The nickname Stubby-Fingers was attributed to Mark, the Evangelist, from the earliest days of the Church. Why? The ancient world loved using such short forms, just as we do. Like "old Copper-Guts" or "Golden-Tongued," it didn't really refer to physical features so much as an unusual or defining personal characteristic.
In Mark's case, we know from his gospel, that he liked to write things down as he heard them. One of his favorites words, used over and over again, is "immediately"--at least six time in first chapter alone. Count them! In this earnest, breathless style, Mark recorded the details of Jesus' ministry as he heard them from Paul, and Peter, and those who had seen Him. Compared with the other gospel writers, Mark's manner of speech is simple, declarative, and sometimes a little clipped, like a reporter who wants to get out the facts of the matter.
What do we know about him? From the beginning he was identified as John Mark, the nephew of Barnabas, and described in the Book of Acts, Ch. 13, as accompanying his uncle and Paul on their first missionary journey, only to loose heart and return home in the middle of their travels. Later, we find him reconciled to Paul, who wrote to Timothy from his prison cell in Rome, "Bring Mark with you, for I find him a useful assistant." 2 Timothy Ch. 4, vs. 12.
Younger than the twelve Apostles, tradition places him in Rome during Peter's ministry and imprisonment, and eventual execution. It is reasonable to suppose that his Gospel records what he heard from him.
Mark also gives us a tantalizing glimpse of what happened the night Jesus was betrayed in the Garden of Gethsemane. He reports the very words of Jesus' agonizing prayer, "Lord, not my will, but Thine be done." With all the other disciples asleep, who would have heard that, except for his comment that "a certain young man followed Him, with nothing on but a linen cloth. They tried to seize him, but he slipped out of the linen cloth and ran away naked." Ch. 14, vs. 51-52. A breathless and unforgettable incident, noted in none of the other gospels.
Could this be Mark, giving us a glimpse of himself, as a curious teenager, following from the upper room in his nightshirt and watching from the shadows, and when surprised and grabbed, wriggling out of it and running home naked?
No wonder he was out of breath! Under those circumstances, wouldn't you run home too? Immediately? Stubby-Fingers!
QUESTION: In each chapter, how many times can you count the use of the word "immediately"? Report your result by clicking on the comment button below, and entering the chapter and number. It's easy! Note: different versions may yield slightly different results, as the word for "immediately" , or euthus in the original Greek, is sometimes rendered ""directly" or "straightway", or in some other way.
Go ahead and pick a chapter, any chapter, and try it!
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