Mark 8:35

8:35 For whoever wants to save his life ¹  will lose it, ²  but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it.

Mark 9:37

9:37 “Whoever welcomes ³  one of these little children ⁴  in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.”

¹ tn Or “soul” (throughout vv. 35-37).

² sn The point of the saying whoever wants to save his life will lose it is that if one comes to Jesus then rejection by many will certainly follow. If self-protection is a key motivation, then one will not respond to Jesus and will not be saved. One who is willing to risk rejection will respond and find true life.

³ tn This verb, δέχομαι (decomai), is a term of hospitality (L&N 34.53).

⁴ sn Children were very insignificant in ancient culture, so this child would be the perfect object lesson to counter the disciples’ selfish ambitions.