COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 92
“ Mark 8:34 And when He 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. 35 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. 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
(Mark 8:34-37; Matt 16:24-26; Lk 9:23-25)
REQUIREMENTS FOR FOLLOWING JESUS
INTRODUCTION
Christ has just rebuked Peter most severely for balking at the thought of Jesus being rejected and killed. The teaching that follows will confirm that, at that time, the nature of Christ’s mission in the world had not yet been comprehended – even by His disciples. The only person during Christ’s ministry who referred to Him as “Savior” was the Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well of Jacob (John 4:42). Even in that case, it is doubtful that she knew the full import of that term. Mary had exulted in “God my Savior” (Lk 1:47), and the angel had announced the birth of the “Savior” (Lk 2:11). However, the general perception of Jesus was that of One who came to correct things in this world. Even following Christ’s resurrection, the disciples asked Him, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). It was not until Jesus returned triumphantly to heaven that His work of delivering people “from this present evil world” became clear (Gal 1:4). In this text, Jesus begins to prepare the people, together with His disciples, for the real purpose of His coming. As “a Leader and Commander of the people” (Isa 55:4), He would call upon them to hate their lives in this world, counting them secondary to a higher life, and subordinating all purely worldly interests to this higher calling. This teaching is no more popular today than it was during the time of our text. In fact, it is even less acceptable, because the more a people flourish in this world, the less they are inclined to prefer heavenly realities, or prepare for the inevitability of meeting the Lord. We have before us a very important statement of truth.
DENY SELF, TAKE UP HIS CROSS, FOLLOW ME
“ Mk 8:34 And when He 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.”
HE CALLED THE PEOPLE WITH HIS DISCIPLES. Matthew reads, “Jesus said unto His disciples” (Matt 16:24). Luke reads, “He said to them all” (Lk 9:23). Some of Christ’s teaching was intended only for a few – like the Olivet discourse (Matt 24:3; Mk 13:3), His “private” word about having eyes to see (Lk 10:23), and His explanation concerning their inability to cast out a certain demon (Mk 9:28). This word, however, was for all of His followers, or disciples. He told the following to everyone who wanted to come after Him.
COMING AFTER CHRIST. There is such a thing as coming after Christ – “desires to come after Me,” NKJV “wishes,” NASB “want to become,” NRSV “has the desire,” BBE and “intends to come after Me.” AMPLIFIED This is not an advanced desire, but an initial one. Perhaps there has been an association of Jesus with some perceived need. Maybe something that He offers has been appealing to the person – like forgiveness, or receiving eternal life. Whatever the prompting, the Lord declares that there are restrictions concerning who can follow Him, gain advantage from Him, be taught by Him, or enjoy His company. It is true that He came to “seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk 19:10). However, His mission makes certain demands upon would-be followers, and Jesus will not hide those demands from the people.
DENYING SELF. “Let him deny himself,” or “must deny himself,” NIV “ give up all other desires,” BBE “forsake himself,” GENEVA “must say ‘No’ to the things they want,” GWN “disown himself,” YLT and “forget, ignore, disown, and lose sight of himself and his own interests.” AMPLIFIED The person who desires to follow Christ must no longer prefer himself. He must become personally subordinate to Christ. Competing desires must be rejected, and distracting interests vigorously subordinated.
The word “deny” means “lose sight of oneself and one’s own self interests.” THAYER It means to disregard oneself in an unquestionable preference for Christ Himself. It also includes the idea of disowning or renouncing, or having nothing to do with. This all is within the context of wanting to follow Jesus. It is clear, therefore, that following Jesus demands that our love be placed upon Him, that His interests become ours, and that the whole matter will be in sharp conflict with one’s natural desires. This is the exact opposite of the psychological concept of “self esteem,” and loving oneself.
TAKING UP HIS CROSS. “His cross” is the one belonging to the would-be follower. This is not Christ’s cross, which belonged to Him alone, and upon which reconciliation was wrought. The cross to which Jesus now refers relates to the sufferings that have been left “behind” (Col 1:24). Christ’s cross is referred to as “HIS cross” (John 19:17; Col 1:20; 2:14).
All three Gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) include this statement. Luke adds one thought: “take up his cross daily” (Lk 9:23). This is not a “cross” that Christ places upon us. It is one that must be taken up. Other versions read, “pick up,” GWN “shoulder your,” LIVING “carry,” IE and “put the cross on his shoulder.” WILLIAMS It is not possible to do this begrudgingly or unwillingly. By its very nature, this requirement excludes all who do not have a compelling desire to be identified with Jesus, and to do so at all cost.
This is the appointed means of denying self – the crucifixion of the flesh (Gal 5:24). Self is denied when it is upon the cross, and the cross must be personally carried, just like Jesus carried His own cross and headed for “the place of the skull” (John 19:17). Along the way to Golgotha, some relief was given Jesus as another man was compelled to carry His cross (Lk 23:26). Nevertheless, Jesus initially took it up and carried it. So it is with those who desire to follow Jesus. They must pick up their cross of self-crucifixion and carry it every day. In that process, they also will be granted relief – but not until they pick up the cross themselves.
