Most of the Gospels focus on Jesus' life after the age of 30. We read about his miracles and teachings, his death and resurrection. But sometimes, I find myself thinking about all those years before his ministry really kicked off – the years he spent as a carpenter in Nazareth.
I try to picture it: The smell of wood shavings, the sound of a saw cutting into timber, the pounding of a hammer. Day after day, Jesus was likely working alongside Joseph, building things for their community. Perhaps a solid table for someone's home, a yoke for oxen, or a simple bench for someone to rest on.
The work itself wasn't easy! It took strong hands, a good eye for detail, and a lot of patience to turn a piece of wood into something useful and even beautiful. Imagine Jesus, before he was healing the sick, carefully measuring, shaping, and making sure everything fit just right. I bet he took pride in doing good work. He might have chatted with the people who ordered things from him – neighbors, farmers, families – offering a kind word or lending an extra hand.
And it makes me wonder: Why carpentry?
Why would God have his Son spend so much time doing what seems like ordinary work? We know that just by being who he was, Jesus would have impacted people. But there's something really important about the fact that he was a carpenter.
This thought struck me the other day:
God is the original, ultimate Craftsman.
He spoke the whole universe into being, created the mountains, painted our sunsets, and designed the tiny, perfect wings of a butterfly. So, isn't it amazing that his Son, Jesus – God with us – would also be a craftsman?
Carpentry is about taking something raw and, with care and time, turning it into something that has purpose. It takes focus, seeing the bigger picture, and sticking with it even when it gets tough. God knew this when creating the world. Jesus knew it as a carpenter. And doesn't that sound a lot like what God does in our own lives?
How often do we feel like what we're doing day-to-day doesn't matter? The world we live in, especially with all the stuff we see online, can make us feel like we need to be more – have a bigger platform, a fancier job title, a more impressive life. That little voice creeps in: "You're just a stay-at-home mom," or "just a teacher," or "just working that regular job."
But let's look back at Jesus, the carpenter. For thirty years, he wasn't walking around doing miracles. He was working with his hands, contributing to his community. And in that "ordinary" work, there was meaning.
I wasn't there, so I don't know how all of the pieces fit together. But it's easy to imagine that maybe Jesus built a piece of furniture for a family from Cana, which led them to become friends, and later, he was invited to the wedding of their son. Or perhaps he regularly helped people fix their farm tools and, in the process, shared God's promises from Isaiah with them. God was at work.
The enemy loves to make us feel like our current place is just a waiting room for something "better," something that will finally make us feel like we're making a difference.
But what if the exact spot where God has you right now is where you're meant to grow? What if the kindness you show to that difficult person at work, the patience you have with your kids, the care you put into whatever you do – even if it feels small – is exactly how God is shaping his Kingdom here on earth?
Just like Jesus' hands shaped wood, your hands – whether you're typing an email, wiping a tear, teaching a lesson, or making dinner – are being used by God. Your hard work, your honesty, and the love you put into your daily tasks all reflect who Jesus is, the Son of the ultimate Craftsman.
Here are some questions to reflect on as you consider where God has you in life:
- Where in my life do I feel like what I'm doing isn't really important?
- Can I see how God's love and who He is can shine through even in the everyday things I do, just like we see his hand in all of creation?
May we find peace and purpose knowing that, just like the Carpenter of Nazareth, our lives, too, can be used for something wonderfully made, right where we are.
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