+ 14th Sunday after Pentecost – August 30th, 2026 +
Series A: Jeremiah 15:15-21; Romans 12:9-21; Matthew 16:21-28
Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
Milton, WA
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
There are two ways, one of life and one of death; but a great difference between the two ways.
The way of life is...the way of Christ crucified. The way of death and resurrection. The way of life where everything we say, do, sing, pray, teach, preach, and live in the church goes through the Christ crucified. The way of life follows Christ. Looks to Christ. Rests in Christ. Receives all things from Christ as gift.
The way of death is the opposite. It’s all about you. A quest for glory apart from Christ and his cross. The way of death desires that everything we say, do, sing, pray, teach, preach, and live looks past the cross, or around the cross, or beyond the cross. The way of death follows myself. Looks to myself. Rests in myself. Boasts that all things come from myself.
Two roads diverge in Scripture. There’s life without the crucified Christ which leads to death. And there’s life in Christ crucified which brings us through death into resurrection.
Martin Luther called these two theologies: The theology of the cross. And the theology of glory.
A theology of glory expects the Christian life to be successful; winning all the battles; living happily ever after.
The theology of the cross, sees God’s greatest success revealed in suffering; victory in death on the cross.
A theology of glory says that when I am happy, healthy, and prosperous, I know God loves me. A theology of the cross says that God comes to me in my weakness and suffering and makes them his own on the cross.
A theology of glory says we are self-sufficient, self-dependent, self-reliant. The theology of the cross says that we are entirely dependent upon Christ crucified and his all-sufficient grace.
A theology of glory looks for comfort apart from the cross. A theology of the cross knows that there is no comfort apart from the cross.
Martin Luther, of course, wasn't doing anything new. He was simply doing a little sanctified plagiarism of Jesus.
A theology of the cross says, “From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
A theology of glory is what Peter says next: “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
There are two ways here in Matthew 16. Death and Life. The ways of God. The wiles of Satan. The things of God and the things of men. Losing your life and saving it. Discipleship of our own desires and the drop-dead discipleship of the cross. The false hope of our idols and the true hope in the incarnate God.
Peter’s words reveal his inner theologian of glory. The Messiah is supposed to conquer, not suffer. To triumph in glory, not be crucified in shame and humility. To flex his divine muscles, not be handed over to the elders and scribes to be slaughtered like a lamb.
Peter’s words reveal something about us too. Our sinful flesh – the old Adam – is an award-winning theologian of glory as well. We’re no different: always setting our minds on the things of man: greatness and glory. Success, not suffering. Comfort and control, not the cross. My kingdom come. My will be done. Suffering? Cross? Self-denial? Death? No thanks, we say. I’d rather not.
And here’s the great lie of the theology of glory. It cannot deliver what it promises. Only Christ crucified can and does for you.
A theology of glory will not bring you comfort when the cancer rages or returns. It will not bring light into the darkness of depression and anxieties and fears that overwhelm you. It will not heal or help when it feels like your entire world is falling apart around you.
But there is another way. The way of the cross. The way of Jesus who suffered for you on the cross; who’s with you in your suffering. No matter how deep the darkness of sin, doubt, despair…the love of God in Christ is always deeper, and he comes to sit with you in the dark and embrace you in his death.
This is the path Jesus takes. The way of death and life to bring you life. Where we would avoid suffering, Jesus runs headfirst into it. Where we are selfish, Jesus is self-less. He denies himself, picks up his cross, and all our self-absorbed sin, and takes it with him to the cross. Where we would avoid the cross and death, Jesus embraces it all for you. Jesus loses his life to save you. He denies himself to deliver you. He tastes death to pour out his body and blood for you. Jesus suffers the shame and humility of his cross, to clothe you in grace and crown you with honor.
Two roads diverge in the wood. Our Lord Jesus has brought you on the road less traveled, through his cross, into the grave, and out alive again. And that makes all the difference.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
