The Master Carpenter Series

With Christmas just a few weeks away, workshops like this one are busy making toys and gifts. The countdown has begun; are you anticipating the arrival of the Messiah?

Our Christmas theme this year is Carpenter’s Workshop. There’s something special about a workshop isn’t there? When we see a master carpenter at work, we’re amazed at the transformation that takes place from some rough pieces of wood to a beautiful masterpiece. Just think of the wonderful creations that will be made in preparation for Christmas?

I come from a family of carpenters. My grandfather was a carpenter. My dad has the skills of a carpenter, just not the title. Before my fourth grade year, we moved to Afton on about 8 acres of land. That summer we lived in a pop-up camper, all seven of us. Dad would work at 3M as a physicist during the day and come home to work on the house until dark. It was a dream summer for me: lots of woods to explore and a big hole in the ground where our house would stand. It was a good house, still standing strong today because of the good work of my Father.

And now today, our house is full of dad’s handiwork: bookshelves, desks, bunk beds, cabinets. A few of those items I helped build in an effort to pick up a little bit of know how.

Jesus was also born into a family of carpenters. His earthly father was a carpenter. We know this from Matthew 13:55 when Jesus taught in his hometown…

[Matthew 13:55] Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?

In ancient Israel, it was customary for every Jew to be taught some trade by his parents. It’s evident that Joseph taught carpentry to Jesus because listen to Mark 6:3 when the crowds spoke about Jesus…

[Mark 6:3] Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us? And they took offense at him.

Jesus was called a carpenter, a trade he learned from his father. I assure you, no one has called me carpenter, which is no fault of my dad’s. Come to think of it, no one has called me physicist either!

But like Jesus, I grew up with the smell of freshly cut wood around the house. The sounds of sawing and sanding were as familiar to me as they would have been to Jesus. No doubt, Jesus had to sweep up wood shavings or gather up scrap wood, just like I had to do.

Yeah, there’s something special about a workshop. Wonderful creations come out of a workshop. Over the next several weeks, we’ll talk about Jesus, the Master Carpenter and the creation He is working on, or should I say recreation.

Like many other workshops at this time of year, the Master Carpenter is also working on a gift. It’s not a gift made of wood, but the principles of carpentry still apply: have the finished product in mind, follow the plans, use the right tools for the job, take your time to get it right, enjoy your new creation.

We can have confidence in the Master Carpenter. Check out some of his finest work:

The Master Carpenter

The heavens and earth (Genesis 1-2)

[Colossians 1:15-17] He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

The new heavens and the new earth (Revelation 21-22)

[John 14:1-4] Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.

[Hebrews 11:10] For Abraham was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

[Hebrews 11:16] They were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

And how about His designs for the ark, the tabernacle, the temple? How about the work He did transforming a group of misfits - called disciples – into men and women who transformed the world!

The Master Carpenter has a proven track record of excellent designs and superior craftsmanship. Isn’t that what separates a Master Carpenter from the rest – excellent designs and superior craftsmanship?