Mark wrote when Jesus, “had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me”, and in chapter eight and verse thirty-five of his book, Mark shared how Jesus said, “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” where we read:
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.
The verse reads, “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it;” Mark began with the words, “For whosoever” which means “because, since and on account that whatever person whether male or female” “will save his life” or “has in mind, intends and desires to keep safe and sound, rescue from danger and destruction and preserve their own breath of life, vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing with the soul of the feelings, desires, affections and aversion” “shall lose it” which means “has in mind, intends and desires to destroy, put out of the way entirely, abolish, put to ruin and render useless their own life”. Mark shared how Jesus said whatever person desires to “preserve and rescue” their own “life” will actually “ruin and make useless” their own “life”.
The verse continues, “but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” Mark added the words, “but whosoever” which means “nevertheless, more over and whatever person whether male or female” “shall lose his life” or “has in mind, intends and desires to destroy, put out of the way entirely, abolish, put to ruin and render useless their own breath of life, vital force which animates the body and shows itself in breathing with the soul of the feelings, desires, affections and aversion” “for my sake” which means “on account of, for the sake of and for the cause of Jesus” “and the gospel's” or “and the glad tidings and news of the Kingdom of God which is soon to be set up and subsequently also of Jesus the Messiah and the founder of this Kingdom”, “the same shall save it” which means “that same person whether male or female will keep safe and sound, rescue from danger and destruction and preserve their own life”. Mark shared how the person who will “abolish and put out of the way entirely” their own “life” will actually “preserve and keep” their “life”.
When we consider Mark's words in this verse, we discover the way to have true “life” within this world. Jesus said in order to “save” one's life, they must “lose” their life. In other words, rather than the attention being upon themselves all the time, they think upon Jesus and His “gospel”. There is no greater “life” found among men than the one who has made “Jesus” and God's “good news” of “salvation” the focus of their lives. In a day when scripture concerning “self” has been fulfilled, “For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.” (See 2 Timothy 3:2-5) , Jesus instructs all who will listen to “deny” themselves, “take up their cross” and “follow” Him. This true “life” of “self denial” comes when a person humbles themselves and yields to Jesus as their “Savior and Lord”, and all who do will find the greatest “life” they may ever live.
Next time Mark shares how Jesus says, “what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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