ThenJesussaidto His disciples,"Ifanyonewishesto comeafterMe, he must denyhimself,and takeup his crossand followMe.
"And he whodoes not takehis crossand followafterMe is not worthyof Me.
"Whoeverdoes not carryhis owncrossand comeafterMe cannotbe My disciple.
Lookingat him, Jesusfelt a lovefor him and saidto him, "One thingyou lack:goand sellallyou possessand giveto the poor,and you will havetreasurein heaven;and come,followMe."
Indeed,allwho desireto livegodlyin ChristJesuswill be persecuted.
And He summonedthe crowdwith His disciples,and saidto them, "Ifanyonewishesto comeafterMe, he must denyhimself,and takeup his crossand followMe.
strengtheningthe soulsof the disciples,encouragingthem to continuein the faith,and [saying], "Throughmanytribulationswe mustenterthe kingdomof God."
NowI rejoicein my sufferingsfor your sake,and in my fleshI do my shareon behalfof His body,whichis the church,in fillingup whatis lackingin Christ'safflictions.
They tookJesus,therefore,and He wentout, bearingHis owncross,to the place calledthe Placeof a Skull,whichis calledin Hebrew,Golgotha.
so that no onewould be disturbedby theseafflictions;for you yourselvesknowthat we have been destinedfor this.
As they were comingout, they founda manof CyrenenamedSimon,whomthey pressed into serviceto bearHis cross.
They pressed into servicea passer-bycomingfrom the country,Simonof Cyrene(the fatherof Alexanderand Rufus),to bearHis cross.
Whenthey led Him away,they seizeda man,Simonof Cyrene,comingin from the country,and placedon him the crossto carrybehindJesus.
NowthisHe said,signifyingby what kindof deathhe would glorifyGod.And when He had spokenthis,He saidto him, "FollowMe!"
Jesussaidto him, "IfI wanthim to remainuntilI come,what[is that] to you? You followMe!"
For you have been calledfor thispurpose, sinceChristalsosufferedfor you, leavingyou an examplefor you to followin His steps,
