Luke 21:28Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Just as the initial arrival of our Lord was aimed at the renewal and restoration of our spirits, so too will His second coming be focused on the restoration of our physical bodies. Our spirits experienced death due to disobedience, while our physical bodies faced demise nine centuries later. Therefore, regeneration and enhancement will occur in a successive manner: our spirits through His first coming, and our bodies through His second. Consequently, the Lord proclaims, "When these things begin to come to pass, you who are weighed down by corruption, rise up and enjoy liberty." For your redemption is at hand, representing the complete liberation of both the soul and the body.

The dead will be resurrected, and this frail and mortal body will shed its decay and be adorned with immortality, in accordance with the grace of Christ, who transforms believers into the image of His glorious body.

The Truth calls out to its chosen ones, urging them in unmistakable terms: as the troubles of the world increase, and when the Mighty Judge appears, stand tall and rejoice, for when the world you did not cherish reaches its end, the salvation you longed for will be near. In Scripture, the head is often symbolic of the mind, as the head leads the body, so the mind directs thoughts. Therefore, to lift up one’s head signifies uplifting one’s thoughts toward the joys of the eternal homeland. Thus, those who love God are instructed to celebrate and rejoice at the culmination of the age, for they will encounter the One they adore as the world they did not embrace comes to a close.

Given such a grand and reassuring depiction of the Messiah's return, which undoubtedly leaves a profound and uplifting impact on every faithful and devout heart, it is only natural that the disciples of Jesus would have been increasingly eager to learn about the timing of this momentous event. "When, when will all these things happen?" they likely inquired, not just Peter alone, as the flow of conversation suggests. The God-man responded, "The most significant occurrences in the kingdom of God, like those in the realm of nature, reveal themselves: we must remain vigilant. Observe the fig tree and all other trees (Luke 21:29) and learn from them. When their branches become tender and start to sprout leaves, you recognize (without prophecy) that summer is approaching.

In describing a series of unsettling events, the Lord focused particularly on the imminent judgment of God regarding Jerusalem. He stated, "As for Jerusalem, the certainty of its impending destruction is clear; as foretold by Daniel, the abomination of desolation will manifest in the sacred place. Therefore, anyone who desires to escape this calamity must leave Judea without delay. Those who choose to remain will endure a suffering unmatched since the beginning of time. There will be false messiahs arising amongst them, but do not put your faith in them. The Son of Man will come like lightning—not confined to one location or form—but as the divine judgment of God. He will unveil His full glory when the culmination of the age arrives.”

The culmination of the current age will involve the total annihilation of its existing state, leading to a comprehensive alteration and renewal (cf. 2 Pet. 3:10, 12, 13). As this significant upheaval in the visible realm commences, with signs appearing in the celestial bodies, and the sea becoming tumultuous and distressed upon the earth (Lk.), there will be widespread anxiety among nations and confusion; individuals will be filled with dread and anticipation of the impending disasters overtaking the universe (Lk.). "Then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven, and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn" (Matt.), as all will be found guilty by their own consciences.

Those who place their faith in Christ and follow the will of the Father need not fear or lose heart. Instead, as these events begin to unfold, they ought to rejoice, for their liberation from this earthly existence and the onset of eternal joy is approaching. They should raise their eyes confidently to the heavens and witness the sign of the Son of Man as He comes on the clouds with immense power and glory. While Jesus did not specify what this sign would entail and the apostles did not inquire further, it is evident it will be unmistakable, clearly indicating Christ's return. John Chrysostom suggests that the cross will serve as this significant banner.

The Redeemer consistently encouraged His followers to recognize these signs and understand them as they would discern the indications of imminent summer through the sprouting of leaves on the fig tree.

When these signs begin to unfold: refer to the commentary on Matthew 24:43. - Raise your spirits and lift your heads: take heart; the imagery reflects how those who are sorrowful tend to walk with their heads lowered, while those filled with joy raise their gaze. - Your salvation is near: what appears daunting to the world, and particularly to the unrighteous, as a moment of judgment and retribution, is a source of joy for Christ’s disciples, his true followers, as it signifies a time of reckoning and reward for them, or liberation from the trials inflicted by the wicked. This may pertain to both the period of Jerusalem's destruction and the anticipated return of the Lord.