Jesus tells his disciples about his death
21 After this, Jesus began to explain everything to his disciples. He told them, ‘I must go to Jerusalem. There, I will suffer in many ways. The important Jews, the leaders of the priests and the teachers of God's Law will hurt me. Then people will kill me. But three days later, God will cause me to become alive again.’
22 Then Peter took Jesus away from the other disciples. He began to tell Jesus that he must not say things like that. He said, ‘No, Lord! God will never let this happen to you!’
23 Jesus turned around and he said to Peter, ‘ Satan, go away from me! I must obey God. But you are trying to stop me. Your thoughts do not come from God. Instead, you are thinking like men think.’
People who give their lives to serve Jesus have true life
24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘A person who wants to come with me must not think about himself. He must decide that his own life is not important. He must be like someone who carries his own cross to go and die. Then he may come with me as my disciple. 25 Whoever wants to keep his life safe will lose it. But whoever agrees to lose his life because of me will have true life. 26 A person may get everything in the whole world for himself. But if he loses his life, it will not be any good for him. There is nothing that a person can give to get back his life.
27 I tell you all this because I, the Son of Man, will come back to this earth with God's angels. When I come, I will have the glory of my Father. I will see what each person has done on earth. Then I will pay them what is right. 28 I tell you this. When I, the Son of Man, come with power, some people who are standing here will see me at that time. Before they die, they will see me begin to rule in my kingdom.’
