“Then Jesus told
His disciples.
‘If anyone wanted
To become my followers
Let them deny themselves!
Let them take up their cross!
Then follow me!’”
Τότε ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν, ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι.
Jesus told his disciples that they would have to deny themselves if they wanted to follow him. Something similar can be found in all 3 synoptic gospels, Mark, chapter 8:34, Luke, chapter 9:23, and here, almost word for word. Then Jesus told his disciples (Τότε ὁ Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν τοῖς μαθηταῖς αὐτοῦ). Mark also mentioned a crowd, but that is not here. If anyone desired or wanted to become a follower of Jesus or come after him (Εἴ τις θέλει ὀπίσω μου ἐλθεῖν), they would have to deny themselves (ἀπαρνησάσθω ἑαυτὸν). They would have to take up their cross (καὶ ἀράτω τὸν σταυρὸν αὐτοῦ) in order to accompany him or follow him (καὶ ἀκολουθείτω μοι). Following Jesus was not going to be easy.
