The Master Carpenter
We are told through scripture that Jesus’ occupation on earth before His ministry began was that of a carpenter (Mark 6:3.) Throughout history carpenters have been people skilled in working with wood to make other tools, homes, ships, wagons, chariots, and more. The tools used to today to fashion wood have changed with the introduction of electrical power. But there are some tried and true tools that have existed since 1,000 years before Jesus was born in Israel. Saws and hammers are two such items. A saw is used to remove wood to change a piece of it into the right length or thickness. And when it was necessary to fasten pieces of wood together there would have been a mallet or hammer used to drive the fastener (wooden peg or nail, respectively. ) So a carpenter of Jesus’ day would recognize today’s version of a hand saw and hammer as they were being used.
Carpentry can be demanding. Accuracy is important when hammering. Missing the actual nail or peg being driven will mar the wood or perhaps even break the wood requiring a whole new piece of wood to be cut. And even if you hit the fastener, a carpenter must hit the fastener at the correct angle with the appropriate amount of force. Otherwise, the hammer may slip from the fastener head and mar (or break) the wood. Or the fastener itself might be compromised because it could splinter or bend into a shape that cannot be driven properly. And that is a challenge just while standing on the ground and the pieces to be connected are secure and stable.
But, move those same pieces of wood three stories into the air on swaying scaffolding. Put the wood into a location and position requiring an awkward stance or unusual swing for a carpenter also trying to balance himself while holding the wood steady while hammering. That becomes a much more difficult hammer swing. But carpenters (& people in general) being human, there are times we will fail not only in making a difficult hammer swing but even at times when it should be a fairly simple swing of the hammer while standing on flat ground.
And aren’t our lives much like that? We are like carpenters in and of our own lives. We shape ourselves and those around us in the sense we choose to think thoughts, make choices, and take actions that shape who we are & others. That is like the swinging of a hammer. Now try imagining the hammer has a cracked wooden handle. The handle has not completely parted into two pieces. But when we grasp the handle, we realize the break in the handle causes the head of the hammer to wobble as we swing it. Because the head unpredictably wobbles this way and that each time we swing the hammer, we keep missing the nail. And with a broken wobbly hammer, it will be very difficult to hit the mark.
When times are difficult (or even too easy,) don’t we tend to miss the mark? We are all like that broken hammer. We choose to take the so-called easy way that leads to a loss of integrity, reputation, character, job, family, finances, health, perhaps incarceration, or even death. We make a mess of our own lives and in the lives around us..
A hammer, like our lives, is not something easily mended. Binding a broken handle with twine won’t hold the pieces together. Duct tape won’t cut it either. And in our lives don’t we try to duct tape ourselves back together when we break ourselves? We turn to all manner of beliefs, idols, worshiping some imagined perfect version of ourselves, distracting activities, pursuits of pleasure, things, or power? And those things will never provide us what we really seek which is true healing and meaning in our lives. Our lives are broken like that shattered hammer. And in our own human hands we fail to think & do the good things that accomplish good purposes. Instead we damage ourselves and those around us. And the harder we pursue distracting activities, false beliefs, or personal gratification we hurt ourselves and those around us more and more.
Jesus the humble carpenter from Galilee is The Master Carpenter. If we give our lives to Him and allow Him to control and guide us, He can hit the nail on the head with our broken hammer of a life - every time. Without destroying the hammer or marring the wood around it. Even in our brokenness, He can use us right where we are, as we are, to accomplish His good will and good purposes in our lives and those around us. When our lives are broken and shattered and we have marred those around us, Jesus beckons us to give our lives to Him. He alone can heal our brokenness and use our past brokenness for good…
Who do you say He is?
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9, ESV
