LUKE 21:25-28
THE COMING OF THE SON OF MAN
BRIEF INTERPRETATION
Text – Luke 21:25–28
25 “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on earth nations will be in dismay, perplexed by the roaring of the sea and the waves.
26 People will die of fright in anticipation of what is coming upon 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 But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”
Historical and Jewish Context
Apocalyptic imagery drawn from the prophets was familiar to Jewish listeners. Cosmic disturbances—darkened sun, shaken heavens, roaring seas—were traditional symbols of God’s decisive intervention in history. Such language expressed not scientific prediction but theological meaning: the collapse of human security and the unveiling of divine sovereignty. The title “Son of Man” recalls Daniel’s vision of a heavenly figure receiving everlasting dominion. While the nations respond with fear and confusion, Jesus addresses His disciples differently, preparing them to interpret these events through faith rather than terror.
Catholic Theological Perspective
Jesus reveals the final manifestation of His glory. Catholic theology understands this as the Second Coming, when Christ will return as Judge and Redeemer. For those who live without reference to God, these events provoke dread; for believers, they announce redemption. “Stand erect and raise your heads” expresses confident hope rooted in Christ’s victory over sin and death. The shaking of the cosmos signifies the passing of the old order and the birth of the new creation. The Church teaches that the end times are not meant to inspire fear but to strengthen perseverance and hope in God’s promises.
Parallels in Scripture
Dn 7:13–14 – The Son of Man coming with heavenly authority.
Is 13:10 – Cosmic signs accompanying divine judgment.
Joel 2:30–32 – Wonders in the heavens before the Day of the Lord.
Mt 24:29–31 – The Son of Man coming with power and glory.
Rev 1:7 – Christ coming on the clouds, seen by all.
Key Terms
Signs – Symbolic events revealing God’s action in history.
Son of Man – Messianic title expressing Christ’s authority and glory.
Power and great glory – Manifestation of divine kingship.
Redemption – The full realization of salvation and liberation.
Catholic Liturgical Significance
This passage is proclaimed near the end of the liturgical year and during Advent, directing attention to Christ’s return in glory. It nourishes Christian hope and vigilance, reminding the faithful that history moves toward fulfillment, not chaos. The text supports catechesis on eschatology and the Creed’s profession of Christ’s coming again.
Conclusion
Jesus contrasts fear with hope. While the world trembles, believers are invited to confidence, knowing that the coming of the Son of Man brings redemption. The final word of history belongs not to chaos but to Christ’s glory.
Reflection
Do I face uncertainty with fear or with hope rooted in Christ?
Am I living in a way that prepares me joyfully for the Lord’s coming?
Jesus calls me to lift my head in confidence, trusting in His saving promise.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, strengthen my hope as I await Your coming in glory. When the world is shaken, help me stand firm in faith and trust in Your redemption. Keep my heart watchful, joyful, and ready for You. Amen.
DETAILED INTERPRETATION
INTRODUCTION
Luke 21:25–28 lifts the gaze of Jesus’ disciples beyond historical catastrophe to the cosmic and final coming of the Son of Man. Jesus speaks of signs in the sun, moon, and stars, and of distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and waves. These images, drawn from biblical prophetic language, describe not scientific predictions but the shaking of the created order as history moves toward its fulfillment. Human fear and anxiety dominate the scene as people anticipate what is coming upon the world.
In the midst of this upheaval, Jesus introduces a message of hope for His disciples. While the world trembles, the Son of Man will appear in a cloud with power and great glory. This coming is not destruction for the faithful, but redemption. Jesus exhorts His followers to stand erect and raise their heads, because their redemption is near. The same events that bring terror to the world signal liberation for those who belong to Christ. The passage contrasts fear-driven despair with hope-filled vigilance.
Lk 21:25 — “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars, and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.”
Jesus turns from historical judgment to cosmic imagery. The language becomes apocalyptic, not to predict astronomical phenomena in detail, but to express the shaking of all that seems stable. Sun, moon, and stars—symbols of order and constancy—are described as signs of upheaval. Creation itself appears unsettled.
