Jesus, The Carpenter
When we think of the name Jesus, our thoughts are usually focused on Jesus as the Son of God, Jesus as our savior, as a teacher, or Rabbi and many other thoughts would come to mind. However, how many of us think of Jesus as a carpenter?
Matthew 13:55, “Is not This the carpenters son? Is not His Mother called Mary? And His brethren, James, Joses, and Simon, and Judas?”
We read the same statement found in Mark’s Gospel, Mark 6:3. The scriptures give us the understanding that Mary the Mother of Jesus, was conceived by the Holy Spirit. See our article, “The Genealogy of Jesus ” on this website.
The scriptures refer to Jesus as a carpenter, or the son of a carpenter and a question would be why? What does a carpenter do anyway? It is a fact that a carpenter either builds things or fixes things. It could be a piece of furniture, a house, or many other things, one of which could be the fixing of a marriage between a husband and wife or the healing and unity of a family. There is constant division in the world, white against black, rich against poor, educated against non-formally educated, and so on.
The Old Testament speaks of carpenters also. In the Book of Zechariah we read:
Zechariah 1:2, “The Lord had been sore displeased with your fathers,” 3, Therefore say thou unto them, ‘thus saith the Lord of Hosts, turn ye unto Me, saith the Lord of hosts, and I will turn unto you, saith the Lord of Hosts.’
Verse 4, says that God had sent prophets to the people but they would not listen. The name Zechariah means remembered of Yah, that is Jehovah. So, in the event that even though the people had been scattered and divided, Zechariah says they were remembered by God and He will yet gather and heal His people.
God is the God of love. He loves His children and expects a return of their love toward Him which will occur even now as well as in a futuristic time. But now, like the Judges before them, they were left to do whatever they thought was right in their own eyes, Judges 21:25, yet they are loved and not forgotten by God.
The 4 Scouts
We need to remember that there are two sources of power in the world, the God of all creation and His adversary, who obtained power by default, Satan, 2nd Corinthians 4:4. Although Satan is the god of this world, God is still in charge of events and will bring His purpose to completion with success.
Scriptures tell us how God maintains an overview of all acts or activities which occur on earth.
Zachariah 1:10, And the man that stood among the myrtle trees answered and said, “These are they whom the Lord hath sent to walk to and fro through the earth.”
These men on horses were scouts, sent by God, to know the condition of the earth.
The answer by the scouts was, “Behold, all the earth sitteth still, and is at rest”, Zechariah 1:11.
This is the same condition we read about in the Book of Job, where Job offered burnt offerings to God in case his children had sinned and cursed God in their hearts, Job 1:5. Of course Job experienced trials after verse 5 so he was not at rest at all, at least, not God’s rest. And so it is with the report from the men on horseback. People thought they were at rest just as many are at ease today, never realizing that God’s rest escapes them. True rest escapes those in the world today as well because God tells us in the Book of Zechariah, why there is no true rest among the people without God initiating that rest. We need to enter into that rest, Hebrews 4:3. We need to work first by rightly dividing the Word, 2nd Timothy 2:15. It’s only natural that we work first, before we are able to enjoy the benefits of God’s rest, whether the work is physically for our needs, or spiritually for our salvation.
The Four Horns
Zechariah 1:18, Then lifted I up mine eyes and saw, and behold four horns.
The Biblical number four tells us that these four horns pertain to the earth. Just as there are four seasons of the year, or that there are four points to a compass. These four horns are external. They are in the world and they are of the world and can be seen by men. They have power from the god of this world because they are on earth, not in heaven. These four horns have been given authority to execute every function necessary for the existence of man on the earth. The four earthly horns, controlled by the men of the world, are education, economy, politics, and religion.
All four are controlled by men who are independent of God. They are helped by the four carpenters we read about in Zechariah 1:20, whose function is to build and fix things, but in this case have done the opposite because of their being led by the god of this world. What have these horns accomplished?
Zechariah 1:19,, And I said unto the angel that talked with me, “What are these?” And he answered me, “These are the horns which have scattered Judah, Israel, and Jerusalem.”
Verse 15 of this chapter say that these are the heathen which are at ease. These four horns have scattered God’s people. They function in the earth and are independent of God, just as Cain was independent of God, Genesis 4:16.
There is no difference today than it was during Zechariah’s day. Society demands that God’s commandments be taken out of the courtrooms and children are not allowed to open a school day with prayer. Corporations work for their own profit and goals. Many people want a society independent of God, never realizing that its ways will eventually backfire on them.
The Horn of Salvation
John the Baptist’s Father Zacharias, who was filled with the Holy Spirit prophesied:
Luke 1:68, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for He hath raised up a “horn of salvation ” for us in the house of His servant David.”
Here we read of a single horn, not like the four earthy horns we read about in the Book of Zechariah. This horn came not to scatter people but to gather all who had a heart for God.
Matthew 12:30, “He that is not with Me is against Me; and he that gathered not with Me, scattered.”
It is very understandable why we read:
Acts 4:10, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, Whom ye crucified, Whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11, This is the Stone which was set at nought of ye builders, Which is become the head of the corner. 12, neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
The four Horns with the help of the four carpenters have done a good job to scatter the people of God. Now, because of the work of Christ, God’s anointed, humanity will have the opportunity to decide, who will they follow, the prince of the power of the air, Satan, or our creator God with His unlimited power and authority. He will build His house, Hebrews 3:6, and we, all those who are willing, have a part in it.
Thanks be to God that we have such a carpenter who not only builds us a house but fixes things, like marriages, broken families, health issues and prepares us to enter into the Kingdom of God.