18. Once when Jesus was praying privately and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”
19. They answered, “Some say you are John the Baptizer, others Elijah, and still others say that one of the prophets from long ago has come back to life.”
20. He asked them, “But who do you say I am?”Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, whom God has sent.”
21. He ordered them not to tell this to anyone.
22. Jesus said that the Son of Man would have to suffer a lot. He would be rejected by the leaders, the chief priests, and the experts in Moses’ Teachings. He would be killed, but on the third day he would come back to life.
23. He said to all of them, “Those who want to come with me must say no to the things they want, pick up their crosses every day, and follow me.
24. Those who want to save their lives will lose them. But those who lose their lives for me will save them.
25. What good does it do for people to win the whole world but lose their lives by destroying them?