The Secret Gospel of Mark is a non-canonical but early text that can be understood to be erotic in nature. This observation was first made by religion scholar Morton Smith. The text, preserved in a fragment attributed to Clement of Alexandria, describes Jesus raising a wealthy young man from the dead. Crucially, the risen man then comes to Jesus “wearing a linen cloth over his naked body” and spends the night being taught divine mysteries. Smith interpreted this intimate scene—of a younger man seeking Jesus while partially nude, followed by a nocturnal vigil—as evidence for an initiatory ritual that included physical, possibly homosexual, union. The passage’s emphasis on exclusive, nocturnal closeness between two male figures has led to persistent scholarly debate, with some viewing it as evidence of early esoteric and even erotic Christian practices. The scene is remarkably like the story of Lazarus’ resurrection in John’s gospel, while the nude fellow is reminiscent of a young man with Jesus in a garden the night of his arrest. Are these hints about Jesus’ sexual orientation? The Queer Squad finds the question worthy of consideration.