Further, taking up one’s cross cannot be done out of a sense of mere duty. Neither is it something that takes place once for all time, as though once you picked up the cross it remained fixed to your shoulder.
Elsewhere Jesus said, “And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after Me, is not worthy of Me” (Mat 10:38). And again, “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:27). This is not, then, an option that can be ignored.
FOLLOWING HIM. “ . . . and follow Me.” The point is not taking up the cross, but following Jesus! The “following” of reference cannot be done without carrying one’s cross. The way of Jesus is too rigorous for flesh to follow. That is why it is so wicked to present people with convenient religion, and a way that does not demand denying self and carrying a cross. This is the very reason why many professing believers are stunted in their growth. They have not followed Jesus because they did not take up their cross. They have stagnated because they have let “self” and “flesh” live. They have not “hated” their lives (Lk 14:26).
A CHOICE TO SAVE ONE’S LIFE OR LOSE IT
“ 35 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.”
SAVE HIS LIFE. Other versions read, “desires to save,” NKJV “wishes to save,” NASB “wants to save,” NIV “try to hang on to,” NLT “insist on saving,” LIVING “bent on securing,” WEYMOUTH and“Lower, natural, temporal life which is lived only on earth.” AMPLIFIED The Gospel of John reads, “He that loveth his life” (John 12:25). Matthew has Jesus saying earlier, “He that findeth his life” (Matt 10:39). This refers to doing everything possible to preserve earthly life, even if it involves neglecting Jesus and eternal life which comes through Him. In this case, earthly life is primary, the whole of one’s existence and resources is spent in preserving it.
The picture here is that of the inevitable conflict that will arise between man’s preferences and the will of Christ, between man’s way and Christ’s way, between where Jesus is leading and where the person living for this world wants to go. All defection, backsliding, and spiritual retrogression are traced to the love of and preference for life “in this world.” Such a preference, regardless of the defense presented for it, is set in opposition to the will of Christ.
This is the life that must be crucified. It is the life reserved for the cross that one must pick up every day. By its very nature it competes with eternal interests, crying out for prominence and the preeminence.
SHALL LOSE IT. Every Gospel reads the same way: “shall lose it.” Other versions read, “will have it taken from him,” BBE and “will have to give up the lower life.” WILLIAMS The idea is that at an inappropriate time, when the person is not ready to give up his soul, it will be required of him. This is depicted in the person who made every effort to preserve his life by tearing down his old barns and building new ones, seeing he had harvested a bumper crop. He saw his life as being preserved “for many years.” Yet, the word of the Lord came to him: “Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee” (Lk12:19-20). He lost his life!
The inevitable result of attempting above all things to preserve earthly life is that one’s grip upon it will be lost. The life itself will perish, be destroyed, and lost, and there will be nothing to take its place in which satisfying energy can be spent, and fulfillment and satisfaction realized.
LOSE HIS LIFE. To “lose” one’s life is to choose the life of another. It is to abandon purely self-interests. John states it even more precisely: “he that hateth his life in this world” (John 12:25). Two separate lives confront every person who is made aware of Jesus. There is life “in this world,” lived with a view to the things that can be realized in and from this world. The flesh is prominent, and what can be obtained by the natural senses has the unquestionable priority. The person who “loses his life” chooses to make life in this world secondary, or subordinate to the life that comes from God. Rather than making life in the body the main thing, such a person chooses to seek “first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.” This is done in the full persuasion that God will supply one’s earthly needs (Matt 6:33.
MY SAKE. Jesus is not merely promoting an ascetic life, where one submits to a life of poverty and self denial. If this is not done for the sake of following Christ, such a life has no value. This also undergirds the fact that such a denial must take place before the person is even allowed to follow Jesus.
This puts the lie to the notion that anyone can be an “uncommitted Christian,” a “carnal Christian,” or a Christian who has not “made Christ the Lord of his life.” Such phrases are common among professing believers, but they are nothing more than an imagination that needs to be cast down. If self denial is not done for Christ’s sake – that is, so that one can be with Him – it is worthless. Too, if this is not done, one cannot follow Jesus.
THE GOSPEL’S SAKE. Mark adds “and the gospel’s” – “and for the sake of the Gospel” NRSV By this, Jesus means that the benefits of the Gospel cannot be experienced unless a person loses his life in this world. There is, therefore, something in the Gospel itself that makes a person aware that life in this world is not the main life. If the message that is delivered does not promote this idea, then it is not possible that it is the Gospel of Christ, God’s “power unto salvation” (Rom 1:16). It is possible that much of the deficiency in people’s thinking concerning life in this world is owing to the fact that they have not heard the Gospel preached and expounded.
