A disciple of Jesus who denies himself,

takes up his cross, and follows the Lord ...

Jesus did not immediately ask God the Father

to send more angels than 12 brigades of troops

to fulfill the words of the prophets who said that this would happen.

Instead, Jesus was captured by a large group of people sent by Judas Iscariot

and the chief priests and elders, as if he were a robber.

When Jesus was delivered,

all his disciples abandoned him and ran away

(Matthew 26:47, 50, 53-56).

A disciple of Jesus who denies himself, takes up his cross, and follows the Lord

lives according to the Bible and dies according to the Bible,

even if all his loved ones abandon him

(Matthew 16:24; Ref.: 1 Corinthians 15:3- 4).