Markus 4:17

4:17 But ¹  they have no root in themselves and do not endure. ²  Then, when trouble or persecution comes because of the word, immediately they fall away.

Markus 8:34-36

Following Jesus

8:34 Then ³  Jesus ⁴  called the crowd, along with his disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wants to become my follower, ⁵  he must deny ⁶  himself, take up his cross, ⁷  and follow me. 8:35 For whoever wants to save his life ⁸  will lose it, ⁹  but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it. 8:36 For what benefit is it for a person ¹⁰  to gain the whole world, yet ¹¹  forfeit his life?

Markus 13:12-13

13:12 Brother will hand over brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise against ¹²  parents and have them put to death. 13:13 You will be hated by everyone because of my name. ¹³  But the one who endures to the end will be saved. ¹⁴ 

[4:17]  ¹ tn Grk “And.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[4:17]  ² tn Grk “are temporary.”

[8:34]  ³ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[8:34]  ⁴ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:34]  ⁵ tn Grk “to follow after me.”

[8:34]  ⁶ 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]  ⁷ 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.

[8:35]  ⁸ tn Or “soul” (throughout vv. 35-37).

[8:35]  ⁹ 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.

[8:36]  ¹⁰ tn Grk “a man,” but ἄνθρωπος (anqrwpo") is used in a generic sense here to refer to both men and women.

[8:36]  ¹¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast present in this context.

[13:12]  ¹² tn Or “will rebel against.”

[13:13]  ¹³ sn See 1 Cor 1:25-31.

[13:13]  ¹⁴ sn But the one who endures to the end will be saved. Jesus was not claiming here that salvation is by works, because he had already taught that it is by grace (cf. 10:15). He was simply arguing that genuine faith evidences itself in persistence through even the worst of trials.