As stated in the previous post, it was the responsibility of the Jewish father to begin teaching his son a trade by age 12, and to find him a wife by age 20. As we know, Jesus was not promised a wife in the flesh. Why did Joseph fall short in this responsibility? These are valid questions that require valid answers, or the very heritage of a Jewish Jesus is in question!
In Luke 2:41-48, we see that Jesus and Joseph are together. Jesus is about to enter 'middle' school, and is probably learning a trade at this point from Joseph. After this, Joseph disappears and is not seen again in the text. Why? All indications are that Joseph died at a young age. When the family of Jesus comes to retrieve Him in Matthew 12:46-49 ("Who is my mother and who are my brothers?") Joseph is not present. In John 19:26-27 as Jesus is dying, He gives His mother to John, also indicating that Joseph is no longer in the picture. This narrows down the time of death for Joseph to be while Jesus is between the age of 12 and 33.
Since Jesus was not promised a bride (excluding the possibility of further angelic visitation to Joseph on this subject) we can assume that Joseph passed away during the teen years of Jesus. The most gifted of students started middle school around the age of 12 while they worked their trade. Jesus was as gifted as they came, and He would have done likewise until the age of 15. At 15 the truly gifted would abandon their trade and seek to follow a rabbi with authority, one of the great Rabbis. Why did Jesus not do this?
If the father of the family died, the eldest son would take the responsibility for providing for the family. We know that Jesus did not follow a great rabbi of the day, lending more credence to the presumption that Joseph died while Jesus was 12-15 years old, and Jesus worked to provide for His family as the eldest should. He was a Teckton. So how did Jesus learn, and from whom?
Showing posts with label Joseph. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joseph. Show all posts
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Jesus The Builder - Pt1
The scripture says that Joseph, the father of Jesus, was a 'teckton', or 'builder'. Most scripture declares him a carpenter, although wood-working would have been probably the oddity during that day. Stone masonry would have been much more prevalent, as housing stones, mill stones, temple and synagogue stones had to be chiseled. Wood very often was imported in from Lebanon for large-scale building. That's not to say that carpentry didn't exist. We don't know what kind of builder Joseph was, just that he was.
In Jewish culture, it was required that a man teach his son his trade by around age 12, and find him a wife around age 20. Joseph would not have diverted from his culture, so it's right to assume that about the time we see Jesus teaching and asking questions in the temple (Luke 2:46), He is also starting to learn to be a builder from His father.
In Jewish culture, it was required that a man teach his son his trade by around age 12, and find him a wife around age 20. Joseph would not have diverted from his culture, so it's right to assume that about the time we see Jesus teaching and asking questions in the temple (Luke 2:46), He is also starting to learn to be a builder from His father.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Success
Gen 39:2 ESV
(2) The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.
When we view success as God views success, then many of the worldly pressures we all feel tend to subside. Joseph was not a home-owner. He didn't have his cars paid off, and he didn't belong to the local country club. Joseph was a slave, and yet God called him successful. Why?
Success - to God - is measured by whom you serve in spite of your circumstances.
(2) The LORD was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master.
When we view success as God views success, then many of the worldly pressures we all feel tend to subside. Joseph was not a home-owner. He didn't have his cars paid off, and he didn't belong to the local country club. Joseph was a slave, and yet God called him successful. Why?
Success - to God - is measured by whom you serve in spite of your circumstances.
Friday, March 19, 2010
The World's Focus
Gen 41:15-17 ESV
(15) And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
(16) Joseph answered Pharaoh, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."
(17) Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile.
God's Kingdom is a wonderful place in which to walk - a place to power, signs, and wonders. Christians who walk the Kingdom walk do so in authority and boldness - much like Joseph did. But as we see with Pharaoh, the world isn't really interested in God.
What the world is interested in... is the interpretation of its dream. "Before you tell me about the source of the solution to all my problems, give me the solution."
This is really how Kingdom works. In my best estimation, that was the design. If you love people unconditionally (yes, we are instructed to do this) then they are attracted to God, our source. If we flip it and preach to a world to come to Jesus in hopes that they will join our little Sunday club, with such perks as... Friday night bible studies and Tuesday night pizza followed by visitation!!! Sounds great. The world will NEVER be attracted to that.
Love - is what the world needs. Love is the only net that will hold. First interpret the dream. Then, tell them about the Interpreter.
(15) And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it."
(16) Joseph answered Pharaoh, "It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer."
(17) Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Behold, in my dream I was standing on the banks of the Nile.
God's Kingdom is a wonderful place in which to walk - a place to power, signs, and wonders. Christians who walk the Kingdom walk do so in authority and boldness - much like Joseph did. But as we see with Pharaoh, the world isn't really interested in God.
What the world is interested in... is the interpretation of its dream. "Before you tell me about the source of the solution to all my problems, give me the solution."
This is really how Kingdom works. In my best estimation, that was the design. If you love people unconditionally (yes, we are instructed to do this) then they are attracted to God, our source. If we flip it and preach to a world to come to Jesus in hopes that they will join our little Sunday club, with such perks as... Friday night bible studies and Tuesday night pizza followed by visitation!!! Sounds great. The world will NEVER be attracted to that.
Love - is what the world needs. Love is the only net that will hold. First interpret the dream. Then, tell them about the Interpreter.
Monday, March 08, 2010
The Abominable Shepherd
Gen 46:33-34
(33) And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?
