Mark 8:36-38
Mark 8:36 (KJB)
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his
own soul?
Jesus then asks two important questions that one must ponder. If a person gains
the whole world and rules it and has free reign to go anywhere and have anything
they want, what profit is it if they lose their own soul? This world is
fleeting. (1 John 2:17 KJV) And the world passeth away, and the lust
thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever. How does a
person profit if they gain the whole world for a few fleeting years and lose
their soul for eternity? They profit nothing!
Mark 8:37 (KJB)
Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Then Jesus asks a second cutting question. What shall a man give in exchange for
his soul? The word “exchange” in the Greek carries with it another meaning of
“equivalent.” What in this fleeting world is equivalent to an eternal soul? What
is of such temporary value that it is equal to an eternity in the Lake of Fire?
Nothing and unfortunately many will find out that worldly pursuits were nothing
but vanity and a waste of a good life. (Eccl 1:2 KJV) Vanity of vanities,
saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is vanity.
Mark 8:38 (KJB)
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.
(Mark 8:35 KJV) 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. Verse 38 is basically a verse of parallel meaning to verse 35. In verse
35 Jesus is stating that a person must be fully sold out to the Gospel by means
of having it permeate every facet of their life. In this verse we are reading
that one must be vocal for the Lord Jesus Christ being a testimony for Him in
this adulterous and evil generation which is speaking about the entire time
sinful man is on this earth. A person claims to be a Christian and then does
absolutely nothing with their life in the realm of being a witness for the Lord
Jesus, then they are showing that they are ashamed of the Lord Jesus and His
words. For some Christians, it is easier to quote theologians than to quote
Jesus Himself because they fear the ridicule of the world. If that is the case
with any person who claims to be a Christian, then Jesus will show that He is
ashamed of them because so many Christians in this world have become martyrs for
the Lord. This person will be an outcast and Jesus will not claim him as one of
His own. Jesus suffered and died for the true Christian and we need to proclaim
that and not keep it to ourselves. (2 Tim 1:8 KJV) Be not thou therefore
ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou
partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that he should not be ashamed of the testimony
of the Lord and of him who was in prison. Those who would show shame for the
Gospel are those who do not want to take the persecution which comes with it.
Normally these are the unbelievers who only affirm the Gospel when it is
convenient or have no chance of persecution. Those who are ashamed of the Lord
are those who are unbelievers who claim to be Christians. Some Christians may be
timid but that does not mean they are unbelievers.