A Reflection on Mark 8

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? (Mark 8:34-37)

This last Sunday we heard these words of Jesus. They are familiar to us all—the sort of words we hear quoted in all sorts of situations. The saying is that “familiarity breeds contempt,” but in reality, it is far more likely to breed apathy. Familiar people get taken for granted. Familiar pleasures lose their luster. Familiar words become metaphors with no reference point, empty proverbs, and greeting card sentiments. They become words we stop thinking about, stop feeling anything about, and stop caring about. At times, we need to slow down, and let familiar words sink deep into our souls.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.”

“Let him deny himself.”

How can we deny ourselves? Does this mean we give up our jobs, and go live in a monastery? Work in a rescue mission? Give away our possessions? How exactly does one give up herself? We all know what it means to be denied, for we have all been in a situation where we didn’t get our way, where our viewpoint didn’t matter, or where we were overlooked. Is Jesus really calling us to do this to ourselves? Are we supposed to always let others go first, speak first, be first?

Part of the threat of this call is the fear of losing ourselves. It means that we might have to relinquish our place, our desires, even our identity. If we don’t stand up for ourselves, who will? If we don’t express ourselves and speak for ourselves, will we cease to matter?

But Jesus is clear—those who seek to save their lives will lose them, and those who lose their lives for the sake of Jesus will save them. We may struggle to believe this, but he is clear. Attempting to preserve our place, our voice, and our identity doesn’t work. We can’t give life to ourselves, no matter how hard we try. And if we let go of ourselves, if we listen and serve rather than speak and seek our own way, we will be given life. As Jim Elliot said, “he is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

As we travel through Lent, through this period of preparation and self-denial, let us willingly give up ourselves! Let us give up ourselves for the sake of Jesus, for the sake of the gospel, and for the sake of others. Let us give up ourselves not stoically or in misery, but instead in joy, because we are walking in the footsteps of the Savior, who has promised to give life to all who follow him!

Steven+