(34) that ye shall say, Thy servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
There is a call going forth to those in the church to lead in a way that has been lacking for years. The call is to be shepherds - spiritual fathers. One of the last things Jesus told His newly restored disciple, Peter, was 'feed my sheep'. This lit a fire in Peter that still can be felt - as we are a result of that fire. The world despises a shepherd - let there be no mistake. The worldly view states that the strong survive and the weak are eliminated. The shepherd's view is that not a single sheep is lost. The world has not made it profitable to be a shepherd. Being a shepherd is a call to sacrifice for the sheep.
For Christians, this means a sacrifice of time, energy, resources... our very lives. We pour this into others so that others will surpass us in our own walk. The shepherd's walk is the servant's walk. Jesus lived it. Jesus expects us to do the same.
In our Christian walk, despite the "level" of maturity, if we are not pouring into someone else we are wasting the breath God gave us. We are ignoring His commission. There is no reward for playing it safe. The one who dies with the most bible verses memorized does NOT win. But the one who impacts others for the Kingdom of Heaven will revel in victory for all of eternity.
Egyptians despised shepherds. Yet Egyptians had cattle. Egyptians had a great need for that which they held in disdain. The world is no different. If we live our lives as we are called, the world will not likely sing us any praises, but at the same time, our mark will be indelibly felt.
Gen 47:5-6
(5) And Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, Your father and your brothers have come in to you.
(6) The land of Egypt is before you; cause your father and your brothers to live in the best of the land; let them live in the land of Goshen. And if you know men of ability among them, make them chiefs of livestock over what is mine.
(33) And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?
(34) that ye shall say, Thy servants have been keepers of cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
There is a call going forth to those in the church to lead in a way that has been lacking for years. The call is to be shepherds - spiritual fathers. One of the last things Jesus told His newly restored disciple, Peter, was 'feed my sheep'. This lit a fire in Peter that still can be felt - as we are a result of that fire. The world despises a shepherd - let there be no mistake. The worldly view states that the strong survive and the weak are eliminated. The shepherd's view is that not a single sheep is lost. The world has not made it profitable to be a shepherd. Being a shepherd is a call to sacrifice for the sheep.
For Christians, this means a sacrifice of time, energy, resources... our very lives. We pour this into others so that others will surpass us in our own walk. The shepherd's walk is the servant's walk. Jesus lived it. Jesus expects us to do the same.
In our Christian walk, despite the "level" of maturity, if we are not pouring into someone else we are wasting the breath God gave us. We are ignoring His commission. There is no reward for playing it safe. The one who dies with the most bible verses memorized does NOT win. But the one who impacts others for the Kingdom of Heaven will revel in victory for all of eternity.
Egyptians despised shepherds. Yet Egyptians had cattle. Egyptians had a great need for that which they held in disdain. The world is no different. If we live our lives as we are called, the world will not likely sing us any praises, but at the same time, our mark will be indelibly felt.
Gen 47:5-6
(5) And Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, Your father and your brothers have come in to you.
(6) The land of Egypt is before you; cause your father and your brothers to live in the best of the land; let them live in the land of Goshen. And if you know men of ability among them, make them chiefs of livestock over what is mine.
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Dreams
I've got a few friends that dream dreams - not regular ones but head-scratchers. Sometimes they are scary, sometimes simply interesting. In some cases, the dreams seem very significant. Here is a rule of thumb about dreams taken right out of scripture.
If the dream is from God and you only dream it once, it is a warning or a special insight to something that 'might' happen.
If the dream is dreamed twice (and is from God), it is established by God. Why? Remember the rule that from the testimony of two or more a matter is established?
This is made clear from the dreamer himself, Joseph, who said this about Pharaoh's dream:
Gen 41:32
(32) And as to the dream being repeated to Pharaoh twice, the thing is settled because it is from God, and God is hastening to do it.
If the dream is from God and you only dream it once, it is a warning or a special insight to something that 'might' happen.
If the dream is dreamed twice (and is from God), it is established by God. Why? Remember the rule that from the testimony of two or more a matter is established?
This is made clear from the dreamer himself, Joseph, who said this about Pharaoh's dream:
Gen 41:32
(32) And as to the dream being repeated to Pharaoh twice, the thing is settled because it is from God, and God is hastening to do it.
Monday, February 02, 2009
Non-trivial Trivia
Most of us know the story of Joseph, the boy who was sold into slavery by his loving brothers. Joseph had a hard time of it at first, and was purchased by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. We also know that Potiphar's wife lusted after Joseph and when he resisted her advances, she trapped him with false accusations. Potiphar had Joseph thrown into jail.
One wonders... was this girl so desperate for attention that she simply couldn't keep her mind off Joseph?
Here is an interesting tidbit:
Gen 39:1
(1) And Joseph was brought down to Egypt. And Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, the chief of the executioners, an Egyptian man, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.
Notice the word? Eunuch
The Hebrew word is:
sârîys sâris
saw-reece', saw-reece'
From an unused root meaning to castrate; a eunuch; by implication valet (especially of the female apartments), and thus a minister of state: - chamberlain, eunuch, officer.
Might that explain what kind of damage an unsatisfied spouse can do?
One wonders... was this girl so desperate for attention that she simply couldn't keep her mind off Joseph?
Here is an interesting tidbit:
Gen 39:1
(1) And Joseph was brought down to Egypt. And Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, the chief of the executioners, an Egyptian man, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.
Notice the word? Eunuch
The Hebrew word is:
sârîys sâris
saw-reece', saw-reece'
From an unused root meaning to castrate; a eunuch; by implication valet (especially of the female apartments), and thus a minister of state: - chamberlain, eunuch, officer.
Might that explain what kind of damage an unsatisfied spouse can do?
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