In this exploration of Luke’s gospel, we discover what happens when we invert the Christian life by pursuing glory over the cross. Following Jesus’ transfiguration, where His disciples saw His divine glory on the mountain, Luke presents several scenes that reveal the consequences of desiring glory without embracing the cross. When we seek personal success, strength, and achievement rather than surrender, humility, and trust in Christ’s work, we find ourselves caught in cycles of sin and brokenness.
On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met Him. And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. And behold, a spirit siezes him, and he suddenly cries out. It convulses him so that he foams at the mouth, and shatters him, and will hardly leave him. And I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.” Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.” While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. And all were astonished at the majesty of God.
But while they were all marvelling at everything He was doing, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.
An argument arose among them as to which of them was the greatest. But Jesus, knowing the reasoning of their hearts, took a child and put him by His side and said to them, “Whoever receives me receives Him Who sent Me. For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”
John answered, “Master, we say someone casting out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not follow with us.” But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”
Pursuing Glory Over the Cross Always Results In Faithlessness
After Jesus and His disciples descended from the mountain, they encountered a man whose son was possessed by a demon. The father had begged the disciples to cast it out, but they could not. Jesus responded with a strong rebuke: “Oh faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you and to bear with you?” This rebuke was directed at the disciples who, despite being previously empowered by Jesus to cast out demons, had failed due to their lack of faith.
The disciples had stopped banking on God’s authority and started relying on their own abilities. We often think of faith as something people possess, a quality they own or achieve. But true faith begins at the point of having nothing at all—a humble nothingness and desperation that forces us to trust something outside ourselves. As Jesus later explained privately to His disciples, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer.” Their prayerlessness revealed their faithlessness, as they had lost sight of their dependency on God and the miracle of His mercy.
Pursuing Glory Over the Cross Always Results In Confusion
While the crowd marveled at Jesus healing the boy, Jesus turned to His disciples and said, “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.” Yet the disciples could not understand this saying and they were afraid to ask Jesus about it.
Their confusion stemmed from having no perspective for a Messiah who would go to the cross. With their natural bent toward glory theology (the idea that things should continuously improve and become more glorious) they couldn’t grasp the Lord’s warnings about coming darkness and suffering. Their hardheartedness and unbelief, combined with their orientation toward self-improvement and self-glory, prevented them from understanding Jesus’ mission.
When we operate with a theology of glory rather than embracing the theology of the cross, we will always encounter confusion about who God is, what He is doing in our lives, and how to handle suffering and sin. Only through the lens of Jesus’ cross can we find clarity and peace.
Pursuing Glory Over the Cross Always Results In Speculation
The disciples’ confusion led to speculation about which of them was “the greatest.” Instead of trying to understand Jesus’ words about His coming sacrifice, they engaged in meaningless debates about their own status and importance. Jesus responded by placing a child beside Him, saying, “Whoever receives this child in My Name receives Me… For he who is least among you all is the one who is great.”
This focus on greatness reveals our struggle with comparison and envy. In today’s world, social media amplifies this problem, creating what psychologists call “comparisonitis,” or the constant measuring of ourselves against others. We even experience self-envy, where we compare ourselves to the idealized versions we present online.
This life of constant comparison is lived in the quicksand of our own insecurity—the insecurity of being unable to achieve our desired levels of self-glory. It is empty and devoid of grace, unlike the simplicity of being like a child embraced by Jesus.
Pursuing Glory Over the Cross Always Results In Isolation
John confessed to Jesus, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he does not follow with us.” The irony is striking. The disciples couldn’t cast out a demon themselves, yet they rebuked someone who could simply because he wasn’t part of their group.
Their view of the kingdom as being about greatness meant that their tribe was the only legitimate one. We build similar walls around our churches, denominations, and social groups, believing our way is the only right way. We bristle when God works through those who don’t share our theology, worship style, or cultural values, revealing hearts that crave control and exclusivity rather than humble unity.
The cross eliminates these extra walls that shouldn’t exist by revealing our common need and the same Jesus who died in our place. While a life of personal glory will always divide, a life marked by Jesus’ cross unites believers, focusing our attention on Him rather than ourselves.
Where the disciples failed, Jesus succeeded. Where they were faithless, He was faithful. Where they were confused, He set His face toward Jerusalem with clarity of purpose. Where they compared and competed, He became nothing to make us everything in God’s eyes. Where they isolated themselves, He died to tear down every divide. His grace declares that we don’t need to achieve, understand, outshine, or exclude to be whole. Jesus is our wholeness, and His blood forever declares that we are enough.
This article is a recap of a sermon preached by Pastor Hunter Sipe at Good Shepherd Bible Church on Sunday, April 27, 2025 entitled The Fake Glory. This sermon continues our expositional series on Luke’s gospel entitled Luke: Good News for the Rest of Us. This sermon and others are available for listening on the Good Shepherd Bible Church Sermon Podcast.
Good Shepherd Bible Church is an Acts 29 church located in Pataskala, OH serving the eastern Columbus area.
We invite you to explore our website to learn more about GSBC, consider connecting at our church, or read about our core beliefs.