Sometimes, as a preacher and someone who studies the Bible in all of it’s nitty-gritty details (and I love the details!), I don’t want to miss—and I don’t want us to miss—and something HUGE, even something huge in this passage.

This passage really only has one point, or at least one fundamental assumption that makes this passage intelligible. It may seem like there are several points, but there is only one point, one underlining assumption, and it’s this:

There is something more important than self-preservation.

There is something more important than avoiding suffering in this life. There is something more important than your reputation. There is something more important than life.