One who tries to preserve his own life by avoiding self-denial and martyrdom will end up losing it in the final judgment and has no share in eternal life (John 12:25). Whoever is willing to lay down his life for Christ’s cause, to give up his life in self-denial and in martyrdom, shall inherit true life. These words from Matthew 10:39 about finding and losing life continued to guide the disciples (Matthew 16:25,Mark 8:35,Luke 9:24,Luke 17:33; John 12:25). Jesus thus shows the apostles both their calling and their future.
The man who tries to preserve his own life by means of avoiding self-denial and martyrdom will eventually end up losing it in the final judgment and has no share in eternal life (see John 12:25). He, however, who is willing to lay down his life for Christ’s cause—that is, willing to give up his life in self-denial and in martyrdom—shall inherit true life. That the words from Matthew 10:39 about finding and losing life stayed with the disciples and continually guided them is evident from Matthew 16:25, Mark 8:35, Luke 9:24, Luke 17:33, and John 12:25.1 Jesus therefore holds before the apostles both their calling and their future. Its climax is this: to be willing to give up everything for Jesus, even life itself, if he requires it.2
39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.