Mark 8:35

Commentary on Mark 8:35

King James Version (public domain):
Mark 8:35 – “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.”

1. Setting the Scene in Mark Chapter 8

Mark chapter 8[i] is a turning point in the Gospel. Jesus feeds the four thousand (Mark 8:1–9 – “I have compassion on the multitude…”), confronts the unbelief of the Pharisees (Mark 8:11–13 – “there shall no sign be given unto this generation”), warns the disciples about spiritual blindness (Mark 8:14–21 – “Having eyes, see ye not?”), heals a blind man in stages (Mark 8:22–26), and then leads the disciples to the crucial confession of Peter (Mark 8:29 – “Thou art the Christ.”).

Immediately after Peter’s confession, Jesus teaches plainly about His coming suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection (Mark 8:31 – “the Son of man must suffer many things…”). Peter rebukes Him, and Jesus responds sharply (Mark 8:33 – “Get thee behind me, Satan…”).

It is in this context that Jesus calls the crowd and His disciples and lays down the cost of discipleship (Mark 8:34–38). Verse 35 sits at the heart of this teaching.

2. Exegetical Commentary on Mark 8:35

“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it…”

Jesus exposes the natural human instinct for self-preservation. The word “life” translates the Greek psyche, meaning not merely physical existence but the whole self: identity, desires, ambitions, and self-rule.

To “save” one’s life is to cling to autonomy, comfort, reputation, and earthly security. Jesus warns that such self-protection leads ultimately to loss. This echoes His later words in Mark 10:31 – “But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.”

“…but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel’s…”

Here Jesus defines true discipleship. Losing one’s life is not primarily martyrdom, though it includes that possibility. It is the daily surrender of self-rule. It is the willingness to follow Christ wherever He leads, even when it costs reputation, comfort, or safety.

The phrase “for my sake and the gospel’s” is crucial. This is not loss for loss’s sake. It is purposeful, Christ-centred surrender. It is the life shaped by the cross.

“…the same shall save it.”

This is the great paradox of the kingdom. True life is found only when surrendered to Christ. This aligns with Jesus’ teaching in Mark 8:36 – “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”

The Christian tradition rightly sees this as the call to deny self-righteousness, abandon self-salvation, and trust wholly in Christ. It is also the call to sanctification: the Spirit-led putting to death of the old self and the rising of the new.

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3. Theological Insights

1. The Lordship of Christ

Jesus claims absolute authority over the believer’s life. Discipleship is not an optional extra; it is the shape of Christian existence.
Romans 14:8 – “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord.”

2. The Cost of Discipleship

Grace is free, but it is never cheap. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone, yet the faith that saves is never alone. It produces a life of obedience and surrender.
Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works…”

3. The Paradox of the Gospel

The kingdom reverses worldly logic. Life comes through death. Gain comes through loss. Glory comes through the cross.
John 12:24 – “Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone…”

4. The Work of the Holy Spirit

Only the Spirit can enable a person to deny self and follow Christ. This is not moral heroism but spiritual transformation.
Galatians 5:24 – “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh…”

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4. Meditation Guide

A. Reflective Questions

• Where am I trying to “save my life” by clinging to control, comfort, or reputation?
• What might it look like today to “lose my life for Christ’s sake and the gospel’s”?
• How does the cross shape my decisions, priorities, and relationships?
• Am I resisting Christ’s call to surrender in any area of my life?

B. Prayerful Response

“Lord Jesus, You call me to follow You with my whole life. Teach me to surrender my desires, fears, and ambitions. Help me trust that Your way leads to true life. By Your Spirit, make me willing to lose my life for Your sake and the gospel’s.”

C. Practical Steps for the Week

• Choose one area of life where you sense Christ calling you to surrender control.
• Practise a small act of self-denial that directs your heart toward Christ.
• Speak openly about the gospel with one person, trusting Christ rather than fearing rejection.
• Set aside time to meditate on the cross and its implications for your daily life.

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[i] Mark 8

King James Version

8 In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them,

2 I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:

3 And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.

4 And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?

5 And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.

6 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people.

7 And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.

8 So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.

9 And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.

10 And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came into the parts of Dalmanutha.

11 And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.

12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.

13 And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the other side.

14 Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the ship with them more than one loaf.

15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

16 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.

17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?

18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?

19 When I brake the five loaves among five thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? They say unto him, Twelve.

20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.

21 And he said unto them, How is it that ye do not understand?

22 And he cometh to Bethsaida; and they bring a blind man unto him, and besought him to touch him.

23 And he took the blind man by the hand, and led him out of the town; and when he had spit on his eyes, and put his hands upon him, he asked him if he saw ought.

24 And he looked up, and said, I see men as trees, walking.

25 After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly.

26 And he sent him away to his house, saying, Neither go into the town, nor tell it to any in the town.

27 And Jesus went out, and his disciples, into the towns of Caesarea Philippi: and by the way he asked his disciples, saying unto them, Whom do men say that I am?

28 And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

29 And he saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Peter answereth and saith unto him, Thou art the Christ.

30 And he charged them that they should tell no man of him.

31 And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.

32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.

33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.

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?

38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.