Keraia
Mark 8

Mark 8:35

Take Up Your Cross · Mark 8:34–38
Read Mark 8

Translations

Modern
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.
Traditional
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s, the same shall save it.
Literal
For whoever may want to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life on account of Me and of the gospel, he will save it.
Latin
Qui enim voluerit animam suam salvam facere, perdet eam: qui autem perdiderit animam suam propter me, et Evangelium, salvam faciet eam.

Interlinear

Greek
English
For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and for the gospel will save it.

Notes

Mark 8:35

If a person tries to save his life by rejecting Jesus, that person will lose it in the next world. But if you give your life to Jesus and the spread of the gospel, you will save it forever.

Mark 8:34–38

  • Jesus invites his disciples and the crowd to understand what following him will cost them.

  • must deny himself: This means letting Jesus decide your goals and purposes in life. Taking up your cross is a metaphor (compare Luke 9:23). It means being faithful to Jesus, even to the point of death if necessary. Following the teachings and example of Jesus requires continual commitment.

Mark 8:31–38

Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and that He must be killed and after three days rise again: Jesus now clearly predicted what he had previously revealed in a hidden way (2:19–20). In response, Peter objected, so Jesus taught him and the other disciples the nature of his mission and what it really means to follow him.

Mark 8:27–38

Peter’s declaration that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah, God’s chosen king) and the first prediction of his death mark a turning point in the Gospel of Mark. This begins a new stage in his ministry. The question, “Who is this?” asked by the disciples in 4:41, is now answered by Peter.

Mark 8:27–9:1

This section is the first cycle (a repeated pattern) that includes three parts:

  • Jesus predicts his suffering (8:31),

  • the disciples respond with misunderstanding (8:32–33), and

  • Jesus teaches about discipleship (what it means to follow him; 8:34–9:1).

Compare with 9:30–10:31.

Events

Parallels

Matthew 16:24–28 Luke 9:23–27

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Crucifixion Gospel Jesus Christ Life Mark, Gospel of

Topics

Being Ashamed of God Confessing Christ: Persecution should not Prevent Us From Dying to Self Jesus Requires Self-Denial and |Crosses| Jesus, the Christ: Foretells his own Death and Resurrection (Near Caesarea Philippi) Jesus, the Christ: Miracles of One Blind Man Cured Paradox: General Scriptures Concerning Righteous: Promises To, Expressed or Implied Self-Denial: General Scriptures Concerning The Gospel: Promises to Sufferers The Gospel: Those Who Receive, should Sacrifice Life Itself For Worldliness: General Scriptures Concerning