Mark 8:35

Jesus used the word "life" (Gr. psyche) in two ways in this verse. The translation of this Greek word as "soul" here has caused some people to conclude that Jesus was only warning about the loss of salvation. He was not. In its first occurrence in each clause, "life" refers to one’s physical life. In the second part of each clause "it" means the essential person that continues to exist beyond the grave. Likewise "lose" has two meanings. In the first clause it means the loss of reward for believers or the loss of salvation for unbelievers. In the second clause it means loss of physical life.

Jesus meant that if a person wants to retain control of his or her life now, he or she will suffer the loss of something more valuable in the future. Conversely if a person will relinquish control of his or her life to follow God’s will faithfully, he or she will gain something of greater ultimate worth. [Note: See Narry F. Santos, "Jesus’ Paradoxical Teaching in Mark 8:35; 9:35; and 10:43-44," Bibliotheca Sacra 157:625 (January-March 2000):15-25.]

"The calm assertion, ’for my sake,’ reflects Christ’s consciousness of His unique supremacy which justly claims the absolute allegiance of His disciples. And the gospel’s, added only in Mark (cf. Mark 10:29), points to the message which he accepts and propagates at the cost of himself. The two form two sides of one great reality. Christ is known to us only through the gospel, and our adherence to the gospel means our loyalty to Him." [Note: Hiebert, p. 209.]

"In the second half of Mark ’the gospel’ always denotes the message announced by the Church, of which Jesus is the content (Chs. Mark 8:35; Mark 10:29; Mark 13:10; Mark 14:9), precisely as in Ch. Mark 1:1." [Note: Lane, p. 309.]