SHALL SAVE IT. “ . . . the same shall save it” – that is, the person who chooses to let go of life in this world. Matthew says of this life, “shall find it” (Mate 16:25). Too “save it” means that life in this world is maintained for a higher reason and with greater benefits. This is so because it is maintained with the prospect of obtaining eternal life. Therefore John’s Gospel reads, “shall keep it unto life eternal” (John 12:25). That is, the person will make a safe and pleasing transition from this world into “the world to come” – “and in the world to come eternal life” (Mark 10:30). The saving of one’s life – or maintaining a profitable grasp upon it – requires the daily and willing abandonment of purely selfish and worldly interests.
WHAT PROFIT IS THERE IN IT?
“ 36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?”
WHAT SHALL IT PROFIT A MAN? Matthew’s gospel reads, “For what is a man profited?” Luke’s gospel reads, “For what is a man advantaged?” Other versions read, “What good is it,” NIV and “What does it benefit.” BBE The word “profit” means “to assist, be useful or advantageous,” THAYER and “help.” FRIBERG
Here Jesus relates profit and advantage with eternity, and one’s ultimate confrontation of “God the Judge of all” (Heb 12:23). How do men think of profit, usefulness, advantage, or benefit? What do they consider to be favorable, worthwhile, profitable, desirable, and satisfactory? Where are their values? Where are their preferences? What are their ambitions? That is what the Lord now sets before those who desire to follow Him – for that is the kind of person He is addressing: whoever would “come after” Him, or “follow” Him.
GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD. Men may speak of a house, a million dollars, winning the lottery, or getting everything they really want. Jesus does not waste time with such limited desires. He rather speaks of gaining, or obtaining, “the whole world” – all of it. That is, that everything in the world – all of it – was at your disposal, and in unlimited amounts.
Solomon had an extraordinary amount of wisdom, and a staggering measure of riches (2 Kgs 10:23) – but he did not have “the whole world.” Abraham was “very rich in cattle, in silver, and in gold” (Gen 13:2) – but he did not have “the whole world.” In fact, there is no example in the Scriptures or in history where a person gained “the whole world.” It is written that “the whole world” lies under the sway of the wicked one (1 John 5:19). But even he does not possess it all. Gaining all of the world would be a singular feat, never before accomplished by any of Adam’s offspring. What advantage would it bring? That is Jesus’ question.
LOSE HIS OWN SOUL. To lose your soul is to lose your life, or yourself. It is to cease to be in any way advantaged by one’s existence. It is to lose all benefit, all advantage, and all satisfaction. Other versions read, “forfeit his own soul,” NASB “forfeit his life,” RSV “lose his life,” MRD and “forfeit his life [in the eternal kingdom of God]?” AMPLIFIED Luke’s gospel reads, “and lose himself, or be a cast away” (Lk 9:25). The idea is that of being thrust away from the Source of life, the living God. This is another way of referring to damnation, condemnation, or being cast into the lake of life. The ordinary view of condemnation is that it is imposed upon sinners by God Himself. Here Jesus accents that it is also the result of a deliberate choice of the transitory over the eternal. Eternal life was offered in Christ, but the person exchanged it for the baubles of this present evil world.
Jesus has already stated that in order to follow Him men must hate their lives in this world, choosing to make them subordinate to the will of God. They must deny themselves and take up their cross before they will even be allowed to follow Him. All of that postulates they will make no attempt to “gain the whole world,” or even a significant measure of it.
Jesus is not saying a person could, in fact, gain the whole world, and still be one of His followers. How could this be if His kingdom is “not of this world” (John 18:36). He Himself is “not of this world” (John 8:23), and the people who follow Him are “not of the world” (John 15:19; 17:14,16). How could the Savior lead any persons to pursue the world from which He was delivering them? If the earth and all of the works within it are going to be “burned up” (2 Pet 3:10), what would lead any serious soul to imagine they could possess it all, yet not be burned up with it? Did not Jesus say it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven (Matt 19:24)?
WHAT WILL A MAN GIVE IN EXCHANGE? “Or what shall as man give in exchange for his soul?” Other versions read, “give in return for their life,” RSV “offer in exchange for his life,” NJB “redeem his soul again,” TNT “What can a person to trade for his soul?” IE “buy back his life,” WEYMOUTH and “What can a man offer to buy back his soul once he has lost it?” PHILLIPS
Here, Jesus projects our thinking to the day of judgment. He has already said that the person who desires to save his life in this world will, in fact, lose it. Now, He considers the one who has, in reality, lived out his life for himself, without proper regard for Christ and the Gospel. What will he be able to use to gain his life back again? What commodity is there that has enough value to gain one’s life back again? All men’s lives have been “bought with a price” (1 Cor 6:20) – the “precious blood of Christ” (1 Pet 1:18-19). However, the person who lives for self forfeits all of the benefits of that purchase.
Now, when those who have neglected that purchase stand before the Lord of glory, what they have chosen to accent in this world will appear for what it is – worthless! They have lost their lives because of their worldly preferences. They have spurned the Savior, refusing to follow Him. Now, what can they present that is more valuable than His blood? What can they offer to compensate for their failure to follow Jesus, even after He had told them what was required to do so? They exchanged their life for death, and now there is nothing to gain it back!