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)

²⁸ Then Peter spoke up, “We have left everything to follow you!”^(A)

²⁹ “Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel ³⁰ will fail to receive a hundred times as much^(B) in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—along with persecutions—and in the age to come^(C) eternal life.^(D)

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)

³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.^{(A) 33} But seek first his kingdom^(B) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.^(C)

⁸ Were not the Cushites^[a](A) and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers^(B) of chariots and horsemen^[b]? Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered^(C) them into your hand. ⁹ For the eyes^(D) of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. You have done a foolish^(E) thing, and from now on you will be at war.^(F)”