1. Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. The message from God’s Word on this 23rd Sunday after Pentecost is taken from Luke 21:5-28, it’s entitled, “Your Redemption—Accomplished, Received & Completed,” dear brothers and sisters in Christ.
2. Have you ever listened to someone tell a story and, before they ever get to the point, they’ve described every detail—the color of the sky, what everyone was wearing, and how many sprinkles were on the donut? You find yourself thinking, Just get to the point! In a sense, Jesus’ words in Luke 21 can feel a bit like that. He paints a long, detailed picture of the end times—wars, earthquakes, persecutions, the fall of Jerusalem, the shaking of the heavens. It’s overwhelming. And yet, that’s exactly Jesus’ purpose—to wake us up.
3. Because when we face the chaos of the world, the point isn’t to predict when the end will come or how it will unfold. The point is to cling to who is coming—our Redeemer. The details of the end are not as critical as the out-of-this-world importance of trusting in Jesus Christ, who promises to bring His people safely through. So whether the end of all things is soon or still far off, Jesus would have us know this: “Your redemption is near.”
4. Dear friends in Christ fear not the foe—Christ has Redeemed you. In our Gospel from Luke 21, Jesus warns of a time when even the heavens will be shaken. People will faint from fear, their hearts will fail them as everything they know begins to crumble. That sounds terrifying—until we remember who speaks these words. This isn’t a threat from a distant God. This is a promise from the One who loves us enough to die for us. The same Jesus who spoke these words also said, “Do not be afraid.”
5. When Jesus says, “Straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near,” He’s describing the opposite of fear. When the unbelieving world bows low in terror, the believer stands tall in confidence—not because of strength, but because of faith. We can raise our heads knowing that our Savior has already won. For on the cross, He paid the price to buy us back from sin and death. That’s what “redeem” means: to buy back what was lost. We were lost in sin, enslaved to our selfishness and our fears. But Christ purchased us—not with silver or gold, but with His holy, precious blood and His innocent suffering and death. And when Jesus rose from the grave, He sealed that redemption once and for all. So now, whenever we see chaos around us, we can say with confidence, “The Lord is near!”
6. Three redemptions—one Redeemer. If we think about it, Scripture speaks of redemption in three ways. First, there’s the redemption accomplished—when Jesus died and rose again for the sins of the world. That’s the event in history when the price was paid. Second, there’s the redemption received—when the Holy Spirit brought you to faith, in the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, when you first trusted in Christ as your Savior. And third, there’s the redemption completed—that day when your body and soul will be reunited, perfected, and raised to eternal life on the Last Day. So yes, your redemption is near—because whether that final day comes today or long after you’ve fallen asleep in Christ, your Redeemer is always near. He never leaves your side.
7. A true story of standing tall. A few years ago, a film called The Firing Squad told the story of a man sentenced to death in Indonesia for drug trafficking. For years, he’d lived in sin and rebellion. But while in prison, he met Christians who showed him the peace and forgiveness of Jesus. And in those final weeks before his execution, he came to faith. On the day of his death, the guards expected fear and panic. Instead, they found him calm. He stood straight, head lifted high, singing hymns of praise as the shots rang out. His last words were, “Thank You, Jesus.” What changed? He met his Redeemer. His redemption was near—not in terror, but in triumph.
8. That’s the same hope Christ gives you and me. No matter what trials we face—illness, persecution, uncertainty, even death—we can face them with our heads held high. Because we know who stands with us.
9. Whether soon or far off—Jesus is always near. Dear friends, Jesus doesn’t tell us these things to make us anxious. He tells us so that we may not be afraid. He reminds us that even as heaven and earth pass away, His Word, His promise, His presence, will never pass away. Whether our time to meet Jesus is soon or still a long way off, He, as our Redeemer, is always near. Near in His Word, near in His Supper, near in His Church, near in the heart of every believer.
10. And when that great day finally comes, we will do just what Jesus said: we’ll stand tall, lift our heads, and see our Savior coming with power and great glory—coming not to condemn, but to welcome His people home. Until then, we live in confident hope, echoing the words of the psalmist: “Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises!” (Psalm 98:4) Because for those redeemed by Christ, the end of the world isn’t something to fear—it’s something to sing about. It’s the beginning of forever with Jesus. So lift up your heads, little flock. Your redemption is near. Amen. Now the peace of God that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, until life everlasting. Amen.
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