Good News of Great Joy | December 21 — “The Son of Man & His Coming Kingdom”

Luke 21 invites us to reflect on Jesus’ teaching about the end times and His return as we prepare our hearts during Advent.

1. Sacrificial Giving: Like the widow, give with a heart of sacrifice and trust in God’s provision, knowing He values the condition of the giver’s heart over the size of the gift.
2. Endurance in Trials: The trials of this world offer opportunities to bear witness to Christ. This Advent, pray for courage and faith to persevere, trusting that God’s promises are eternal.
3. Hope in Redemption: The signs of Jesus’ return remind us of the certainty of our redemption. Let this hope fill your heart with joy and confidence as you await His coming.
4. Readiness for His Return: Jesus calls us to be watchful and prayerful, guarding against distraction. During Advent, focus on spiritual preparation, seeking His Kingdom above all else.
5. Listening to Jesus: Like the crowds who gathered to hear Him teach, draw near to Jesus daily through His Word and prayer, allowing His truth to shape your life.

As we await the celebration of Christ’s birth and anticipate His return, may this passage inspire you to live faithfully and expectantly in light of His coming kingdom.

Christ Has Come: The Promised King & His Gift of Peace (Advent 2025) – Refresh & Restore | A JustKeithHarris.com Podcast

Christ Has Come – Week 3Episode Title: The Promised King & His Gift of JoyLuke 1:39–56In this Advent episode of Christ Has Come, Keith Harris turns to Luke 1 and invites us to slow down and listen to the joy that begins stirring before Bethlehem. Long before angels sing to shepherds, joy breaks the silence in the hill country of Judea—through a Spirit-filled confession, a leaping child, and the worshipful song of a young woman who trusts the promises of God.Together, we explore:What biblical joy is—and what it isn’t, distinguishing it from fleeting happiness or emotional highs.How joy appears before the word is even spoken, as John the Baptist leaps for joy in Elizabeth’s womb at the presence of the unborn Messiah.Why Mary’s joy is rooted not in circumstances but in God’s mercy, as she magnifies the Lord and rejoices in God her Savior.The meaning and message of the Magnificat, a Scripture-saturated song that celebrates God’s great reversal—lifting the lowly, filling the hungry, and humbling the proud.How Mary’s joy points beyond herself to Jesus, the promised King who fulfills God’s covenant promises and secures lasting joy through His saving work.This episode reminds us that joy is not something we manufacture—it’s something we receive, and it grows wherever Jesus is trusted. Advent teaches us that true joy is found not in having life figured out, but in the presence of Christ and the mercy He brings.If you would like to see a written version of this study, complete with footnotes and cross-references, you can find it here.

1. Christ Has Come: The Promised King & His Gift of Peace (Advent 2025) 26:00
2. Christ Has Come: The Promised King & His Gift of PEACE (Advent 2025) 22:47
3. Christ Has Come: The Promised King & His Gift of HOPE (Advent 2025) 24:58
4. Thankful: Learning to Number Our Days (Refresh & Restore) 21:21
5. "Strengthen What Remains: Jesus's Letter to the Church at Sardis" (The KING is Coming) 20:30

The Widow’s Offering (21:1-4)^[1]

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, ² and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. ³ And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. ⁴ For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Jesus Foretells the Destruction of the Temple (21:5-6)^[2]

⁵ And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said, ⁶ “As for these things that you see, the days will come when there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.”

Signs of the End of the Age (21:7-19)^[3]

⁷ And they asked him, “Teacher, when will these things be, and what will be the sign when these things are about to take place?” ⁸ And he said, “See that you are not led astray. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he!’ and, ‘The time is at hand!’ Do not go after them. ⁹ And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.”

¹⁰ Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. ¹¹ There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. ¹² But before all this they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors for my name’s sake. ¹³ This will be your opportunity to bear witness. ¹⁴ Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer, ¹⁵ for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or contradict. ¹⁶ You will be delivered up even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and some of you they will put to death. ¹⁷ You will be hated by all for my name’s sake. ¹⁸ But not a hair of your head will perish. ¹⁹ By your endurance you will gain your lives.

The Destruction of Jerusalem (21:20-24)^[4]

²⁰ “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation has come near. ²¹ Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, and let those who are inside the city depart, and let not those who are out in the country enter it, ²² for these are days of vengeance, to fulfill all that is written. ²³ Alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! For there will be great distress upon the earth and wrath against this people. ²⁴ They will fall by the edge of the sword and be led captive among all nations, and Jerusalem will be trampled underfoot by the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

The Coming of the Son of Man (21:25-28)^[5]

²⁵ “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, ²⁶ people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 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.”

The Parable of the Fig Tree (21:29-33)^[6]

²⁹ And he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. ³⁰ As soon as they come out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer is already near. ³¹ So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. ³² Truly, I say to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken place. ³³ Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

A Call to Watchfulness (21:34-36)^[7]

³⁴ “But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. ³⁵ For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶ But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Jesus’s Daily Teaching (21:37-38)^[8]

³⁷ And every day he was teaching in the temple, but at night he went out and lodged on the mount called Olivet. ³⁸ And early in the morning all the people came to him in the temple to hear him.

[1] Jesus observed a poor widow placing two small coins into the temple treasury. Though her gift was small in amount, it was immense in sacrifice, as she gave all she had. This contrasts with the rich, who gave out of their abundance. God values sacrificial giving over the size of the gift.

[2] As people admired the grandeur of the temple, Jesus predicted its complete destruction. This prophecy pointed to the fall of Jerusalem in a.d.70, illustrating the temporary nature of earthly things.

[3] The disciples asked about the signs of these events. Jesus warned of false messiahs, wars, natural disasters, and persecution of His followers. Believers are called to endure with faith, using trials as opportunities to testify about Christ. God promises His presence and ultimate protection.

[4] Jesus described the coming siege of Jerusalem, urging those in Judea to flee when they saw the city surrounded by armies. This foretold the Roman destruction of the city and symbolized God’s judgment. The “times of the Gentiles” (v. 24) would continue until their fulfillment.

[5] Jesus spoke of cosmic signs and great distress on earth preceding His return. Believers are called to “straighten up and raise your heads” with hope, for their redemption is near. This points to the triumph of Christ’s second coming.

[6] Jesus used the budding fig tree to teach readiness. Just as the signs of spring indicate summer is near, the events He described signal His return. Though heaven and earth will pass away, His words are eternal and unchanging.

[7] Jesus warned against being weighed down by worldly distractions and unprepared for His return. Instead, believers must stay awake spiritually and pray for strength to stand firm before the Son of Man.

[8] In His final days, Jesus taught in the temple by day and stayed on the Mount of Olives at night. Crowds gathered early each morning to hear Him teach, illustrating His focus on preparing His followers for what lay ahead.