The books of the gospels focus on Jesus’ public ministry. For three years, he taught about the kingdom of God, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and even raised the dead. But before any of that, for thirty years, Jesus lived in the family home. And for most of those years, he worked with his earthly father Joseph in the family business.
Scripture says, Joseph was a carpenter just like my dad. Someone who worked with wood. The original language is not clear on what aspect of carpentry. What is clear is that Joseph was a builder of some sort. So he worked with his hands and tools, perhaps making farm implements and furniture or laying foundations. And Jesus did the same thing.
Today, we think about Jesus’ early year’s, where many people knew him as a teacher and miracle worker. They were in awe of him. But to the people in his hometown, he was the carpenter’s son, a guy who worked with tools in his hands. We have the opposite problem. We know Jesus as the Son of God. And we can lose sight of his genuine humanity. But for most of his years, Jesus lived his life as an ordinary person, went to school, worked with his dad and was tempted but without sin. Perhaps Jesus’ life began with building physical objects to teach of the time when he would build lives from the decay of sin. His church as a place of refuge, and prepare a place for all who put their faith in him.
Isn’t this the carpenter? Mark 6:3
Let’s Pray
Jesus, you are the Holy Son of God, and we praise you. You are also the human son of Mary and Joseph the carpenter, with tools in your hands not just to build objects but lives. Today I invite you to fix my broken place, set me morally straight, and make me functional to aid men and woman for your kingdom. Please take me and make something wonderful out of my life in your name, Amen.
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