16:24a

If anyone: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as If does not indicate uncertainty. So this phrase doesn’t say that Jesus did not know whether anyone wanted to follow him. Jesus used this word to refer to all those who want to follow him.

Here are some other ways to translate it without making it seem uncertain:

Anyone who
-or-
Those who (God’s Word)
-or-
The people who

anyone: Jesus was speaking to the disciples who were with him, but he talked about people everywhere at any time. Translate this in a way to include any person.

come after Me: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as come after Me refers to becoming a disciple of Jesus. Being a disciple often meant following a teacher around from place to place and learning from him.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

to be my follower (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
to follow me (New Century Version)
-or-
to be my disciple

16:24b–d

he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me: The Greek phrases that the Berean Standard Bible translates as he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me are three indirect commands. A person who desires to be one of Jesus’ disciples must do three things:

(a) He must deny himself

(b) He must take up his cross

He must follow Jesus as a disciple.

Indicate in a natural way in your language that a person must do each of these actions in order to be a follower of Jesus.

16:24b

he must deny himself: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as deny himself means “refuse to do what he wants to do.” A disciple of Jesus must give up the right to do what he wants to do. He must do what his master wants him to do.

Here are some other ways to translate deny himself:

you must forget about yourself (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
must say no to the things they want (God’s Word)
-or-
he must let go of his own desires
-or-
he must not do what he wishes/wants to do but what I wish

In some languages, there will be an idiom or figure of speech for this. For example:

turn his back on himself
-or-
remove from his thinking the things he wants to do

16:24c

take up his cross: The Greek verb that the Berean Standard Bible translates as take up means “carry.” For example:

carry your cross (Good News Translation)

This same phrase occurs in 10:38a.

This phrase refers to the way that Roman soldiers made criminals suffer and die. They forced a condemned criminal to pick up a large wooden cross. He had to carry it to the place where he would be put to death. Carrying a heavy cross was painful. Then the soldiers nailed him on the cross to die.

In this context, Jesus used this phrase figuratively. He meant that anyone who wanted to become his disciple must be willing to suffer and die. Jesus was willing to suffer and carry his cross to the place where he died. So a believer must also be willing to suffer for Christ even if it means dying.

Here are some other ways to translate the phrase take up his cross:

• Translate the figure of speech literally and add a footnote that explains the meaning. Here is a sample footnote:

In the time of Jesus, a person who was condemned to be nailed to a cross was forced to carry the cross. He carried it to the place where he would be nailed to it. So Jesus was saying that a person who wants to be his follower must be ready to suffer and die.

• Translate the figure of speech and also explain the meaning in the text. For example:

he must be willing to carry his cross, ⌊meaning to suffer and die for me⌋

• Translate the meaning directly without using a figure of speech. For example:

They must be willing even to give up their lives (New Century Version)
-or-
must willing to suffer and even die for me

If you follow this option, think about adding a footnote that gives Jesus’ literal words.

16:24d

and follow Me: This phrase is a figurative expression that means “be my disciple.” It means the same thing as “come after Me” in 16:24a. Disciples usually followed their teacher wherever he went. By doing this, they learned from his example and his teaching.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

follow me ⌊and be my disciple⌋

-or-

be my disciple

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