Matthew: The Carpenter's Son

He [Jesus] came to his hometown and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? Is not this the carpenter’s son?”  Matthew 13:54-55a [NRSV]

I have had my share of questions such as, “Aren’t you Clancy’s daughter?” “Aren’t you Josh’s wife?”  “Say, aren’t you Laci’s mom?”  Of course, I always answer in the affirmative.  I am neither distressed or impressed by being known by someone else. Usually the questioner is implying a compliment; I accept it as that.  My father was an exceptional man that I was very proud of.  I feel it an honor to be called “Clancy’s daughter.”

After Jesus began his ministry of teaching and preaching, he eventually returned to His hometown of Nazareth for a visit.  He went into the synagogue and began to instruct the people.  They, in turn, were astounded at his teaching.  Now a grown man in His 30’s, the towns people remembered Him all the way back to toddler time, when Mary and Joseph returned with their Son from Egypt.  They watched Him climb trees, play with the neighborhood boys, take His place at Joseph’s side to learn a craft, then become a carpenter in His own right.  They knew that He had never attended rabbinical school; He was, for the most part, home-schooled by His parents. 

The depth and wisdom of His teachings astonished them – “Wait a minute!  Isn’t this the carpenter’s son from down the street?  The kid that, just like his dad, never went to school?  Who does he think he is coming in here and acting like a rabbi?  Why should we listen to him?”  You would think that the hometown crowd would be proud to welcome a local guy who was now a traveling evangelist.  No, the Bible states that the people were “offended” by Him: upset, insulted.  They would not accept Him.  Jesus sadly replied, “A prophet never lacks honor, except in his home town and in his own family.”  [REB]

Christ came from heaven’s throne

Salvation to bestow,

But people scorned and there was none

The longed-for Christ to know.