‘Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. ‘ Matthew 16:24

Reading the verse from the King James Version of the Bible rather than from the New Revised Standard Version that is used in most churches, Jesus’ words become much more direct and personal. Rather than, ‘If any want to become my followers’, Jesus says, ‘If any man will come after me.’ Rather than, ‘let them deny themselves’, Jesus says,  ‘let him deny …