Jesus clearly predicted His death and resurrection multiple times to the disciples (Mark 8:31; 9:12, 30-32; 10:32-34). His language was clear, but the disciples had trouble wrapping their minds around what He was saying. Jesus said, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and deliver Him to the Gentiles; and they will mock Him, and scourge Him, and spit on Him, and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again” (Mark 10:33-34). This is very clear. At the first prediction, Peter understood enough to resist what Jesus had said; he tried to rebuke his master, but was rebuked by his master (Mark 8:32-33). With additional clear predictions, the disciples were to grasp that Jesus going up to Jerusalem to die was the plan of God. Yet, Peter was ready to fight to the death to prevent the arrest of Jesus (John 18:10-11) and the disciples in Luke 24:19-21 were troubled after these things took place. Even by Acts 1:6, the disciples still seem to have some expectation of Jesus restoring an earthly, political kingdom. The Messiah dying was not on their radar. When we today read the predictions Jesus gave of His death, we have the benefit of a scope that encompasses the entire plan God revealed in the New Testament and can readily see what Jesus was saying. We often find what we are looking for, but are blind to that which goes against our preconceptions. If this blindness could happen to the first disciples, it can happen to us today.

As disciples of Jesus today, we might miss what the first disciples grasped. The period of these predictions forced one to count the cost of following Jesus. Take the events of Mark 10, for example. The rich, young ruler met Jesus while He was going out on the road that led to Jerusalem (Mark 10:17). Following Jesus on that journey would require forsaking all his possessions, and he sorrowfully was not willing to make the sacrifice (Mark 10:21-23). The disciples had left all to follow the Lord on this road up to Jerusalem; they knew they were to receive new family in fellow disciples, but also persecutions, and ultimately eternal life (Mark 10:28-30). They were getting a sense that their lives and futures were bound up in the life of their Lord who came to serve and give His life a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). Around this same time, the disciples recognized going up to Judea, the region in which Jerusalem was located, was a deadly prospect since many there were seeking to kill Jesus; thus, to follow Him there was to go die with Him (John 11:7-16). How did these first disciples view dying with the Lord in baptism to be raised to a new life (Rom. 6:3-10; Col. 2:12-13; 3:3)? Certainly their view would be far from that of popular religion in our time that twists Christianity into convenience and focuses on achieving all your aspirations in this life.

Peter, who at first fiercely resisted Jesus dying and cowardly denied Him three times to save his own life, came to embrace the fact that he too would die in following in the footsteps of His Lord (2 Pet. 1:13-15; cf. John 21:17-19). Death is no great ruin to the Christian. Jesus died and was buried; however, he was raised on the third day (1 Cor. 15:4). He has been raised and still lives. The disciple who shares in His death is also bound with Him in eternal life. Far better than any accomplishment in this life is to go beyond this life to be with Jesus eternally (Phil. 1:23).

In 2009 I visited an orphanage in Peru. While there I was given the opportunity to meet a few of the children being cared for, and among the children we met were two boys named Alex, age 11, and Charlie, age 13. Both boys had mental disabilities and had lived at the orphanage for most of their lives. The director of the orphanage told us a bit about the boys’ history. We were told Alex was brought to the orphanage after being thrown into a trash can as an infant. He was discovered in the trash by a passerby, and when they found him there were rats biting his flesh. He was nursed back to health and lives at the orphanage to this day.

Charlie was also discarded as an infant, but they did not find Charlie until three or four years later. You see, there are countless street dogs that rove the city, and Charlie was discovered as a toddler living among the dogs. He barked, crawled on all fours, and ate garbage to survive. Charlie was raised by these dogs, and the reason he was discovered was because he was biting people on the street as if he were a dog himself. There was a similar story out of Russia regarding a girl who was raised by a pack of wild dogs until the age of 5.

