If you would be victorious, taste the suffering of Christ in your person, that you may be chosen to taste His glory. For if we suffer with Him, we shall also be glorified with Him.

Blessed are you if you suffer for righteousness' sake. Behold, for years and generations the way of God has been made smooth through the Cross and by death. The way of God is a daily Cross.

The Cross is the gate of mysteries.
-St. Isaac the Syrian, The Orthodox Way: Revised Edition, SVS Press, p. 129

And see how He also makes His discourse unexceptionable: not saying at all, "whether you will, or no, you must suffer this," but how? "If any man will come after me."
-St. John Chrysostom, Homily 55 on Matthew 16, 1. B#54, p.339., 4th Century