A Carpenter Builds the Church

Is this not the carpenter…Mark 6:3

It appears Joseph was a carpenter. Jesus was raised by a carpenter His dad, Joseph. Like all who are born of God, Jesus has two fathers: God and Joseph, His dad. Jesus’ father was God. He was raised by His dad, Joseph. Some today have several dads. They have a dad and a step-dad. Some are adopted. They have a biological dad and they have the dad that raised them. All who are in Christ have two fathers.

The Bible says very little about Joseph. He was betrothed to Mary when she became pregnant with Jesus. This bothered Joseph. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly, Mark 1:19. Legally Joseph had every right to divorce Mary, her child was not his. In that time, he had every right to have her publicly stoned to death. But while he thought about these things, behold an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.’ Mark 1:20. Joseph did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife, 1:24.

Joseph also obeyed the law of the land. While Mary was pregnant, a decree went out that all must be registered in the city of their origin. Joseph and Mary were of the tribe of Judah, of the family of David. So, they traveled about 90 miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the city of David.

The trip would have taken at least four days. Once there, Joseph helped Mary deliver her baby—Jesus. Imagine the rough hands of a carpenter handing the new born baby to His mother. Then doing all that had to be done after a child is born. Imagine Mary knowing just how much her husband truly loved her!

Later, an angel of the Lord will appear to Joseph again commanding him to take Jesus and His mother to Egypt. Later Joseph was told to return to Israel. He obeyed. Mark 2:19-21. Joseph and Mary had other biological children. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses, and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us, Mark 6:3.

Maybe our children should know this about Jesus. Like them, He had a mom and a dad and a Father. He had brothers and sisters. He had a cousin, John the Baptist, the son of Zacharias and Elizabeth. Zacharias was a priest. John did not join the priesthood. He was destined for greater things. Jesus began as a carpenter’s son. He built a church.

Imagine just how much Jesus loves you to allow his hands, carpenter’s hands, to be nailed to a rough cross. Amazing love!