We all know that this world can be a cruel place. This world can be heartless, unloving, and vile. Satan, as ruler of this world (Jn 12:31; 14:30; 16:11), the evil one (1 Jn 5:19) is a murderer and a liar (Jn 8:44) who prowls about looking for someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8). There are times when we see evil things happen in this world, when we see children abused and discarded as refuse and we think, “Is there any hope?” The answer to that question is a resounding yes. There is hope, there is joy, and there is love to be found.

You see, Satan wants to steal, kill, and destroy, but the good shepherd has come so that we might have life more abundant (Jn 10:10). There are times when we all feel unwanted and unloved as if we are just garbage to be disposed of. But joy may be found in the assurance of our adoption as children of the Most High. As Romans 8:15-19, 24-25 says, “¹⁵ For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. ¹⁸ For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. ¹⁹ For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God… ²⁴ For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.”

So we, as adopted children of God, can take great joy and comfort in the knowledge that although the world might treat us as garbage to be discarded, we can take comfort in our heavenly Father.

The phrase, “the fear of the Lord,” occurs fourteen times in the book of Proverbs (1:7, 29; 2:5; 8:13; 9:10; 10:27; 14:26, 27; 15:16, 33; 16:6; 19:23; 22:4; 23:17). Fearing God is one of the great themes of the book. While terror at the prospect of God’s punishment is highlighted in the Bible (1 Sam. 11:7; 2 Kgs. 17:24-28; 1 Chr. 14:17; Mt. 10:28; Acts 5:1-11; 2 Cor. 5:10-11), “fear” in the book of Proverbs most often refers to respecting God through obedience to His statutes and principles.

Knowledge and wisdom are attained by fearing the Lord. The beginning of knowledge is to look to the Lord who is the source of truth (Prov. 1:7). Wisdom is the application of knowledge to the various situations of life. Wisdom includes morality, but also goes beyond right and wrong to knowing the best option in a list of several morally right choices. God gave Solomon an understanding heart, wisdom beyond measure (1 Kgs. 3:9-12; 4:29-32). Solomon is the chief author of the book of Proverbs (Prov. 10:1; 25:1); God-inspired wisdom was given to him and a few others that penned this book (30:1; 31:1). The fear of the Lord is key to the beginning of wisdom and continued instruction in wisdom (Prov. 9:10; 15:33). Having wisdom means one’s days will not be wasted in useless suffering for foolishness.

Fearing the Lord gives one strong confidence; the Lord guides and protects those who seek after Him, delivering them from the snares of death (Prov. 14:26-27). As Psalm 19:9-13 says:

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.

Fearing the Lord involves hating evil (Prov. 8:13). We are called to align ourselves with our Lord and  hate the arrogant ways of men that exalt themselves in opposition to Him (Psa. 31:6; 45:7; 97:10; 101:3; 119:104, 113, 128, 163; 139:19-22). One of the problems of our time is wickedness is not hated the way it should be. The fear of man overrules the fear of God in the hearts of many; however, we should put our trust in God, knowing that He is greater than any enemies that come our way (Prov. 29:25). God in His perfect holiness hates evil (Prov. 6:16-19). We should adopt His values.

Fearing God is the great lesson of our lives here on earth. As Solomon summarizes, “ Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil” (Ecc. 12:13-14).

To his sons in the faith, Timothy and Titus, Paul warned of men of corrupt minds who would be adversaries to the truth. Some evil men use religion as a means of gain (1 Tim. 6:5). Jesus warned of wolves in sheep’s clothing whom one can detect by their fruits (Mt. 7:15-20). Instead of using God’s word for its intended purpose of producing godliness (1 Tim. 1:5; 6:3), false teachers, from their proud and covetous hearts, are intent on fleecing the sheep (2 Pet. 2:1-3).

Of such men Paul wrote, “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate” (Titus 1:15-16).

