²⁷ And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.^(A)

¹¹ “Blessed are you when people insult you,^(C) persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.^{(D) 12} Rejoice and be glad,^(E) because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.^(F)

³⁷ “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.^{(A) 38} Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me.^{(B) 39} Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.^(C)

²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.^{(A) 25} For whoever wants to save their life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.^{(B) 26} What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

The Way of the Cross

³⁴ Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.^{(A) 35} For whoever wants to save their life^[a] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.^{(B) 36} What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? ³⁷ Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?

²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.^{(A) 24} For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.^{(B) 25} What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?

¹⁹ If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you^(A) out of the world. That is why the world hates you.^{(B) 20} Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’^[a](C) If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.^(D) If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. ²¹ They will treat you this way because of my name,^(E) for they do not know the one who sent me.^(F)

³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.^(A) In this world you will have trouble.^(B) But take heart! I have overcome^(C) the world.”

⁴ In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.^(A)