Only the Disciples after the revelation of Cæsarea Philippi, and the High Priest after the “Yes” of Jesus, could trace a personal relation between him and the Son of Man of whose coming he spoke,—for they knew his secret. For his other hearers, however, _Jesus of Nazareth_ and the individual who was the subject of his discourse, the _Son of Man,_ remained two entirely distinct personalities. Before the people Jesus merely suggested the _absolute solidarity_ between himself and the Son of Man whom he proclaimed. It was only in this form that his own gigantic personality obtruded in his preaching of [pg 137] the Kingdom of God. Only he who under all conditions confesses him, the proclaimer of the coming of the Son of Man, will be discovered as a member of the Kingdom at the Day of Judgment. Jesus, in fact, will intervene before God and before the Son of Man in his behalf (Mk 8:38- 9:1, Mt 10:32-33). One must be ready to give up the dearest things to follow him, for only so can one show one’s self _worthy of him_ (Mt 10:37, 38). Hence Jesus is grieved when the rich young man cannot make up his mind to give up his riches in order to follow him (Mk 10:22), for now he cannot appear for him at the Day of Judgment to insure that he shall be accepted as a member of the Kingdom of God. Still, in the measureless omnipotence of God he finds reason to hope that this rich man will nevertheless find entrance into the Kingdom (Mk 10:17-31). If this man, therefore, because Jesus cannot intervene in his behalf, is not sure “to inherit eternal life” (Mk 10:17), those, on the other hand who, confessing him and his message, endure death are certain to save their life, _i. e._ to be found as members of the Kingdom at the resurrection of the dead (Mk 8:37). Hence in the beginning of the sermon on the mount he pronounces them blessed who [pg 138] for his sake suffer reviling and persecution, because thereby, like the meek and the merciful, they are designated as members of the Kingdom (Mt 5:11 f.).