Getting to Know Jesus' Passion #7

In Luke 21, Jesus had just explained to His followers the events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple.  He then pressed further into the future:

25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Jesus was now talking about "the coming of the Son of Man." At that time there will be even more fearful signs that the wars, famines, earthquakes, and plagues of previous history. It will seem like the earth itself is shaking in fear, worrying about what will come next. Jesus then says not you will see, but they will see. Whereas the destruction of Jerusalem was something many of His hearers would still be alive to see, this was something for a future generation. Yet, since this is a proclamation to His followers, He gives them a message to pass down through the generations: straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. We are to live our lives in preparation and anticipation of His coming again.