The Master Carpenter
27/09/09 22:23
While Jesus was growing up in Nazareth, He became a
carpenter under the watchful eye of His father,
Joseph. Joseph was a carpenter by trade and there
isn’t any reason to think the Jesus grew up to
become otherwise. The gospel of Mark records that
while Jesus was in His own hometown (this is after He
began His ministry) the people took offense at Him
because of some of the things He was saying and
doing. They wondered where He got the wisdom that
they saw Him possess. “How could this be? He
was just a carpenter, we know His family?”
It really is neat that Jesus was a carpenter, because carpenters build things. Carpenters build houses. And this Master Carpenter is building God’s house, the Church and He is still at work today. Jesus told us that, “We need not let our hearts be troubled. Since we believed in God, we could believe in Him.” He went on to say that He was going back to Heaven to prepare a place for us and that one day He would be back to receive us back to Himself, so where He was, we would be also. Over the years many of us have believed that Jesus was up in Heaven just busy as a beaver planning and measuring, hammering and sawing and all around building a house for us to inhabit. But this is somewhat an error in thinking and can actually hinder the Christian’s growth into the things of God.
Yes, Jesus is up in Heaven, sitting at the Right hand of the Father and ever-living to make intercession for us. (Heb.7:25) but, He isn’t up there with a tool belt strapped around His waist and a hammer in His hand! In fact, the “carpentry” that He is doing isn’t being done in Heaven, it is being done here on earth. The cutting, the shaping, the forming, all of that is being done here and now. Remember that Peter told us that we are like living stones, being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Paul tells us the same thing in other words: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22
There is a little passage in 1Kings 6:7 that hints of what I am saying here. When Solomon built the Temple only blocks dressed at the quarry were used. No hammer, chisel, or any other iron tool could be heard at the Temple site, while it was being built. In other words, the stones were cut, shaped and formed where they were found. They were shaped to fit together with the other stones that would become one of the most magnificent buildings that ever existed. Solomon planned and prepared this Temple in Jerusalem and the stones and timbers were brought in as far away as Lebanon.
God is right now forming us and fashioning us to not only prepare us for our eternal dwelling with Him, but also to fit together with others who belong to this wonderful House. It is very necessary for us to allow Christ to “cut away,” to “set the plumb line,” to form us and fashion us now, where He has found us. He can use anyone, from anywhere and in any condition. He is the Master Carpenter who is right now, building His House, hewing out its pillars and preparing His table. Soon He will call from the highest point, “Come, all has been made ready. Blessed are all who are invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!”
Have a God blessed week!
Pastor Jim
It really is neat that Jesus was a carpenter, because carpenters build things. Carpenters build houses. And this Master Carpenter is building God’s house, the Church and He is still at work today. Jesus told us that, “We need not let our hearts be troubled. Since we believed in God, we could believe in Him.” He went on to say that He was going back to Heaven to prepare a place for us and that one day He would be back to receive us back to Himself, so where He was, we would be also. Over the years many of us have believed that Jesus was up in Heaven just busy as a beaver planning and measuring, hammering and sawing and all around building a house for us to inhabit. But this is somewhat an error in thinking and can actually hinder the Christian’s growth into the things of God.
Yes, Jesus is up in Heaven, sitting at the Right hand of the Father and ever-living to make intercession for us. (Heb.7:25) but, He isn’t up there with a tool belt strapped around His waist and a hammer in His hand! In fact, the “carpentry” that He is doing isn’t being done in Heaven, it is being done here on earth. The cutting, the shaping, the forming, all of that is being done here and now. Remember that Peter told us that we are like living stones, being built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, offering up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Paul tells us the same thing in other words: “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” Ephesians 2:19-22
There is a little passage in 1Kings 6:7 that hints of what I am saying here. When Solomon built the Temple only blocks dressed at the quarry were used. No hammer, chisel, or any other iron tool could be heard at the Temple site, while it was being built. In other words, the stones were cut, shaped and formed where they were found. They were shaped to fit together with the other stones that would become one of the most magnificent buildings that ever existed. Solomon planned and prepared this Temple in Jerusalem and the stones and timbers were brought in as far away as Lebanon.
God is right now forming us and fashioning us to not only prepare us for our eternal dwelling with Him, but also to fit together with others who belong to this wonderful House. It is very necessary for us to allow Christ to “cut away,” to “set the plumb line,” to form us and fashion us now, where He has found us. He can use anyone, from anywhere and in any condition. He is the Master Carpenter who is right now, building His House, hewing out its pillars and preparing His table. Soon He will call from the highest point, “Come, all has been made ready. Blessed are all who are invited to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!”
Have a God blessed week!
Pastor Jim
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