What Can Anyone Give in Exchange for Their Soul?

I’m reading today and ran across this scripture, and it stopped me cold. I had to read and re-read it several times because I was just contemplating what it means, to me to others to God.

Mark 8: 37    37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 

Before I go any further, let me do one of my constant “things” I do when looking at particular verse. I like to read it in context, both before and after it so I can see what is being said here so here is the entire section in Mark.

Mark 8: 34-38    The Way of the Cross   34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save their life[b] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? 37 Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? 38 If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

So the question is what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? Meaning what is your soul worth. If you asked Jesus he would tell you it’s worth so much to Him. Your soul is worth much to you as well but let’s dive deeper in to this portion and talk about it for a minute.  Lets suppose that your soul was in danger of being sent to hell when you die … what would or wouldn’t you do to redeem it and get it to Heaven? You would place a tremendous value on your soul at this point – right?

To you – the reader – I’m not saying you are condemned to hell, but I’m asking are you sure where you are going? If not then its time to increase the value of your own soul and set things right.

If you are all set then what about those around you? What are their souls worth? As of today, my Grandchildren are 6 ½, 3 (but will be 4 next month) and 4 months, and I ask what are their souls worth. Answer – everything. I’ve always wanted to watch them grow up in a Church setting, learning and enjoying what they learn. I want them to tell me with excitement all they’ve learned.

So this past weekend a conversation happened that I want to talk about here. Let me set the stage for this conversation. A few months ago I decided where I would be “serving” at Church. I joined the card ministry. I love writing, I love being an encourager, so this seemed to fit. I send or take cards to a handful of residents of a retirement home in Keller near our Church. I ordered some supplies to do this and decided when I get ready to create these cards I’m going to ask the grandbabies to help me decorate them – might even ask them to draw pictures to include in the cards. I am hopeful this will be a good thing for my pen pals. I had not said anything to them about it until 2 weeks ago. I mentioned to my granddaughter that I was serving at Church. I asked if she understood “serving”  and here was that conversation… “Honey, I will tell you like this, when Jesus and His disciples were at the last supper,  Jesus washed their feet, they all said Oh No Master we should wash YOUR feet, to which He said, I have come to serve and not to be served” Do you understand why this is important? She said yes. I am pleased.

So here is some context at the Last Supper 

John 13: 1-17   The Message   Washing His Disciples’ Feet   13 1-2 Just before the Passover Feast, Jesus knew that the time had come to leave this world to go to the Father. Having loved his dear companions, he continued to love them right to the end. It was suppertime. The Devil by now had Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, firmly in his grip, all set for the betrayal.  3-6 Jesus knew that the Father had put him in complete charge of everything, that he came from God and was on his way back to God. So he got up from the supper table, set aside his robe, and put on an apron. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the feet of the disciples, drying them with his apron. When he got to Simon Peter, Peter said, “Master, you wash my feet?” 7 Jesus answered, “You don’t understand now what I’m doing, but it will be clear enough to you later.” 8 Peter persisted, “You’re not going to wash my feet—ever!” Jesus said, “If I don’t wash you, you can’t be part of what I’m doing.” 9 “Master!” said Peter. “Not only my feet, then. Wash my hands! Wash my head!” 10-12 Jesus said, “If you’ve had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you’re clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you’re clean. But not every one of you.” (He knew who was betraying him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you.”) After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table. 12-17 Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life.

Here is the verse

Mark 10: 45   NIV   45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

So fast forward to this past Sunday, I got my supplies and granddaughter was helping me organize them and she wanted to show her Mom, so we started some dialog. I asked her to tell Mom if she remembered what I said about “serving” to which she said “Mommy, Jesus said ‘I have come to serve and not be served’. I tell you the truth, I felt like someone had put me in a box with no oxygen. It took my absolute breath away and I started tearing up. She understood, she GETS IT. Oh my gosh what an answer to prayer. She knows faith. So then the conversation keeps going and her Mom asked about what was being put on the ground when Jesus rode in to Jerusalem to which she said “Psalm Leaves” and then Mom asked what did the people in the city say when they saw Jesus? “Hosanna” (this means Save Us). I wish I could describe the emotion she put in to her answers. It spoke volumes to me.

So I am just sitting there in awe of this little girl. No I am not surprised she knows this but I tell you I wish I could bottle up the excitement she had in telling us. That pure joy, I am telling you I swelled and if there had not been walls in that room I would have busted out entirely with pride.  Before they were born I dreamed of seeing them running down the halls of church to tell me what they learned at church. I’ve prayed for them and the ability to see them grow up in a faith filled environment.  At that moment, I think I needed to be peeled off the ceiling. Sheer happiness and pride knowing that she understands the lessons of her life, of her parents, of her church and of me.

So to come back around to the original thought – what are their souls worth… simply

Everything!

They are priceless and I know God holds these little souls in His hands and oh how thankful I am.

Heavenly Father,

Oh I know You are so proud of this situation, of her parents, of our church. Of her. I just want to voice my own thanks to You for her, her heart, your work in her and eventually in her brothers. I know that I know You will be faithful in all. I await the day when the three of them clamor to tell me what all they learned and have joy about it. I’ll gladly listen and bask in delight. Thank You does not even come close to how grateful I am. I ask You to stay with them, stay with me, stay with their parents, let us forge ahead and keep teaching, keep learning and keep You in our hearts. Guide us and always let us remember how valuable our souls are to you. Please bless these adventures with my everlasting thanks. In Jesus Name - Amen