Matthew 16:24-28 - Taking Up One's Cross To Follow Jesus

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples: If any man wants to follow me (be mine), let him deny (disown) himself, and take up his stake and follow me (Greek: akoloutheo moi, let him be following me) (accompany me) (be in the same way with me). ²⁵ He who wants to save his life will lose it. He who is willing to lose his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ What will a man profit, if he gains the whole world, and gives up his life? What will a man give in exchange for his life? ²⁷ The Son of man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels. He will then reward each man according to his deeds. ²⁸ I tell you truly, there are some that stand here who will not experience death till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.

³⁴ He then spoke to both his disciples and the crowd. He said: If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his stake and follow me. ³⁵ Whoever would save his life will lose it. Whoever would lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it. ³⁶ What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? ³⁷ What should a man give in exchange for his life? ³⁸ For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of man will also be ashamed of him, when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

¹ He continued: Truly I tell you there are some here who will in no way experience death, till they see the kingdom of God come with power.

²³ He told them all: If any man would come after me let him deny himself. Let him take up his stake (of self-denial) daily, and follow me. ²⁴ He who would save his life shall lose it. He who would lose his life for my sake shall save it. ²⁵ For what does it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose or forfeit his own self? ²⁶ If any man is ashamed of my teachings, and of me the Son of man will be ashamed of that person. This will happen when he comes in his own glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels. ²⁷ I tell you the truth, there are some here who shall not taste of death till they see the kingdom of God.