On earth, the result is confusion and distress. Nations are not merely suffering; they are disoriented. The roaring sea and waves evoke chaos, fear, and forces beyond human control. Humanity’s confidence in mastery and permanence collapses. Jesus reveals what happens when the foundations of meaning are shaken.
In the Gospel of Luke, this verse bridges history and ultimate fulfillment. The turmoil described points beyond any single event to a deeper reality: when God acts decisively, both cosmos and conscience are affected. The end times are not only external crises, but moments of profound spiritual exposure.
Jesus is not aiming to terrify, but to awaken. These signs call for repentance, vigilance, and hope—not panic. When the world is shaken, the faithful are invited to lift their eyes to God.
Historical and Jewish Context
Apocalyptic language was common in Jewish prophetic tradition (e.g., Isaiah, Joel, Daniel). Cosmic signs symbolized divine intervention and judgment rather than literal destruction of the heavens.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that the final trials will involve great upheaval and testing of faith, but God remains sovereign over creation and history (cf. CCC 673–677). These signs call believers to readiness and trust.
Key Terms
Signs — indicators of divine action
Sun, moon, stars — symbols of cosmic order
Distress — inner anguish and confusion
Sea and waves — chaos and uncontrollable forces
Conclusion
Luke 21:25 reveals a world shaken at its deepest levels. When both creation and nations are disturbed, Jesus calls His followers not to fear, but to discern and hope.
Reflection
When life feels chaotic and uncertain, where do I seek stability—within the world, or in God?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, when the world trembles and hearts grow fearful, anchor me in Your truth. Teach me to trust You as Lord of history and creation. Amen.
Lk 21:26 — “People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”
Jesus describes the interior effect of cosmic upheaval: overwhelming fear. The distress is not only external but deeply psychological and spiritual. People faint—not merely from physical danger, but from foreboding, the dread of what they sense is coming. When the future appears uncontrollable, human confidence collapses.
The phrase “powers of the heavens” points to the structures believed to govern order and destiny. When these are shaken, every illusion of control dissolves. Humanity realizes its vulnerability. Jesus reveals that fear intensifies when life is built on unstable foundations rather than on God.
In the Gospel of Luke, this verse contrasts sharply with the posture Jesus will soon command His disciples to adopt. While the world collapses in fear, believers are called to stand firm in hope. The difference lies not in circumstances, but in trust.
Jesus does not sensationalize fear; He exposes it. Fear arises when God is absent from one’s horizon. The shaking of the heavens becomes a revelation of where security truly lies.
Historical and Jewish Context
Apocalyptic literature often portrayed cosmic shaking to express divine judgment and transition. Fear and dread were understood as natural responses of those unprepared to meet God.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that fear marks those who rely solely on the world, while Christian hope rests in Christ’s definitive victory (cf. CCC 676–677, 1808). Faith transforms fear into trust.
Key Terms
Faint — collapse under overwhelming fear
Foreboding — anxious anticipation of judgment
Powers of the heavens — perceived sources of cosmic stability
Shaken — removal of false security
Conclusion
Luke 21:26 reveals the cost of misplaced trust. When worldly foundations fail, fear overwhelms those unanchored in God. Jesus prepares His disciples for a different response—faithful hope.
Reflection
When the future feels uncertain, do I respond with fear, or with trust in God’s sovereignty?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, when fear grips the world, steady my heart in You. Help me to trust You when everything else is shaken. Amen.
Lk 21:27 — “Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”
After fear, confusion, and cosmic shaking, Jesus reveals the decisive turning point: Then they will see. History does not dissolve into chaos; it moves toward revelation. The One who was rejected, crucified, and hidden will appear openly in power and glory. The final vision is not destruction, but the manifestation of Christ.
The title “Son of Man” recalls Daniel’s vision of one who receives eternal dominion from God. The cloud signifies divine presence and authority—God acting unmistakably. What was once seen only by faith will be seen by all. The world that trembled in fear now stands before truth made visible.
