Following Jesus

Then Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in His footsteps:

You are to imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

Now I commend you for remembering me in everything and for maintaining the traditions, just as I passed them on to you.

Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. …

My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.

By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments.

If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

Then Jesus called the crowd to Him along with His disciples, and He told them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.

You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.