For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This isn't just about when the Son of Man will appear, but about the way He will appear. The lightning illuminates the entire sky, from one end to the other, in an instant – emphasizing that His coming will be unmistakable, universally visible, and incredibly swift. It's a picture of immediate, undeniable glory, not a hidden or gradual arrival.
For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is answering the Pharisees' question about when the Kingdom of God would come, immediately after talking about the days of Noah and the suddenness of judgment. He's emphasizing that His coming and the establishment of His rule won't be a gradual, observable event, but something as swift, bright, and undeniable as lightning across the sky. This imagery points to a decisive, visible revelation of His authority and presence, not a hidden or slow unfolding.
Imagine waiting for a storm. You see the sky darken, feel the tension build... and then, BAM! Lightning cracks across the entire sky in an instant.
Jesus uses this dramatic image to describe His future arrival. What does this tell us about the nature of His coming?
The Nature of Christ's Return
The comparison to lightning highlights several key aspects of Jesus' return:
Suddenness: Lightning doesn't give a warning; it just appears. This emphasizes that Christ's coming will be unexpected to those who aren't watching. It won't be a gradual event.
Speed and Reach: From one side of the sky to the other, lightning is instantaneous and covers a vast area. This suggests Christ's return will be swift and visible to all.
Obviousness: Lightning is undeniable and brilliantly illuminates everything. Jesus' return will be equally apparent, leaving no room for doubt or obscurity. It will be a clear, unmistakable revelation.
Jesus speaks of His coming "in his day." This isn't just any day; it's a specific, appointed time.
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What does this 'day' signify, and what will happen when it arrives?
A Day of Revelation and Reckoning
The phrase "in his day" refers to a time of ultimate divine action and the full manifestation of Christ's authority and glory. This day encompasses:
Vindication and Glory: It's the day when the Son of Man will be revealed in His full glory, not as the suffering servant, but as the reigning King.
Judgment: This day will also be a time of reckoning. For those who have rejected Him, it will bring swift judgment. For His followers, it signifies the culmination of salvation and the establishment of His kingdom.
This passage uses the exact same lightning analogy to describe the sudden and visible nature of the Son of Man's return, reinforcing the imagery and message.
Acts 1:11This passage describes Jesus ascending into heaven and assures the disciples that He will return in the same way He left, highlighting the visible and undeniable aspect of His future appearance.
Daniel 7:13This Old Testament vision speaks of 'one like a son of man' coming with the clouds of heaven to receive authority and glory, providing a prophetic backdrop to Jesus' own self-understanding and future vindication.
2 Thessalonians 1:7-8This passage describes the Lord Jesus being revealed with His mighty angels in a fiery flame, emphasizing the glorious and powerful manifestation of Christ when He returns.
vincentLuke 17:24: "For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day."
Lighteneth (ἀστράπτουσα)Only here and Luke 24:4.
gillLuke 17:24: "For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day."
For as the lightning that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven,.... The Syriac version reads, "out of heaven", and the Arabic version, "in heaven"; which is the seat of lightning, and from whence it arises: and shineth unto the other part under heaven; enlightens the earth, which is under the heaven: though the sense o…
This isn't just about when the Son of Man will appear, but about the way He will appear. The lightning illuminates the entire sky, from one end to the other, in an instant – emphasizing that His coming will be unmistakable, universally visible, and incredibly swift. It's a picture of immediate, undeniable glory, not a hidden or gradual arrival.
Jesus is answering the Pharisees' question about when the Kingdom of God would come, immediately after talking about the days of Noah and the suddenness of judgment. He's emphasizing that His coming and the establishment of His rule won't be a gradual, observable event, but something as swift, bright, and undeniable as lightning across the sky. This imagery points to a decisive, visible revelation of His authority and presence, not a hidden or slow unfolding.
Jesus is answering the Pharisees' question about when the Kingdom of God would come, immediately after talking about the days of Noah and the suddenness of judgment. He's emphasizing that His coming and the establishment of His rule won't be a gradual, observable event, but something as swift, bright, and undeniable as lightning across the sky. This imagery points to a decisive, visible revelation of His authority and presence, not a hidden or slow unfolding.
"For as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one side to the other, so will the Son of Man be in his day." — This isn't just about when the Son of Man will appear, but about the way He will appear. The lightning illuminates the entire sky, from one end to the other, in an instant – emphasizing that His…
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Last reviewed October 2026