In the Gospel of Luke, this verse is the heart of Christian hope. Jesus’ coming is not merely an end, but a fulfillment. For those who rejected Him, it brings judgment; for those who endured in faith, it brings vindication and joy. Glory replaces humiliation. Power replaces weakness.
This revelation transforms everything that preceded it. Suffering, endurance, and witness are not in vain. The Son of Man comes not as a victim, but as Lord.
Historical and Jewish Context
The imagery draws from Daniel 7, where the Son of Man comes with the clouds to receive everlasting authority. Jews associated this vision with God’s final intervention and restoration of justice.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that Christ will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, fulfilling God’s plan definitively (cf. CCC 668–682). This is the foundation of Christian hope.
Key Terms
Son of Man — messianic title revealing divine authority
Coming in a cloud — manifestation of God’s presence
Power — divine authority over all creation
Great glory — visible majesty of Christ’s kingship
Conclusion
Luke 21:27 proclaims the ultimate hope of the Gospel. History culminates not in fear, but in the glorious return of Christ, who comes as Judge and Savior.
Reflection
Does the promise of Christ’s glorious return fill me with hope, or do I live as though history ends in uncertainty?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, fix my heart on Your coming in glory. Help me to live with hope, endurance, and faith, knowing that You are Lord of history and my life. Amen.
Lk 21:28 — “Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
Jesus now addresses His disciples directly and decisively. While the world collapses in fear, His followers are given a radically different command: stand up and raise your heads. These are gestures of confidence, dignity, and hope. What terrifies others becomes a sign of deliverance for those who belong to Christ.
“Redemption” is the key word. The upheavals of history are not meaningless disasters; they are birth pains of salvation. For the faithful, these events signal not annihilation but nearness—God is acting to complete what He has promised. The disciple is not to shrink back, but to look forward.
In the Gospel of Luke, this verse marks a dramatic contrast. Fear defines those without hope; expectation defines the believer. Jesus teaches that the same events can either crush or console, depending on where one’s trust lies. Redemption draws near not because the world improves, but because Christ comes.
This command transforms eschatology into spirituality. The believer lives upright—not bowed by fear—because the future belongs to God.
Historical and Jewish Context
In biblical language, standing upright signifies vindication and freedom, often associated with God’s saving intervention. Jewish hopes of redemption included liberation, restoration, and divine justice.
Catholic Theological Perspective
The Church teaches that Christian hope is oriented toward redemption and the final coming of Christ, which believers are to await with joyful expectation (cf. CCC 671, 677, 1821). Hope lifts the believer’s gaze beyond present trials.
Key Terms
Stand up — posture of courage and readiness
Raise your heads — confidence and hope, not fear
Redemption — God’s definitive act of salvation
Drawing near — imminent fulfillment of God’s promise
Conclusion
Luke 21:28 reveals the posture of true discipleship in troubled times. While others collapse in fear, believers rise in hope, knowing that Christ’s saving work is near completion.
Reflection
When the world feels unstable, do I lower my head in fear—or lift it in hope?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, lift my heart when fear surrounds me. Teach me to stand firm and look ahead with hope, trusting that my redemption is in Your hands. Amen.
CONCLUSION
For believers today, Luke 21:25–28 speaks directly to times of global uncertainty and anxiety. Political instability, natural disasters, and social unrest can easily overwhelm the human heart. Jesus does not deny these realities, but He reframes them. History is not spiraling into chaos; it is moving toward God’s decisive intervention. The coming of the Son of Man assures believers that suffering and confusion do not have the final word.
At the same time, this passage calls for a distinctive Christian posture. Disciples are not to be paralyzed by fear, but marked by hope, confidence, and readiness. To “stand erect” is an act of faith—trusting that God’s promises are reliable and that redemption is drawing near. Christian life is lived between vigilance and hope, watching the signs not with panic, but with expectation of Christ’s glorious return.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, when the world is shaken and hearts are filled with fear, lift our eyes to You. Strengthen us to stand firm in hope and trust in Your promise of redemption. Free us from anxiety and fill us with confidence in Your coming glory. May we live each day alert and faithful, awaiting the joyful fulfillment of Your Kingdom. Amen.