Is This Not The Carpenter?

Did you know that Yeshua was a carpenter who grew up and lived most of His life in the village of Nazareth?

Let me share an experience that Yeshua had in Nazareth once He had commenced His public ministry.

I am drawing from a passage in Mark’s gospel. It touches on three important truths. That Yeshua was a carpenter; that He was the eldest of a large Jewish family with four brothers and at least two sisters. Also, like so many prophets before Him, He was not honored in His own country, among His own relatives, and in His own house.

However it is His profession as a carpenter that I want to focus in on, drawing in part on valuable comment expressed here, in Got Questions.

From this article we discover that there is evidence that the Greek word used for “carpenter” (tekton) could also be translated more broadly as “artisan,” “contractor,” or “handyman.” It is possible, therefore, that Yeshua could work with wood, stone, and other materials.

it also sheds light on His ability to comment on building structures like the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and remember His powerful parable about a house built upon rock compared to one built on sand, highlighted in Matthew’s gospel.

Another truth for me is that one of the names given to Yeshua as Messiah, is being the Cornerstone. This is the essential component in any building structure. If you remove the Cornerstone, the structure will collapse.

Another powerful example is when the prophet Zechariah shares the words of the Lord of hosts:

“I am zealous for Jerusalem and for Zion with great zeal…. I am returning to Jerusalem with mercy; My house shall be built in it,” says the Lord of hosts,“ and a surveyor’s line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.”

Here we see God, through Zechariah, confirming His unbreakable commitment to the city of Jerusalem and the Jewish people. He speaks of His house being built there and using a surveyor’s line.

Given that Yeshua is The Word made flesh, it is actually Yeshua making this proclamation.

I have included an image of the central Bible passage and a map that identifies the land to the north of Israel where Nazareth exists.

Also a photo of our stairwell at home made of native matai and kauri which I recently re-stained. I’m sure my Messiah would have much wisdom to share about the wonders of these native woods!