“Self-denial before Power”

Mark 8: 34; 9: 1: “And He summoned the multitude with His disciples, and said to them, ‘If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me’ … And He was saying to them, ‘Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the Kingdom of God after it has come with power.’” Did you ever notice that each of the synoptic evangelists followed Jesus’ message of self-denial with the glory of His transfiguration? It was the Gospel of the glory of Christ demonstrated; the self-denial of Christ was the root of His exaltation. And in between, He ties in this self-denial with the coming of the Kingdom with power. Again, it’s because of servanthood.