As the Son of Man, Jesus also knows the true value of life (Mark 8:36–37). He lays down his life willing for the sake of his people (John 10:18, Mark 10:45). He knows that the value of a man’s life does not consist in his possessions (Luke 12:15) but in his relationship to God. When he asks, what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul, Jesus is telling us that death is not the end of life. The sixty, seventy, or eighty years we live on earth are not the be all and end all of our lives. When we die, we do not cease to exist. There will be a resurrection, there will be a judgment. And the eternal destiny of all human beings is dependent on our relationship with Jesus. Do we belong to him or not?

If we don’t know that there is a judgment, then following Jesus makes no sense. If there is no resurrection, then this life is it and we must do what we can to make it worthwhile. Then we can engage in the debates of the Greek philosophers—Should we focus only on seeking pleasure or must we try to be wise? Where is true joy going to be found in the short time we have on earth?

But in calling us to a life of self-denial and cross bearing, Jesus is telling us that as the Son of Man, he knows the true value of our lives. It’s not worth gaining all the riches of this world, only to forfeit your soul and be forsaken by God for all eternity.