Jesus the Carpenter

Real Hands, Real Work

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When the people of Nazareth said, “Is this not the carpenter?” (Mark 6:3), they were telling the truth. Jesus really did work with His hands. The Son of God lived a real human life.

Growing up. After His visit to the Temple at twelve, “He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them” (Luke 2:51). Subject means He obeyed Mary and Joseph.

Growing in every way. “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52). Stature means height. Jesus grew taller, learned new things and made friends, just as you do.

Learning a trade. Matthew calls Jesus the carpenter's son (Matthew 13:55), and Mark calls Him the carpenter (Mark 6:3). Jesus probably learned to build in Joseph's workshop. He made things like doors, tables, yokes for oxen and roof beams.

Tired feet. Jesus walked everywhere. Once He was “wearied from His journey” and sat down to rest by a well (John 4:6). Wearied means very tired.

Hungry too. After forty days in the desert, “He was hungry” (Matthew 4:2). Jesus knew what an empty stomach feels like.

Tempted, but never sinned. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). Sympathize means to understand how someone feels.

He chose to be poor. “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor” (2 Corinthians 8:9). Jesus left heaven's glory for a small town and a workbench.

Humble all the way. Jesus “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant… He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:7-8). A bondservant is a servant who belongs to his master.

Work matters to God. Jesus spent most of His life doing ordinary work. That means your chores and schoolwork matter too. “And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men” (Colossians 3:23).

He came to serve. Jesus said He “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). A ransom is a price paid to set someone free.

What we learn. Jesus is not far away from your everyday life. He knows what it is like to be young, to work hard, to be tired and to be misunderstood.

What to do. This week, do one ordinary job with your whole heart, as if you were doing it for Jesus. Then thank Him that He understands your life.

Nazareth's sneer, “Is this not the carpenter?” (Mark 6:3), accidentally tells us something true and wonderful. The eternal Son of God spent most of His years on earth as a village craftsman.

Tekton. The Greek tekton (say: tek-TOHN) is a craftsman or builder. In a village like Nazareth that usually meant wood: doors, beams, farm tools, yokes and furniture. Matthew adds that He was known as the carpenter's son (Matthew 13:55).

Quiet years. Jesus lived about thirty years in Nazareth (Luke 3:23) before His public ministry, which lasted only a few years. Most of His life on earth was spent in quiet work and obedience. God valued those quiet years.

Obedient Son. Luke says He “was subject to them” (Luke 2:51). The Lord of glory obeyed an earthly mother and father. He kept the fifth commandment perfectly for us.

Real growth. Luke 2:52 says He “increased in wisdom and stature.” Jesus did not stop being God, but He truly took on human growth, learning and limits.

Real weakness. He was hungry (Matthew 4:2) and tired (John 4:6). Hebrews 4:15 says He was “in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” He can sympathize because He has lived where we live.

The great step down. Philippians 2:6-8 traces it: “being in the form of God,” He “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant.” A carpenter's bench in Nazareth was part of that step down, and the cross was the lowest point.

Rich became poor. “Though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9). His poverty was for our riches.

Ordinary work is holy work. Jesus' years at the workbench show that God is honored by faithful daily work, not only by public ministry. Colossians 3:23 tells us to work “heartily, as to the Lord.”

Mark 10:45. The carpenter “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” A ransom is the price paid to free a captive. His whole life of service led to the cross, where He paid that price.

Why this matters. If Jesus were only God and not truly man, He could not stand in our place. If He were only man, His death could not save us. He is both, fully and at once.

Application. Nazareth thought an ordinary life meant an ordinary person. Do not make the same mistake about Jesus, or about the quiet, faithful people God puts around you.

The Builder Who Made the World

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Nazareth saw a carpenter. The Bible shows us who that carpenter really is: the One who made the whole world, holds it together and is building something new.

In the beginning. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1). The Word is Jesus.

The Maker. “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3). The hands that built tables in Nazareth first made the stars.

Everything. “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible” (Colossians 1:16). Visible means things we can see. Invisible means things we cannot see, like angels.

Holding it together. “And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17). Consist means hold together. Jesus keeps the world going.

Upholding all things. Jesus is “upholding all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3).

God came close. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). The Maker moved into the neighborhood. He lived in Nazareth.

Mighty God. Long before, Isaiah called the promised Child “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6). The baby of Bethlehem and the carpenter of Nazareth is the Mighty God.

Before Abraham. Jesus said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM” (John 8:58). The carpenter of Nazareth was alive before the world began.

The sky shows it. “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork” (Psalm 19:1). Firmament means the sky. Every star is the work of the One Nazareth called the carpenter.

Still building. “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” (Ephesians 2:10). Workmanship means something made by a master builder. If you trust Jesus, you are His work.

Made new. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

A place prepared. Jesus promised, “I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). The Builder is getting a home ready for His people.

What to do. When you look at the sky or a tree this week, thank Jesus for making it. Then ask Him to keep building your life.

Mark 6:3 shows us a craftsman whom the town thought it understood. The rest of the New Testament shows us who that craftsman is: the Creator, the Sustainer and the Savior.

John 1:1-3. “In the beginning was the Word… All things were made through Him.” John uses the Greek logos (say: LOH-goss), Word, for the Son who speaks and makes. Before Nazareth, before Bethlehem, He already was.

Colossians 1:16-17. All things were created “through Him and for Him,” and “in Him all things consist.” Creation was made by Jesus, belongs to Jesus and is held together by Jesus.

Hebrews 1:3. He is “upholding all things by the word of His power.” The same verse adds that He “had by Himself purged our sins.” The Upholder of the universe is also the One who cleanses sinners.

John 1:14. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” The word dwelt means pitched His tent. The Maker came to live in His own creation, in a small town most people looked down on.

Isaiah 9:6. The promised Child would be called “Mighty God.” Nazareth's question, “Where did this Man get these things?” (Mark 6:2), has its answer here.

John 8:58. “Before Abraham was, I AM.” Jesus used the name God gave Moses at the burning bush (Exodus 3:14). The man from Nazareth lived before Abraham, because He is the eternal God.

Psalm 19:1. “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.” Handiwork is the work of a craftsman's hands. The Craftsman behind the heavens worked with wood in Nazareth.

Ephesians 2:10. “We are His workmanship.” Salvation is a work of the Maker, not a project we build for ourselves. Good works follow; they do not earn.

2 Corinthians 5:17. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” The Creator of the first creation makes new hearts by His Spirit.

John 14:2-3. Jesus goes to “prepare a place” and promises to return. Many Christians love to remember that the Carpenter of Nazareth is the One preparing that home.

Philippians 2:9-11. The One who stepped down has been lifted up: “God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name.” One day every knee will bow to the carpenter Nazareth rejected.

Application. Do not shrink Jesus down to a good teacher from a small town. He is the Maker and the Savior. Worship Him, and trust Him to finish the work He starts in you.

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Complete all sections to finish!

Read each section and answer the questions correctly.