Calling the crowd along with his disciples, he said to them, 

"If anyone wants to follow after me, 

let him deny himself,

take up his cross,

and follow me.

For whoever wants to save his life

will lose it

but whoever loses his life  because of me

and the gospel

will save it.

Mark 8:34-35 CSB

These feel like harsh words from Jesus. 

But look back at what's been happening.

Miraculous feeding of thousands.

Healings.

The crowd wanting to make Jesus king.

Both Jesus disciples and the people were missing something important.

Something bigger.

Jesus wasn't (& isn't) just about sorting out the world as it is, my world, my problems.

Those were signs.

If you're following Jesus to fix this life, to "save your life", the life you want or think you deserve, then you're missing something.

I'm missing something.

Something important.

For me, the noise of our world can drown out the larger reality of God's story. That success in the here and now is the thing.

Saving this life.

This lifestyle.

And Jesus through these verses is quietly saying "mmm but there's more"

What's He saying to you?

#gospelofmark

#wordsofJesus

#monday

#Godsgym