Saving your life means you will lose it (Mk 8:35-8:35)

“Those who want

To save

Their life

Will lose it.

Those who lose

Their life

For my sake

And for the sake

Of the gospel

Will save it.”

 

ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι, ἀπολέσει αὐτήν· ὃς δ’ ἂν ἀπολέσει τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, σώσει αὐτήν.

 

Jesus told his disciples how to save their lives.  Something similar can be found in all 3 synoptic gospels, Matthew, chapter 16:25, Luke, chapter 9:24. and here, almost word for word.  Mark indicated that Jesus said that whoever wished, desired, or wanted to save their life (ὃς γὰρ ἐὰν θέλῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι), they would lose it (ἀπολέσει αὐτήν).  However, anyone who lost their life for the sake of Jesus (ὃς δ’ ἂν ἀπολέσῃ τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἕνεκεν ἐμοῦ), or for the sake of the gospel or good news of Jesus (καὶ τοῦ εὐαγγελίου), they would save their lives (σώσει αὐτήν).  This last phrase was not in the other 2 gospel stories.