisely lends to the veracity of their accounts; there is no evidence of collusion.
For instance, St Mark is the only gospel writer to include the incident of the young man running away naked. Some have thought that perhaps this is an autobiographical reference, meaning that it was Mark himself who followed Jesus and His disciples and then ran away when they fled. We like to put names to the characters, to personalize them, perhaps try to empathize with them or justify their actions and choices. Really it is an attempt to justify ourselves.
The truth is all men are cowards. We attempt to rely on our own strength and courage in the face of temptation and Satanic attack. Like Peter we talk big in front of our friends, pledging ourselves to Christ, even to death; but we tremble at the voice of a servant girl and compromise our confession to save our own necks.
Maybe it was St Mark; maybe not. Either way he was a coward who abandoned our Lord and no amount of empathy will change that. But this is not the first time there was a naked guy in a garden. This detail reminds us that what is happening in the Garden of Gethsemane started back in the Garden of Eden.
Man threw away God’s Word. He was a coward who failed to defend the veracity of the Word of the Lord. He remained silent in the face of Satan’s lies and trickery and fell into sin, nakedness and shame. He was eventually run out of the Garden.
But here is Jesus, God-with-us, in the Garden, this time holding fast to the Father’s Word. Not a coward, but steadfast and firm, obedient to the Father’s will. And He is not driven away from the Garden, but led away captive. He will be tried and sent before the governor to be condemned. He will be ruthlessly mocked, horribly beaten and scourged, and finally stripped and nailed to the Cross. His clothing will be taken by sinners while He hangs naked upon the Tree.
He answers. not a word. But His silence is not cowardice. He does not justify Himself. He does all this to justify you, so that you are declared “Not guilty.” His actions and choice are all selfless, made with you in mind.
All this is to cover the naked man running away. And to cover His disciples. And to cover you. Not from physical nakedness, but to cover your sin. To wrapped you up in His righteousness so that the Father may not see your shame and guilt; so that you will escape the devil who tries to snatch you away. So that you may flee into the arms of Jesus where you will be safe.
In Holy Baptism you were clothed with Christ. You are covered in His righteousness. In Him there is no shame or guilt. The cherubim with their flaming swords have been removed. On the Last Day you will enter the Garden of God and eat from the Tree of Life.
In the meantime we enter the Garden of Christ’s Church and feast on the fruit of the Cross: the body and blood and forgiveness which flowed there. Such gifts cover us naked sinners. Now we stand before God pure and holy in Christ Jesus. No more running away; no more hiding. He comes to us and He brings us to Himself.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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