Think Wink.

Last Sunday I preached on Mark’s theme of going to the cross. All over Mark’s gospel text the reader sees that the Messiah, namely Jesus, must suffer and die. Jesus instructs his disciples, and any who wish to be his disciples, to follow that path. To walk behind him. This becomes most explicit in both Matthew 16:13-28 and Mark 8:27-9:1 when Peter confesses Jesus to be the Messiah. When Peter makes the great confession, Jesus instructs his disciples that he must die and be raised on the third day. In both accounts Jesus rebukes Peter and then speaks of anyone who desires to follow Jesus must deny self, take up one’s cross and follow Jesus. Now compare the following statements by Jesus in Matthew 16 and Mark 8 in the NET.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find [εὑρήσει] it. (Matthew 16:25 NETS)

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save [σώσει] it. (Mark 8:35 NET)

Now note that Matthew and Mark do not read the same, but the statements are in a similar context. My question for all who read this is this: what is the difference between Matthew using εὑρίσκω while Mark uses σῴζω? What is the significance of such a choice in words? What does σῴζω convey that εὑρίσκω doesn’t, and vice-a-versa? Or is this just two words being used the same? After all Mark uses σῴζω twice in Mark 8:35 and Matthew parallels σῴζω with εὑρίσκω in Matthew 16:25. Just think about it.

Related posts:

An Exegetical Insight

“Son of Man” and Jesus

The Jesus Christ Gospel According to Mark pt 1