Luke 21:25-28
Lift Up Your Heads
Read the passage
25There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among the nations, bewildered by the roaring of the sea and the surging of the waves.
26Men will faint from fear and anxiety over what is coming upon the earth, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28When these things begin to happen, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
Jesus speaks of signs in the sun, moon, and stars. Nations are distressed by the sea and its surging waves. People faint from fear over what is coming, and even the powers of the heavens are shaken.
Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. The focus moves from what frightens people to the one who is coming. Jesus does not leave his disciples with a list of disasters and no reason for hope.
He tells them to stand up and lift their heads when these things begin, because their redemption is drawing near. Redemption means rescue and release. For his people, the coming Lord brings the deliverance they need, even when everything around them seems unstable.
Their confidence rests in who he is and what he promises. They do not have to pretend the distress is small. They can face it while looking toward Jesus, whose power and glory will be greater than the forces that make the nations afraid.
How We Know
Daniel 7:13–14 describes one like a Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven and receiving dominion, glory, and an everlasting kingdom. Jesus' words about the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and glory draw on that picture. The promise of redemption rests on the authority of the coming King.
Questions
1 What will distress the nations?
AnswerSigns in the heavens and the roaring of the sea will bring confusion, fear, and expectation of what is coming upon the world.
2 Who will people see coming?
AnswerThey will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
3 What should disciples do when these things begin?
AnswerThey should straighten up and raise their heads because their redemption is drawing near. Jesus gives frightened disciples a hopeful posture while the world shakes.
4 What does this hope guard against?
AnswerIt guards against living as though chaos has the final word. Hope gives courage without inviting date-setting or denial of present danger.
What This Means for Us
Jesus does not minimize the terror of a shaken world. He gives His disciples a posture: lift your heads. Christian hope is not escapism; it is confidence that Christ will come with power and redeem His people.
Families can resist both panic and false certainty. Pray, act responsibly, and let future redemption make present faithfulness possible.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, when the world feels unstable, keep our heads lifted toward You. Protect our household from panic and speculation, and make the hope of redemption produce courageous love today. Amen.