LOOK UP!

"And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh." KJV (Luke 21:28)

Jesus had been in the temple, watching how people were casting their money into the treasury (Mk 12:41). He saw "rich men casting of their gifts into the treasury," and He saw a certain poor widow who put "two mites" into it. (Lk 21:1-2). Turning to His disciples, He said, "Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all: for all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury [poverty] hath cast in all the living that she had" (21:3-4). Hearing Him, some of His followers showed Him "the buildings of the temple," and how the temple was "was adorned with goodly stones and gifts" (Matt 2:1-2; Lk 21:5). It was as though they were saying, "It requires more than a meagerly two mites to support this work." Jesus replied, "As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down" (21:6). That very temple would be destroyed with great violence.
His disciples then asked Him when this would occur, and what signs would precede the destruction (21:7). Jesus then told them of a time of global deception, disruption, and dominating fear. Kingdom would rise against kingdom, and nation against nation. There would be natural disturbances–great earthquakes in different places, famines, pestilences, and fearful sights and great signs from heaven (21:8-11).
He then returned to elaborate on the destruction of the temple, telling them that armies would compass the holy city, bringing devastation to it. It would be a time to flee the city, for the times of vengeance would be upon them. Men would be killed with the sword, and others led away captive. The carnage would continue, with Jerusalem being "trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled." Pushing their minds into the future, Jesus then told them of the final disruption of all nature, and the appearing of the Son of Man, coming "in a cloud with power and great glory." It is at this point that the words of our text were spoken. They assume that some indications would precede the matters of which He spoke, whether the end of Jerusalem or the end of the world. When those signs are perceived, His people are to "look up" in expectation. What brings an end to the wicked and temporal will usher in a time of redemption and blessing to them. How is your faith? Can you "look up?"