These individuals openly declared they were Christians, but their actions refuted their verbal claims and showed the reality: they denied the Lord. God regards such individuals as abominable, a word which means that which is detestable and disgusting to God. Paul had encountered such individuals who were disobedient to apostolic authority, and thus, to the truth of the Gospel. Merely professing to know God is not enough; obedience to His will shows whether one truly knows God (Hos. 4:1-6; 1 Jn. 2:3). These rebellious individuals were unfit for doing any good deed. The word reprobate means they were disqualified or not standing the test that determines what one is really made of. Those who are reprobate do not prove to be what they ought to be. Some individuals get so hardened by sin that God gives them up to a reprobate mind (Rom. 1:28).

Titus had to deal with such individuals and sadly so do we. This is part of what characterizes some men in this final dispensation of time in which Timothy, Titus and we today live (2 Tim. 3:1-8). We must make sure we do not go down the path of sin that leads to this horrific end of a seared, calloused conscience (1 Tim. 4:2; Heb. 3:13; Eph. 4:18-20). Instead of being arrogant (1 Tim. 6:4; 2 Tim. 3:4), let us walk humbly before our God (Mic. 6:8). Instead of loving pleasure (2 Tim. 3:4), let us love God with all our hearts (Deut. 6:5; Mk. 12:30). Instead of being heartless, let us have tender compassion from hearts made pure by God’s love (Eph. 4:32; 1 Tim. 1:5; 1 Jn. 3:14-19). Lord, deliver us from ungodly men who cause your truth to be blasphemed! Help us to know your love and be filled with your goodness!

An individual who is baptized into Christ (Gal. 3:27) is at the same time baptized into the church/body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13; Acts 2:41, 47). God’s intention is for those who have submitted to Christ’s Lordship to find their place among other Christians. When we join with other children of God in worship, service, benevolence, evangelism and fellowship all parties involved are benefited. This is God’s intention; He did not intend for a Christian to live in isolation.

A Christian’s character changes from the ways of the world to the ways of God. We may have an individualistic, pull-yourself-up-by-your-own-bootstraps mentality regarding how we go about accomplishing various endeavors in life. In Romans 12:1-2, Paul appealed to members of the church to not be conformed to this world, but rather be transformed by the renewing of their minds. Paul then immediately moved to the explanation of regarding oneself in the right way and using one’s gifts to help the body of Christ (Rom. 12:3-8). While some of the gifts listed, (e. g. prophecy), are miraculous and had an expiration date, others, such as exhorting, giving, and showing mercy, seem to be a fixture of the church of Christ throughout the ages. Ultimately, the principle taught in this passage holds true for the church even today. Becoming more like Jesus involves using our gifts to serve the body of Christ. The gifts you possess were not earned, nor are they a mere luck of the draw (1 Cor. 4:7). They were dealt to you by God; thus, you should use what you have been given to glorify God in His church (Eph. 3:20-21).

The temptation to become conceited is a threat to maturing in Christ; the man who thinks of himself more highly than he ought to think (Rom. 12:3) forgets that the body is not one member but many (1 Cor. 12:14). On the other hand, some say they cannot contribute much to the church (1 Cor. 12:15-17). Whether it is because of wrongheaded priorities, laziness, or a lack of self-esteem, they excuse themselves from service. The devil is also delighted when an individual falls into this trap as much as the arrogance trap. The one-talent man—who was given the money according to his ability—was not expected to make five, or even two, more talents, but doing nothing was condemned as wicked (Mt. 25:14-30).

The spiritual reality God is communicating through the body-model for the church is that the whole is greater than merely a collection of individual parts. Automotive engineers design the numerous parts of a car to work together. A working car cannot be made by any random pile of parts from a junkyard. All the various parts are manufactured to be compatible as part of a particular model. The parts working together is a result of intention. Likewise, God has designed the church to work together (1 Cor. 12:18). The church is not a mistake (Mt. 16:17-19); it was eternally purposed by God (Eph. 3:11). The corporate body of Christ is not a dispensable facet of Christianity that one may take or leave. Working and worshiping together with fellow Christians is essential, not optional (Heb. 10:24-25).