Even though we may not use the word much outside of theological conversation you probably know that advent means coming and the Christian season of Advent is a time of preparation. Each of us might think about how we prepare for Christ's coming. We may think of the first Christmas as the first advent when Jesus was born in human flesh. We may also think of the Second Advent as when Jesus comes again. Our meeting Christ before He returns to bring about the end of the age is sometimes compared with the Second Advent.

Jesus was the anointed one, Christ, the Messiah. At the time Jesus came on the scene in human history people were looking for a national deliverer, so His coming was not as they expected.

We prepare for Christ's coming by

I. Building on the Foundation of Jesus Christ

The temple was important to the Jews and even to the disciples of Jesus as they were looking for Him to deliver them. In Matthew's account of this teaching in Mark is preceded with "Behold your house is being left to you desolate!" Imagine what you might think if someone said that of our beautiful place of worship. This was disturbing to the disciples. They told of the magnificence of their building. In Mark 13:1& 2 we read, As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another which will not be torn down."

Jesus acknowledged that it was a great building. Construction on this temple was begun in 20-19 BC. This grand temple that Herod had built was one of the wonders of the world even though it was not completed when Jesus spoke these words. Actually it was never completed before it was destroyed in 70 AD.

The trustworthy historian Josephus described this structure. Some of the foundation stones measured forty feet long, twelve feet high and eighteen feet wide weighing over 100 tons. They had also built a bridge that spanned the valley to the temple that was 354 feet long and 50 feet wide to the royal porch. There were double rows of pillars 37.5 feet tall of solid marble. The temple front was covered with gold. Can you picture this grand magnificent temple?

We might wonder how such a structure could be destroyed? Yet this prophesy of Jesus came true and in less than 40 years the Romans captured Jerusalem. Imagine the great contrast!

We too, need to be careful lest we build and worship idols. Do you worship our fine building? Some years ago a pastor told me of a congregation in the Mason City District that he thought worshipped the building they had constructed some years before he went to that community. The idols sometimes worshipped are not limited to buildings. Sometimes people worship their traditions and customs. In verse 4 we have a question of the disciples, "Tell us, when will these things be and what will be the sign when all these things are going to be fulfilled?" They were probably thinking of Christ's intervention.

However, we prepare for Christ's coming by building on the foundation of Jesus Christ, not primarily a building. In Ephesians 2:20-22 we read, "having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole building being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."

II. Believing in the truths of Jesus Christ

In Mark 13:1& 2 we read, As He was going out of the temple, one of His disciples said to Him, "Teacher, behold what wonderful stones and what wonderful buildings!" And Jesus said to him, "Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone shall be left upon another which will not be torn down."

Read verses 5,6. In Mark 13 verses 5 and 6 we read: And Jesus began to say to them, "See that no one misleads you. Many will come in My name, saying, 'I am He.' And will mislead many." This is a warning to help prevent them from being deceived and a warning that they not follow false Messiahs. Verse six speaks of persons coming in the name of Jesus, that is basing their claims on the name of Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One. Remember that the Jews were eagerly waiting for a Messiah to deliver them from Roman oppression. In the next century Bar-Cochaba claimed to be the Messiah. But Jesus said, "I am He." I.e. "I, apart from all others, am He."

The name designates all that Christ is in His person and mission. Therefore, to worship Christ with wrong beliefs about Him is to worship a false Christ by whatever name we call Him. We must believe Christ to be who the Scripture reveals Him to be. There are false Christs today and many people are easily led astray because they do not know whom Jesus really is or do not know what they believe. We read these words of Jesus in John 8:24 "I said therefore to you, that you shall die in your sins: for unless you believe that I am He you shall die in your sins."

III. Bearing Testimony of Jesus Christ

Only when we know what we believe can we share it well. Read verse 9. "Be on your guard; for they will deliver you to the courts, and you will be flogged in the synagogues and you will stand before governors for My sake, as a testimony to them." Be on your guard is a personal warning. In the days preceding Christ's return it will not always be easy to live for Christ. Imagine the scene. The early Christians probably also pictured Paul as first be a persecutor of Christians and then as one who was persecuted.

The testimony of which I speak is human testimony concerning Jesus. A testimony may be a witness, a declaration made to establish a fact, even in a court of law. It refers to evidence and a public profession of faith.

Marturion is often translated witness, but it is also the word from which we get our English word martyr because through history Christians have sometimes been killed because of their testimony of faith in Jesus Christ.

Many have the terribly mistaken idea that because they are Christians most people will like them. Certainly there are some likable characteristics that should mark Christians, but some may hate us if we truly stand for Jesus. "And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved." Mark 13:13. Sometimes that happens within families.

A story is told of a man in Hitler's Germany that was arrested because he stood for freedom. He survived through imprisonment and torture with uncomplaining fortitude and was finally released. A short time later the man who had gone through all that committed suicide. Do you know why? He found out that his own son had betrayed him and turned him in to the Nazis.

It may be difficult to bear testimony of Jesus Christ. In verse 11 we are instructed that we should not be anxious. We have the promise of the Holy Spirit helping us, giving us the words to say when we are unexpectedly called upon to give testimony. Let me tell you that I do not believe that this is an excuse for us failing to prepare to preach, for failing to prepare for teaching a Sunday School class or Bible study, or sharing our faith. The Holy Spirit will help us be ready and endure to the end.

Conclusion

Are you ready for Christ's return? Maybe you are prepared, but prefer that the Lord wait a little while. You may think that He is not coming right away. However, we do not know when Jesus is returning or when our earthly lives will end.

We experience the joy of Christmas when we have personally met Jesus Christ. He came over 2000 years ago in the manger in Bethlehem and He is coming again. I hope that you have personally invited Christ to come into your life. If not yet, you can do so today. I would be pleased to visit with you about this very important matter.

We prepare for Christ's coming by

I. Building on the Foundation of Jesus Christ

II. Believing in the truths of Jesus Christ

III. Bearing Testimony of Jesus Christ

When Christ returns He will not be coming as a baby, but as a redeemer and judge. Are you prepared?

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