MATTHEW 16:24-25

Let’s look at Matthew 16:24-25 and understand what it is saying to all of mankind: Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Let’s look carefully at what the Greek words that were translated into English, is showing us in these verses.

If any anyone - ei tiv ei tis i tis – will come after me, let him forget one’s self – aparneomai  - and take up his cross and follow – akolouyew – me.

For whosoever will preserve – swzw sode’ – his life shall lose it, and whosoever will put out of the way entirely – apollumi – his life for my sake shall find it.

Note: to forget one’s self is to reckon one’s self as dead – which is what one does when one is baptized, he/she walks into the water as dead to self and rises up a new creation in the lord Messiah Jesus. Paul says: Roans 6:11: Likewise reckon you also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus the Messiah our lord.

Note: To take up one’s cross is to realize that following the lord Messiah Jesus involves dying to self continually and living one’s life in obedient faithfulness to our God and Father Yehovah, which is extremely difficult in this sin sick world. The path we are to walk on is a narrow path which restricts us from following the way of this world influenced by the god of this world – Satan. It is not an easy path to walk on as there are all kinds of obstacles in the way that need to be overcome. To become a follower of the lord Messiah Jesus is a most difficult journey that requires a total commitment, to be his disciple, obeying his directions alone the way. The end of this path is entry into the soon coming Kingdom of God!

We need to realize that we cannot walk on the narrow path on our own strength. We are weak and don’t have the spiritual strength to do so. The wonderful news is that when one is baptized one receives the empowering presence of our God and Father Yehovah and that power enables us to walk on the narrow path that leads to life everlasting.

Matthew 7:13-14: Enter you in at the narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because narrow is the gate, and difficult is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it.

Those who have died to self and willingly taken up the cross of self denial and strive to walk in faith obedience to all that God has set before them are among the few that have found narrow way, the strait gate that leads to eternal life! When we enter through the gate we will become co-rulers and co-inheritors with the lord Messiah when he takes his place on the throne of David at Zion.

Matthew 25:34: Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: