Markus 8:35

35 Denn wer sein Leben will behalten, der wird's verlieren; und wer sein Leben verliert um meinet-und des Evangeliums willen, der wird's behalten.

Markus 8:35 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 8:35

For whosoever will save his life
Life is a valuable thing, and all that a man has he will give for it; self preservation is a principle in nature; and it becomes every man to take all lawful methods to save his life, when it is threatened, or is in danger: but whoever is willing to save it, when it is called for to be laid down for Christ's sake; and rather than lay it down, will deny Christ, and give up a profession of him, and his Gospel,

shall lose it:
he shall not enjoy it with honour and comfort now, and much less with peace, pleasure, and happiness hereafter, but shall be under the power of the second death:

but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospel's;
that is, shall willingly part with it when he is called to it, rather than deny Christ and his Gospel,

the same shall save it:
though he will lose it now, he will find it again in the resurrection of life; for he will rise to eternal life; when such, who have apostatized from Christ, will rise to shame, and everlasting contempt: this man will have greatly the advantage over such; they will die the second death, or be destroyed soul and body in hell; and he will live for ever with Christ, in endless pleasure and glory; (See Gill on Matthew 16:25).

Markus 8:35 In-Context

33 Er aber wandte sich um und sah seine Jünger an und bedrohte Petrus und sprach: Gehe hinter mich, du Satan! denn du meinst nicht, was göttlich, sondern was menschlich ist.

34 Und er rief zu sich das Volk samt seinen Jüngern und sprach zu ihnen: Wer mir will nachfolgen, der verleugne sich selbst und nehme sein Kreuz auf sich und folge mir nach.

35 Denn wer sein Leben will behalten, der wird's verlieren; und wer sein Leben verliert um meinet-und des Evangeliums willen, der wird's behalten.

36 Was hülfe es dem Menschen, wenn er die ganze Welt gewönne, und nähme an seiner Seele Schaden?

37 Oder was kann der Mensch geben, damit er seine Seele löse.