Take Up Your Cross
Discipleship means self-denial, cross-bearing, and life found through loss.
Jesus calls disciples to deny self, take up the cross, and follow. He presses the paradox: whoever seeks to save life will lose it, but whoever loses life for him will find it.
Scripture
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.
26 For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?
34 He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, "Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it.
36 For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life?
37 For what will a man give in exchange for his life?
23 He said to all, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it.
25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?
25 He who loves his life will lose it. He who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.