Today, the crowds are following Jesus, on the road to Jerusalem. Looking around, one can see faces full of wonder and joy as people hear about the Kingdom of Heaven and see miracles right before their eyes. More and more people join His company and move forward in a great mass! Now, this great crowd of people traveling with Jesus think that He is on His way to the establishment of a great new empire. They want to be in on the ground floor and participate in all that is happening! The world, as they know it, is about to change, and who wouldn’t want to be a part of it? However, Jesus knows He is actually on His way to the cross. Yes, He is the True Messiah, and it is time for the people to get a serious dose of reality! Turning to the crowd, he says: “If anyone comes to Me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and, even his own life, he cannot be My disciple! Whosoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be My disciple!”