Mark 8:34

Following Jesus

8:34 Then ¹  Jesus ²  called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, ³  he must deny ⁴  himself, take up his cross, ⁵  and follow me.

Mark 10:42

10:42 Jesus called them and said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those in high positions use their authority over them.

Mark 12:43

12:43 He called his disciples and said to them, “I tell you the truth, ⁶  this poor widow has put more into the offering box ⁷  than all the others. ⁸ 

[8:34]  ¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[8:34]  ² tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:34]  ³ tn Grk “to follow after me.”

[8:34]  ⁴ tn This translation better expresses the force of the Greek third person imperative than the traditional “let him deny,” which could be understood as merely permissive.

[8:34]  ⁵ sn To bear the cross means to accept the rejection of the world for turning to Jesus and following him. Discipleship involves a death that is like a crucifixion; see Gal 6:14.

[12:43]  ⁶ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

[12:43]  ⁷ tn See the note on the term “offering box” in v. 41.

[12:43]  ⁸ sn Has put more into the offering box than all the others. With God, giving is weighed evaluatively, not counted. The widow was praised because she gave sincerely and at some considerable cost to herself.