Take Up Your Cross

Jesus defines following him as self-denial, cross-bearing, and the willing loss of life. He weighs the soul against the whole world and closes with the coming judgment and kingdom sight.

T²⁴hen Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. ²⁵For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. ²⁶What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul? ²⁷For the Son of Man will come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will repay each one according to what he has done. ²⁸Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in His kingdom.”