Christmas Eve: The Coming of Jesus Christ - Luke 21:27-28

English Standard Version Chapter 21

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.”

Prior to His death, Jesus is telling of His second coming will be similar to His ascending into heaven after His resurrection.

When He returns, Jesus will come in POWER… and GREAT GLORY.

It reminds me of how that multitude of heavenly host, at HIS birth were praising God and saying… “Glory to God IN THE HIGHTEST...”

Great Glory… is the Highest Glory.

Stand up and lift up your heads. For this as a sign of hope and confidence.

In the midst of crisis, when things are as bad as they can be (Luke 21:25–26), Christians can take heart.

The Lord is at hand. It cannot be much longer. Even in the midst of lesser times of crisis , believers are assured that their Lord is near, for He has promised to be with them always (cf. Matt 28:20).

In that day, however, they can be even more encouraged because the glorious consummation is at hand.

Their “redemption” is coming.

Luke’s readers would no doubt think of this redemption as involving salvation in its fullest sense.

Look at how Peter describes the 2nd coming of Christ:

2 Peter 3:8-14

English Standard Version Chapter 3

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

It is important to remember.

Remembering causes us to have great hope during the most difficult of conditions.

Painting: The process may seems LONG and extreme at times, but the end will produce something beautiful and treasured beyond what we can imagine.

Verse 14 tells us how we are to live… as we wait.

English Standard Version Chapter 3

14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace

As believers waiting for the Second Coming of Christ, we have a responsibility to be DILIGENT in how we live our lives.

We made HOLY in Christ… we are to pursue holiness in our daily lives by being obedient tpHis commands… and to be at peace. God is always ways faithful.

In my personal reading today:

John 14: 27

“Peace I leave you; MY peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let NOT your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

This Christmas… as you celebrate the glorious FIRST ADVENT - the birth of Jesus, understand that the celebration we will experience at His SECOND Advent will be even more than we can imagine.

Prayer.