Story-Teller
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Why Christ was a Carpenter
The only begotten Son of God chose to work as a carpenter. Why? One would think that He could have been anything He chose to be. He could have come as a King. After all, He’s the Son of God, but being a King separates you from ordinary people, so that wouldn’t do.
He could have been a judge. As the One who handed the law to Moses, who better to be the Chief Judge? But that was out because He said that He did not come to judge the world, but to save it!
He could have been a doctor. However, being the Son of God, He can do things no doctor could do. He was definitely a “hands-on” kind of man…just like doctors should be. It’s hard to heal people without actually touching them, but He even healed people at a distance just by saying the words. No doctor today can do the things He did. But He did not come as a doctor, although He is the Great Physician.
He could have been a Pharisee. He certainly knew everything they knew, and He explained the truth to them over and over again so they could understand it but that just made them mad. They thought, ‘How dare He say such things!’ So, coming as a “religious” leader was out of the question.
He could have come as a merchant. He had the power to create anything in the way of goods and services. How many men can turn water into not just wine, but the best wine anyone had ever tasted? How many can make a couple loaves of bread and a few fish feed thousands of people? Talk about a catering business! Think of the money He could have made by speaking a few words over a couple of potatoes and pocketing the profit! However, being a merchant prince didn’t interest Him.
He could have been a tax collector. Since He owns everything including “…the cattle on a thousand hills.” He could have been collecting taxes on all sorts of things. He could have been so rich that He would have made Solomon look like a pauper. Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and the Walton (Wal-Mart) family are pikers compared to The Man who owns the universe. Talk about real estate investments! He owns everything …but He wasn’t into material possessions, and He handled taxes in a unique way, sending Peter to catch a fish. Peter opens its mouth and discovers a coin to pay the tax for both Jesus and Peter together! Yes, even He paid taxes, but the whole idea is silly since everything in the universe and this world is owned by Him…and on loan to us!
He could have been a teacher, because He is the MODEL teacher. They called Him “teacher” because of His wisdom, and his parables and stories were the delight of the day to everyone who heard and understood them, but being a teacher was only part of what He came to do.
He could have done anything, but He chose to be a carpenter. We can only imagine what some “expert” on Antiques Road Show would estimate as the value of a chair or table crafted by His hands. No one could count that high. To quote an often-played TV commercial - they would be “priceless!” Working with One’s hands provides time to think and pray. Hard work can help to keep a man honest. He was THE CARPENTER…the One who built the universe. (read Proverbs 8: 22-36).
Copyright © 2004 William Price
The only begotten Son of God chose to work as a carpenter. Why? One would think that He could have been anything He chose to be. He could have come as a King. After all, He’s the Son of God, but being a King separates you from ordinary people, so that wouldn’t do.
He could have been a judge. As the One who handed the law to Moses, who better to be the Chief Judge? But that was out because He said that He did not come to judge the world, but to save it!
He could have been a doctor. However, being the Son of God, He can do things no doctor could do. He was definitely a “hands-on” kind of man…just like doctors should be. It’s hard to heal people without actually touching them, but He even healed people at a distance just by saying the words. No doctor today can do the things He did. But He did not come as a doctor, although He is the Great Physician.
He could have been a Pharisee. He certainly knew everything they knew, and He explained the truth to them over and over again so they could understand it but that just made them mad. They thought, ‘How dare He say such things!’ So, coming as a “religious” leader was out of the question.
He could have come as a merchant. He had the power to create anything in the way of goods and services. How many men can turn water into not just wine, but the best wine anyone had ever tasted? How many can make a couple loaves of bread and a few fish feed thousands of people? Talk about a catering business! Think of the money He could have made by speaking a few words over a couple of potatoes and pocketing the profit! However, being a merchant prince didn’t interest Him.
He could have been a tax collector. Since He owns everything including “…the cattle on a thousand hills.” He could have been collecting taxes on all sorts of things. He could have been so rich that He would have made Solomon look like a pauper. Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and the Walton (Wal-Mart) family are pikers compared to The Man who owns the universe. Talk about real estate investments! He owns everything …but He wasn’t into material possessions, and He handled taxes in a unique way, sending Peter to catch a fish. Peter opens its mouth and discovers a coin to pay the tax for both Jesus and Peter together! Yes, even He paid taxes, but the whole idea is silly since everything in the universe and this world is owned by Him…and on loan to us!
He could have been a teacher, because He is the MODEL teacher. They called Him “teacher” because of His wisdom, and his parables and stories were the delight of the day to everyone who heard and understood them, but being a teacher was only part of what He came to do.
He could have done anything, but He chose to be a carpenter. We can only imagine what some “expert” on Antiques Road Show would estimate as the value of a chair or table crafted by His hands. No one could count that high. To quote an often-played TV commercial - they would be “priceless!” Working with One’s hands provides time to think and pray. Hard work can help to keep a man honest. He was THE CARPENTER…the One who built the universe. (read Proverbs 8: 22-36).
Copyright © 2004 William Price
