“I come to realize that even my beloved wife might lose her life.”

 

 

“Then everyone deserted him and fled. A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.”
— Mark 14:50–52 (NIV)

 

As I meditate on these verses, I seek to receive the lessons they offer:

 

(1) When Jesus was arrested, all His disciples deserted Him and fled (verse 50).
This fulfilled Jesus’ prophecy in verse 27:

“You will all fall away,” Jesus told them, “for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’”

This means that when Judas Iscariot and the Jewish leaders handed over the good “Shepherd” to the Romans to have Him crucified, Jesus’ “sheep,” the disciples, all abandoned Him and fled (cf. Hokma Commentary).

(a) Jesus, the Good Shepherd, being attacked, was the fulfillment of Zechariah 13:7:

“‘Awake, sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me!’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn my hand against the little ones.’”
— Zechariah 13:7 (NIV)

(i) The Hebrew term ‘amiti (translated “the man who is close to me”) means “my closest companion.”
This refers to the Messiah, who is one with God the Father. Thus, Zechariah 13:7 is a prophecy pointing to Christ’s arrest and crucifixion (Hokma).

Applying this to myself, I reflect on my wife as my “closest companion.”
As the head of my household, I come to realize that if I were to suffer trials for the sake of Christ, my beloved wife — my “other half” (Mark 10:8) — might also suffer with me.
Even if I lose my life for Christ and the gospel, as in Mark 8:35, it is possible that my wife, who is “one flesh” with me, might also lose her life.

“Husband and wife are of one mind and one body” is a Korean saying that means spouses understand each other so deeply and live as one.

As a pastor called by the Lord, I believe that, like the boy in John 6:9 who gave Jesus five barley loaves and two fish, I must offer all that I have — not just my life, but also my wife and children — to the Lord.
Since 1987, when I received my calling during a college retreat through John 6:1–15, I have strived to surrender not only myself but also my family to the Lord.

The gospel song “My Life and My Possessions” often comes to mind:

“I offer all I am and all I own to You, Lord.
Every joy and every sorrow, every tear — receive them.
I give You my past and my future, my dreams and hopes.
All my plans and all I hold — take my hands and heart.
I offer You my life; use me for Your glory.
As long as I live, I will praise You and be an offering of joy.
Accept me as I am, for everything I have is from You,
and my only offering is my life.”

(ii) Zechariah 13:8–9 (NIV):

“‘In the whole land,’ declares the Lord, ‘two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it.
This third I will put into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold.
They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, “They are my people,” and they will say, “The Lord is our God.”’”

This shows that, following Christ’s crucifixion (verse 7), many Jews perished during the tribulation, while the believing remnant — Christians — entered into eternal life. However, even Christians must endure trials during tribulation (Hokma).

The qualifications of God’s remnant people are:

  1. Spiritual refinement through trials

  2. God hears their prayers

  3. They are God’s people, and He is their God

The hymn “Amidst Trials and Persecution” (Korean Hymnal #336) comes to mind:

  1. Amidst trials and persecution, the saints kept their faith.
    Thinking of their faith fills my heart with joy.
    Following their footsteps, I’ll be faithful to the end.

  2. Though imprisoned, their conscience was free.
    If we suffer, even death will be glory.
    Following their footsteps, I’ll be faithful to the end.

  3. I’ll love even my enemies, modeling the saints’ faith.
    With gentle words and deeds, I’ll spread this faith.
    Following their footsteps, I’ll be faithful to the end.

(b) As I reflect on how all of Jesus’ disciples fled (Mark 14:50), I consider that Peter, too, was among them.
Despite Peter’s bold claim in verse 29 —

“Even if all fall away, I will not” —
he ultimately ran away like the others.

(i) This teaches us never to use the word “never” so lightly.
Though Peter was confident in himself, the prophecy of Zechariah 13:7 was fulfilled regardless.
We learn here to trust God’s Word absolutely — not human words.

Those who think in human terms rather than God’s (Mark 8:33) are tempted by Satan to trust themselves more than the One God has sent — Jesus Christ (John 6:29).
Such people do their own will rather than God’s (cf. 1 John 2:16–17).

The hymn “Have Thine Own Way, Lord” (Korean Hymnal #549) also comes to mind:

  1. Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
    Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
    Mold me and make me after Thy will,
    While I am waiting, yielded and still.

  2. Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
    Though trials may come, let me not despair.
    Even Jesus wept — guide me through my pain.
    Have Thine own way, Lord, over me.

  3. Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way!
    I surrender all my plans to You.
    Heading toward Heaven, I walk in peace.
    Whether I live or die, may Your will be done. Amen.

(2) While all the disciples fled when Jesus was arrested (Mark 14:50),
I reflect on the young man in verses 51–52,

“A young man, wearing nothing but a linen cloth, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.”

(a) According to the Hokma Commentary:
This young man (likely aged 24–40) is widely believed to be Mark himself.
Awakened from sleep by news of Jesus’ arrest, he ran to Gethsemane without time to dress properly. But when he arrived, Jesus had already been arrested.
Trying to follow Jesus, he was seized, and fled naked after abandoning his linen cloth.

(i) Until now, I focused more on Peter “following at a distance” (Mark 14:54) than this young man.
But today, for the first time, I reflect on how — even though all the disciples fled — this young man followed Jesus until he was seized.

(ii) If this was indeed John Mark, the author of the Gospel of Mark, I ask: What kind of person was he?
John Mark served as an interpreter for Peter, relaying his teachings to Roman Christians. He played a significant role in the early Church, and his mother, Mary, offered her home as a meeting place for believers.

John Mark accompanied Paul and Barnabas on their first missionary journey (Acts 13:5), but left prematurely (Acts 13:13), likely discouraged by the spiritual resistance they faced.
Later, when Barnabas wanted to take Mark again, Paul disagreed — leading to a sharp dispute and their separation (Acts 15:36–40).

However, near the end of Paul’s life, from a Roman prison, he wrote:

“Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.” — 2 Timothy 4:11

This shows that Mark matured over time and became a faithful servant of Christ, ultimately recognized and valued even by Paul (Hokma).

Thus, even if he once fled, John Mark grew through failure and became a faithful disciple.
When all others fled, he at least followed Jesus until he was seized (Mark 14:50–51).
Then, caught by the crowd, he abandoned his garment and ran away naked (v. 51, NIV).