The time was close to the time when Jesus was crucified. The Scripture tells us that Jesus had just told the disciples that he was going to have to suffer and be put to death. Peter couldn’t stand that idea and told him, "This shall never happen to you" (Matthew 16:22b). Jesus told Peter that he was thinking the way people thought rather than the way God thought. Then Jesus told his disciples what the Christian life was all about. It is one of the recurring themes of Jesus’ teaching. He said these things over and over again. We find them in Matthew 10:34, Mark 8:34, Luke 9:23, and John 12:25.

He said if we really wanted to be his disciples, this is what we would have to do: "If anyone wants to come with me, he must forget himself, carry his cross, and follow me" (Matthew 16:24).

So today…