If anyone would minister to me, let him follow me, and where I am there my minister will be also. If anyone would minister to me, the Father will honor him.

11. In this regard, how do we know that Jesus was not thinking only of himself?

¹¹ It is evident, however, by what Jesus said next, at John 12:26, regarding those who would minister to him, that he was not thinking only of himself. True, he knew he was going to die a sacrificial death on a torture stake, with a unique merit attached to such a sacrifice. But he also knew that it was his Father’s good pleasure that he should have close, footstep followers, or disciples. These would be invited to pursue a similar course of disowning themselves, picking up the torture stake, and following him continually. This is confirmed by what Jesus said earlier, just before his transfiguration, and recorded in almost identical wording by each of the other Gospel writers: “If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and continually follow me. For whoever wants to save his soul will lose it; but whoever loses his soul for my sake will find it.”​—Matt. 16:24-27; Mark 8:34-38; Luke 9:23-26.