If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.
My Thoughts: This is a perplexing statement which I call, Jesus’ paradox. If you hang onto your life, you will lose it, but if you will give up your life, you will save it. What? It seems to contradict itself. In Luke 17:33, it does not record the phrase, “for my sake and the for sake of the Good News” and in Matthew 10:39, it only records, “for my sake.” Since the resurrection of Jesus, some have interpreted this to mean, martyrdom and during the Dark Ages, priests would beat themselves trying to lose themselves. In today’s church many interpret this to mean giving up all you giving up everything in order to preach the Gospel. Jesus makes two sayings after verse 35, which brings some understanding to this paradoxical statement. First, Jesus asks the question, “Is anything worth your soul?” Then, next he states, “If anyone is ashamed of me and my message...I will be ashamed of that person....” To identify with Jesus is to become like Him. Jesus was not a self serving person. He lived to love and serve. Jesus is saying your soul was made in the likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). Sin is to turn away from God’s likeness to do anything that contradicts the likeness of God. How do we know what the likeness of God is? We look to Jesus, who is the perfect reflection of God (Colossians 1:15). God is love (1 John 4:8) and Jesus perfectly reflects who God is. Our true self was created to reflect this benevolence in all we say and do. On the other hand, our mean spirited, selfish, and sinful self, is the opposite of the image and likeness of God. In order to discover our true identity, we must die to our sinful and selfish self. How do we do that? Reflect the characteristics of God’s love in all we say and do. What are the characteristics of God’s Love? 1 Corinthians 13:
Application: My entire life. These verses impact my heart, soul, and mind.
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