What is Jesus saying?
Jesus said to those who would follow Him.. that they must also participate in putting themselves to death.
His meaning, in the context of His other teachings, is that a believer must die to themselves.
They must be willing to let go of their own agendas and personal dreams and ways of living.
They must willingly submit to walking the difficult path of Christ all the way to the end of their lives.
Nobody can call himself or herself a follower of Jesus and, at the same time, follow their own path, do things their own way, ignore the righteous life God has called them to.
Those who will not die to themselves and live for Jesus are not worthy to follow Him.
The apostle Paul continued preaching this message in several of his letters to the churches, after Jesus was resurrected.
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. ~Colossians 3:5
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires. ~Ephesians 4:22
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! ~2 Corinthians 5:17
