Jesus Stories

Jesus reads from the Torah

Jesus once was asked to read from the Torah in the synagogue where he was raised.  So this is the people that helped raise him.  I think of the congregation where I was raised in Southern Utah.  You knew everyone on a first name basis.  This is very remarkable because Jesus read a prophecy about himself and announced that in was being fulfilled right now.   This freaked the people out and they actually tried to drag him to a cliff and throw him off.  But he was able to miraculously pass through the crowd unseen.   The story makes me think of a line from one of my favorite hymns,  They hymn is called Jesus once of Humble Birth and the line is:  "Once rejected by His own."
So these people that tried to murder Jesus were the people from His own congregation who knew Him and knew His family.  Jesus said that a prophet was not accepted in his own country.  By the way, the Torah is the first five books from the Bible.  It is called the Law and were revealed to and written by  the prophet Moses.

Jesus delivers Furniture

Jesus was probably a carpenter since his stepfather, or foster father was a carpenter.  We don't know what kind of carpenter Joseph was.  Perhaps he built or framed houses.  But perhaps he made furniture.  .   .  maybe even fine furniture.  Jesus may have been in what would have been the Artisan Class.  He obviously was close to the lowest or peasant class because he knew all about shepherds and their relationship with their flock.  He also knew about sewing and harvesting.  He talked about these things in his parables that he used to teach.  He also referred to the upper classes and ruling classes when he talked about Masters and Servants.  He, Jesus may well have been in this intermediate class because He made fine furniture.  This drawing depicts Jesus delivering some fine furniture that He or Joseph built for a client.  

By the way Jesus' home synagogue probably included people of several classes.  The recent archaeological evidence shows that Nazereth, far from being a small backwater town, was kind of a suburban town  near a thriving city.  The city, recently discovered by archaeologists, was called  Sepphoris.  Jesus and Joseph may well have marketed their fine furniture to clients from Sepphoris.  They probably also would have marketed furniture for the local people in Nazereth as well.   Now, maybe this is not all true, but it is possible.  Jesus certainly seemed comfortable around all classes.  Of course being the Son of God, Jesus would have been intimidated by no one.  

As far as their furniture quality goes, Jesus was the Son of God.  I think that He probably made amazing quality furniture.  I like to think that he would sell a very nice table to a poor person for a price they could afford.  And He would have the skills to make an elaborate table for someone of the ruling class as well.  The Bible indicates that Jesus had brothers and sisters. . . well, half brothers and sisters.  Joseph would need to be successful enough to support his family.  The wedding at Caanan was probably a family wedding and so Joseph or Jesus (if Joseph had passed away by then) would be helping finance the party.   

Artist's note:  The eyes of Jesus are probably a bit larger than they should be, but it is kind of a stylized drawing.   Also, I suppose that if he was successful, Joseph's workshop was probably fancier than this drawing shows.  One final thing.... I know the podium is off center.  Sorry.  It is too hard to fix since I draw with fine point Flair markers.  

Jesus Walking along the Beach at the Sea of Galilee

Jesus was raised in the village of Nazereth that is set next to the Sea of Galilee.  He called fishermen to be some of His Apostles.   He was familiar with fishing and boats it seems as well.  I guess since Jesus was the Son of God He probably had the highest IQ of anyone born on Earth so He was an excellent observer of the world and society around Him.  I can imagine that Jesus took contemplative walks along the beach to clear his head or ponder things gods ponder.   He would have seen the fishing boats and the fishermen.  I suppose He may have even known Peter and his brother Andrew.