Christ’s Kingdom was built around the cross, around suffering, sacrifice, and self-denial. 

True, he was the Messiah, God’s anointed, and his Kingdom would stand forever, but he would establish it through obedience to the Father’s will, even unto death by crucifixion. 

And everyone who wished to enter that Kingdom would have to follow the same path: obedience to God’s will, no matter how difficult it might be, “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me.”