Mark 8: Live in Denial

According to Mark’s Gospel, following Jesus includes living in denial. This is not a denial of reality or denial of responsibility, but a denial of self. Mark 8:34-36 expresses it this way:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?”

We must give up to grow up, or as John the Baptizer wrote, he must increase, I must decrease.

Only then are we truly following Jesus.

Live in denial.

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Dillon Burroughs has written, co-written, or edited over 60 books, including the upcoming devotional work Thirst No More (October 2011). He served as an associate editor for The Apologetics Study Bible for Students and is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. Find out more at DillonBurroughs.org.