August 19th 2018
To Die Is To Live!
Mark 8:34-35 (NIV)
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
The principle expressed in this verse must be of paramount importance, for it is found repeated in one way or another probably more often than any other single principle in the New Testament. Mark’s version of what Jesus said includes the praise “and for the gospel will save it.” This is interesting to me as it placed an extreme importance on the Gospel, at the time of it being written. Today all we have readily available is the Bible for us to study and to learn what Jesus said when He walked this earth. Of course, we have the Holy Spirit available to us to help us better understand the guidance supplied by the Scriptures. It seems important to mention here that at the time of Jesus saying this, the New Testament did not yet exist. Thus, Jesus is expressing His acceptance of the Old Testament as being God’s Word. Jesus often quoted the Old Testament when He still walked on this earth.
Jesus was teaching here about how His followers must not come to love this world and the lifestyle it may offer. Jesus is saying we must die to this life before we can obtain the promised life for eternity. I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:24-25). Jesus here is comparing how His followers can share this account to influence other people to believe, thus multiplying potential believers, as a single seed will produce other seeds through its death. Jesus is telling us if we love this life, then we may forfeit our acceptance of the eternal life being offered. Jesus said, “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
What was the first sin? It was not disobedience but pride? Believing we know more than God, or we have a better idea! Listening to advice from someone or something that seems to know more than God! The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’" "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked. (Genesis 3:2-7a)
Nakedness is not a problem in a sin free world! In this world “sex sells!” To God we are all naked, that is our clothing is not what God sees! God sees our heart not our body. Remember what God said to Samuel when he was sent by God to select the new king for the Israelites. The LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1Samuel 16:7). Is your heart ready for a viewing by God?
Because of sin, this world became cursed and followers of Jesus must live in this world, but they must not love their life, so much that they believe their good deeds will earn them a place in heaven, when they die! Jesus tried to make this idea clear to His followers, by telling them they are to hate this cursed life, so they will seek a relationship with Him. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26-27). People who were crucified were made to carry their cross to the site of their crucifixion. Therefore, followers of Jesus are to carry a cross, so to speak to show their dedication to Jesus. Knowing that the end of this life is not the end, but the beginning of their sinless new life with Jesus for eternity.
We are not supposed to cling to this life expecting fulfillment from our lifestyle to bring us happiness. True happiness can be obtained by knowing that our salvation has been assured by Jesus death and resurrection showing the way for our resurrection, when Jesus returns to accompany us to heaven. Jesus told His disciples that He would come back and take them to where He is! What a wonderful promise that is! In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:2-6).
So, do not cling to this life and fail to have time to follow Jesus! This life is too short to forfeit eternity with Jesus. Jesus talked about how we can be joyful by following His commands. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:10-12). This sounds better than carrying a cross! Jesus wishes for His joy to overflow to us. Jesus said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” Is your joy being completed by following Jesus? Paul wrote about being joyful. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Tell somebody about this wonderful story, and maybe they will believe you!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
Mark 8:34-35 (NIV)
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.
The principle expressed in this verse must be of paramount importance, for it is found repeated in one way or another probably more often than any other single principle in the New Testament. Mark’s version of what Jesus said includes the praise “and for the gospel will save it.” This is interesting to me as it placed an extreme importance on the Gospel, at the time of it being written. Today all we have readily available is the Bible for us to study and to learn what Jesus said when He walked this earth. Of course, we have the Holy Spirit available to us to help us better understand the guidance supplied by the Scriptures. It seems important to mention here that at the time of Jesus saying this, the New Testament did not yet exist. Thus, Jesus is expressing His acceptance of the Old Testament as being God’s Word. Jesus often quoted the Old Testament when He still walked on this earth.
Jesus was teaching here about how His followers must not come to love this world and the lifestyle it may offer. Jesus is saying we must die to this life before we can obtain the promised life for eternity. I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. (John 12:24-25). Jesus here is comparing how His followers can share this account to influence other people to believe, thus multiplying potential believers, as a single seed will produce other seeds through its death. Jesus is telling us if we love this life, then we may forfeit our acceptance of the eternal life being offered. Jesus said, “The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
What was the first sin? It was not disobedience but pride? Believing we know more than God, or we have a better idea! Listening to advice from someone or something that seems to know more than God! The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’" "You will not surely die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil."
When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked. (Genesis 3:2-7a)
Nakedness is not a problem in a sin free world! In this world “sex sells!” To God we are all naked, that is our clothing is not what God sees! God sees our heart not our body. Remember what God said to Samuel when he was sent by God to select the new king for the Israelites. The LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." (1Samuel 16:7). Is your heart ready for a viewing by God?
Because of sin, this world became cursed and followers of Jesus must live in this world, but they must not love their life, so much that they believe their good deeds will earn them a place in heaven, when they die! Jesus tried to make this idea clear to His followers, by telling them they are to hate this cursed life, so they will seek a relationship with Him. "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:26-27). People who were crucified were made to carry their cross to the site of their crucifixion. Therefore, followers of Jesus are to carry a cross, so to speak to show their dedication to Jesus. Knowing that the end of this life is not the end, but the beginning of their sinless new life with Jesus for eternity.
We are not supposed to cling to this life expecting fulfillment from our lifestyle to bring us happiness. True happiness can be obtained by knowing that our salvation has been assured by Jesus death and resurrection showing the way for our resurrection, when Jesus returns to accompany us to heaven. Jesus told His disciples that He would come back and take them to where He is! What a wonderful promise that is! In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?" Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:2-6).
So, do not cling to this life and fail to have time to follow Jesus! This life is too short to forfeit eternity with Jesus. Jesus talked about how we can be joyful by following His commands. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. (John 15:10-12). This sounds better than carrying a cross! Jesus wishes for His joy to overflow to us. Jesus said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” Is your joy being completed by following Jesus? Paul wrote about being joyful. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Tell somebody about this wonderful story, and maybe they will believe you!
Your brother in life through Adam, your brother in eternity through Jesus,
Bob Moak
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