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Mark 9:43-48
In Mark 9:43-48 Jesus mentions three things that may cause a person to sin: one’s hand, one’s foot, and ones eye. He stresses the importance of always being aware of sin’s attack on the human race and of how important it is to prepare oneself for eternity in everlasting life rather than eternal death.
This is a promise and example of how important repentance is in sincerity of heart to receiving the forgiveness of Christ Jesus and eternal life.
Jesus puts the importance of the spiritual life above our physical lives and bodies as our physical bodies will die one day and return to the dust from which it was made (Genesis 2:7). But our spiritual lives/bodies will live on forever, some to eternal life, and some to eternal death. Our hands, our feet, and our eyes are the three things in which we may be active in sin; by what we do – with our hands; by where we go – with our feet; and by what we see – with our eyes. Jesus teaches that it would be better for us if we did not have these three as it eliminates the main avenues in which sin activates itself in our lives. It is believed that Jesus is not literally saying that we should cut or purge our hands, feet, and eyes from our bodies (Mark 9:43, 45, 47), but that we should cut and purge sin from our physical lives so that we may pass the test of the physical life and receive the gift of the spiritual life – in Christ – for eternity. The Bible teaches us in James 1:12 (NKJV), “Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” The Apostle Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 9:25, “And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.” And let us not forget as we have learned in Mark 9:39-41 that we are not competing against each other, but against the sins of this world that attack us each day.
Dear LORD,
We know that You long for us to follow Your ways and teachings, but we also know that You will not force us to do so – the choice is ours to follow You and receive a new spiritual body that will enter Your heavenly kingdom, or to not follow You and receive a new spiritual body that will be, “…cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched (Mark 9:45). Please help us to make the right choice – the choice for eternal life in You kingdom. In Jesus name I pray, amen.