The Craftsman
by an Old Disciple
“Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary…”~ Mk. 6:3
LEARNING FROM YOUR TRADE
Every man learns something from his trade. No one goes unaffected. Preachers I know have been farmers, fisherman, lawyers, draftsmen, maintenance men, etc. Each of these skills carried over into their ministries. So I believe it to be with Jesus. Jewish tradition tells us when a lad became twelve years old, his father was to teach him his trade. This is proven out by the scriptures.In Matt. 13:55, Christ is referred to as, “...the carpenter's son.” But in Mk. 6:3, He’s called, “...the carpenter.” There is no reason to believe His trade did not leave it’s mark upon Him, as in the case of other men. As He went about His daily duties, for some eighteen years, His Father was teaching Him things He would carry into His ministry. Allow me to list three brief things.
HE LEARNED HOW MUCH COULD BE HIDDEN IN A THING
It is said of Michelangelo, when looking upon a huge stone, he commented, “I see an angel in that piece of rock, and I’m going to liberate him.” So it was with our Lord. Not only could He look at a raw piece of wood and see the potential of what it could become; He could look at a maniac and see a quiet, peaceable, loving father. Hallelujah!
HE LEARNED WHAT PAINS IT TOOK TO TRANSFORM A THING
To illustrate, a table and chairs. It took long, tedious hours to make them into what they were to become. He healed a leper in an instant; He raised the dead in a second of time; but it took hundreds of pains-taking instances to transform Simon into Peter, the apostle. I can imagine one day, when Simon seemed to be so difficult, the Father saying, “Remember the table and chairs, Son.”
HE LEARNED THE FINEST THINGS ARE SOMETIMES MADE OUT OF THE HARDEST MATERIALS
For example, it was cedar wood that adorned the Temple and David’s palace. That hard wood was personally selected! And, so it was with that most hardened of men, Saul of Tarsus. He became the tender, loving Apostle Paul. God chose him personally to adorn the temple called, “The Church.”
A WORD TO THE DISCOURAGED
You who are dealing with family members, and loved ones, along with you pastors who are ministering to seemingly impossible cases, never forget what THE CARPENTER can make them into.
Thankyou!God Bless you Brother Sandlin!