If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself (Matthew 16:24–27)

“Then Jesus said to his disciples: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and keep following me. 25 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 Really, what good will it do a man if he gains the whole world but loses his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life? 27 For the Son of man is to come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will repay each one according to his behavior. 28 Truly I say to you that there are some of those standing here who will not taste death at all until first they see the Son of man coming in his Kingdom.”” (Matthew 16:24–27).
This is a lesser known teaching point, the denial of oneself or our ego, for the benefit of Christ. By this statement, he makes his disciples understand that inevitably, at some point in their ministry, they will have to make a choice, between their personal interests and the interests of Christ. The disciple of Christ must be ready to deny himself, to the point of agreeing to give his life for Christ (whoever loses his life for my sake), to then be restored to him at the resurrection of the just (will find it) ( John 5:28,29). However, the disciple of Christ, who would be afraid of death, to the point of seeking to remain alive at the cost of a serious compromise, would definitively lose all hope of everlasting life (For whoever wants to save his life will lose it).
The same teaching point is repeated, this time from the point of view of love for Christ and the natural love for one’s own family members: “Do not think I came to bring peace to the earth; I came to bring, not peace, but a sword. For I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Indeed, a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. Whoever has greater affection for father or mother than for me is not worthy of me; and whoever has greater affection for son or daughter than for me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not accept his torture stake and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his soul will lose it, and whoever loses his soul for my sake will find it” ( Matthew 10:34–39).
In this text, Jesus Christ explains that his teaching would inevitably cause in many families, splits, divisions which would put the faith of the disciples of Christ to the test. Jesus Christ makes it clear that his followers must not give in to the emotional blackmail of other unbelieving family members. He must put his love for Christ before his love for the members of his own family, not making compromises such as renouncing to follow in the footsteps of Christ, with all the trials that entails: “In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving a model for you to follow his steps closely” (1 Peter 2:21). Jesus Christ also repeats the comforting teaching point that the courage of Christ’s followers will be rewarded with everlasting life (John 17:3).

“But as for me, I will keep on the lookout for Jehovah. I will show a waiting attitude for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me” (Micah 7:7).

The teaching of Jesus Christ that leads to spiritual maturity:

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The prophecy of Daniel:

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Zechariah’s prophecy: