Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The instruction to "straighten up and raise your heads" isn't just about looking hopeful, but about a physical posture shift from being bowed down by sorrow and fear to actively anticipating deliverance. This moment signals a turning point where the suffering experienced is the very prelude to a profound redemption, a release from oppression that allows God's kingdom to flourish.
Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just predicted the destruction of the Temple and the suffering his followers will endure, painting a grim picture of widespread turmoil. He's contrasted these immediate, frightening signs with the ultimate hope of his return, urging his disciples to remain watchful and not be overcome by fear. This verse marks the pivot from the dire warnings to the call for hopeful anticipation as these events unfold.
Imagine being so burdened by trouble that you can only look down. Jesus gives His followers a new posture when hardship hits.
When Jesus says, "straighten up and raise your heads," it's a powerful image. The original Greek suggests more than just standing tall; it implies lifting oneself up from a position of being previously bowed down. This isn't about ignoring the difficulties, but about how believers respond to them. The signs of distress, even the destruction of Jerusalem that Jesus foretells, aren't meant to crush His followers into despair. Instead, they are signals that a greater deliverance is on its way.
We often think of redemption as just being rescued from a bad situation. But Jesus means something even bigger for His followers.
The word 'redemption' here (apolutrosis in Greek) signifies a complete release and deliverance. While it certainly includes escaping immediate danger – like the disciples escaping the destruction of Jerusalem and the ensuing persecution – it points to an ultimate freedom. It’s the final realization of salvation, a total liberation from sin, suffering, and death. The approaching events are not just signs of destruction for enemies, but clear indicators that God's promised salvation for His people is finally and fully arriving.
Jesus connects difficult times and impending judgment with the nearness of God's reign. What does that mean for us?
The 'redemption' Jesus speaks of is deeply tied to the establishment and advance of God's kingdom. The fall of Jerusalem and the end of the Jewish system would remove significant obstacles to the spread of the Gospel. More profoundly, Jesus is pointing towards the ultimate consummation of His reign. The events of His first coming, His death and resurrection, and even His eventual return are all part of this unfolding kingdom. Therefore, the signs of upheaval become signals of hope, indicating that God's perfect rule, which brings complete redemption, is not distant but imminent.
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Understand the original words
apolytrōsis · Greek Noun
The act of liberation or deliverance; it implies a ransom paid to secure freedom, specifically referring to the final and full salvation of the believer at the return of Christ.
Jesus' words in Luke 21:28 offer profound hope amidst turmoil. The immediate context is the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, a devastating event that would signal the end of the old covenant order and the 'redemption' of the early church from Jewish religious and political oppression. But these words echo with an even deeper promise of ultimate redemption at Christ's final return, reminding believers that even in the darkest times, their deliverance is assured.
c. AD 30-33— this verse
Jesus Delivers Olivet Discourse
Jesus predicts the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, and the subsequent persecution of his followers. He instructs them to be alert for signs and to prepare for His return.
c. AD 49
Council of Jerusalem
The early church grappled with the relationship between Jewish law and Christian faith, seeking to clarify the inclusion of Gentiles and the path forward for believers.
c. AD 60
Paul's Epistles to the Romans and Ephesians
Paul writes about redemption and spiritual freedom, concepts deeply resonant with believers facing persecution and uncertainty about their future.
AD 66-70
First Jewish-Roman War
Widespread rebellion against Roman rule erupts in Judea, leading to intense conflict and immense suffering for the Jewish people.
AD 70
Destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple
Roman legions under Titus conquer Jerusalem and raze the Second Temple to the ground, marking a catastrophic end to the Jewish state and a pivotal moment for Jewish history.
This passage highlights the incredible glory that awaits believers, echoing the 'redemption' Jesus speaks of in Luke, a future hope that makes present suffering seem small.
1 Peter 1:13Peter urges believers to 'prepare their minds for action' and be sober, a mindset that aligns with Jesus' instruction to 'straighten up and raise your heads' in anticipation of His return.
Philippians 3:20-21This passage speaks of our 'citizenship in heaven' from which we await a Savior who will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body, directly connecting to the idea of redemption drawing near.
Matthew 24:30-31Jesus describes the 'sign of the Son of Man' appearing in heaven and the gathering of the elect, a powerful parallel to the redemption Jesus promises when the 'signs' of judgment begin to appear.
pooleLuke 21:28: "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
See Poole on "Luke 21:27"
vincentLuke 21:28: "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh."
Look upSee on Luke 13:11. Graphic, as implying being previously bowed down with sorrow.Redemption (ἀπολύτρωσις)See on lettest depart, Luke 2:29.
The instruction to "straighten up and raise your heads" isn't just about looking hopeful, but about a physical posture shift from being bowed down by sorrow and fear to actively anticipating deliverance. This moment signals a turning point where the suffering experienced is the very prelude to a profound redemption, a release from oppression that allows God's kingdom to flourish.
Jesus has just predicted the destruction of the Temple and the suffering his followers will endure, painting a grim picture of widespread turmoil. He's contrasted these immediate, frightening signs with the ultimate hope of his return, urging his disciples to remain watchful and not be overcome by fear. This verse marks the pivot from the dire warnings to the call for hopeful anticipation as these events unfold.
Jesus has just predicted the destruction of the Temple and the suffering his followers will endure, painting a grim picture of widespread turmoil. He's contrasted these immediate, frightening signs with the ultimate hope of his return, urging his disciples to remain watchful and not be overcome by fear. This verse marks the pivot from the dire warnings to the call for hopeful anticipation as these events unfold.
"Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”" — The instruction to "straighten up and raise your heads" isn't just about looking hopeful, but about a physical posture shift from being bowed down by sorrow and fear to actively anticipating delivera…
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Last reviewed October 2026