In his book, The Cost of Discipleship, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die.” These words convey well the calling of Jesus that Mark recorded: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.” Jesus wanted to make it clear to His disciples and the crowd that the principle of suffering that was in His future would also apply to His followers. If you want to be a disciple of Jesus—you must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow Him. It’s easy to say you’re a follower of Jesus, until the going gets hard. But Jesus expects you to identify with Him, even if that means enduring rejection and suffering. Followers of Jesus will not escape pain and suffering but will gain eternal blessings.