A paradox for sure: Death leads to life. Jesus must have loved speaking in paradoxes. “Take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

But this one is a stumper unless you realize what Jesus is actually saying. I’m going to let Tripp explain it because he says it better than I can:

“I cannot live for my kingdom and His kingdom. I cannot write my own rules and submit to His. I cannot pride myself in my independent righteousness and cast myself on His righteousness at the same time. I cannot live for my glory and His glory. I cannot love the world in my heart and love Him above all else at the same time. I cannot insert myself in the center of my world and have Him at the center too.”

“You see coming to Christ is not a negotiation. An agreement. A contract. It is a death-mine. He died=I live. Now He asks that I lose my life in Him.” (this final paragraph edited by me).

Die=life. Live for self=I die. Die to self=I live. The choice is clear. I must choose.

“Father, the choice is clear. now help me to make it and stick by it.”