Summary: Jesus taught the essence of discipleship: forsaking personal desires, bearing individual burdens, and following His teachings. He explained that clinging to life as it is leads to ultimate loss, while sacrificing it for His sake brings true preservation. He questioned the value of worldly gain compared to one's soul and foretold His return in glory, where He will reward each person according to their deeds.
Jesus said to all,
“Whoever wishes to come after me, must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father’s glory, and then he will repay each one according to his conduct.”
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