[25] Great crowds joined Him on His journey, and He turned to them. [26] Jesus: If any of you come to Me without hating your own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and yes, even your own life, you can't be My disciple. [27] If you don't carry your own cross as if to your own execution as you follow Me, you can't be part of My movement. [28] Just imagine that you want to build a tower. Wouldn't you first sit down and estimate the cost to be sure you have enough to finish what you start? [29] If you lay the foundation but then can't afford to finish the tower, everyone will mock you: [30] "Look at that guy who started something that he couldn't finish!" [31] Or imagine a king gearing up to go to war. Wouldn't he begin by sitting down with his advisors to determine whether his 10,000 troops could defeat the opponent's 20,000 troops? [32] If not, he'll send a peace delegation quickly and negotiate a peace treaty. [33] In the same way, if you want to be My disciple, it will cost you everything. Don't underestimate that cost! [34] Don't be like salt that has lost its taste. How can its saltiness be restored? Flavorless salt is absolutely worthless. [35] You can't even use it as fertilizer, so it's worth less than manure! Don't just listen to My words here. Get the deeper meaning.
