Page 26 - January 2026 - Truth & Tidings

a scribe or a scholar. Instead, the Father’s among you as the One who serves” (Luk
will was for Him to be a carpenter. He 22:27 NKJV).
spent most of His life, not preaching to
crowds, but working with His hands. He At the Cross (John 19:30)
knew what it was to be an apprentice, That pathway eventually led to the
to work for a family member, to have an cross, where He accomplished His great-
imperfect boss, to deal with unreasonable est work of all – bearing our sins in His
customers, to do the same kind of work own body on the tree. When that work was
day after day, year after year. In other completed, He cried out, “It is finished!”
words, He knew what it was to have a job Then He said, “Father, into thy hands I
much like any of ours might be at times. commend my spirit.” His greatest work
For more than a decade, He worked with was done. He had begun that work with
perfect grace in a world corrupted by prayer, seeking His Father’s will, and now
laziness, selfishness and greed. Yet after He finished it with prayer, committing
all those years, when His enemies tried everything over to Him (Luk 22:42; 23:46).
to accuse Him, no former customer or Although none of us could ever accom-
colleague could step forward with a single plish what He did at Calvary, we can still
charge. follow His example. We can begin and
His work was always done with love. end our work each day with prayer. We
He loved God with all His heart, soul, can determine to do the Father’s will, no
mind and strength; and He loved His matter the cost. We can live in such a way
neighbors as Himself (Luk 10:27). There that, at the end of life, we’ll be able to say,
were no miracles performed inside that “Finished,” as we commit ourselves and
carpentry shop, but the fruit of the Spirit our work into our Father’s hands.
was evident in everything He did. As He
worked, He meditated on what He had As the Conqueror (Hebrews
heard from God that morning; and when 10:12)
He spoke, His words brought comfort to
the weary (Isa 50:4). Sometimes we forget Three days later He arose from the dead,
that it was after those years as a carpenter and that event transformed everything,
that God the Father said, “This is my be- including our work week. No longer does
loved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” the week end with rest after six days of
work (the Sabbath). Now it starts with
As the Christ (John 7:41) rest (the Lord’s Day), after which we go

That divine announcement marked out to work for Him. Even in this change
the start of His public ministry. Now He of order we see the gospel portrayed (Mat
began performing miracles that proved 11:28-30).
to the nation that He was the Christ. He Forty days later He ascended to God’s
worked tirelessly in this calling too, often right hand. His work on earth was done, but
ministering late into the night to meet the His heavenly work had just begun. There
needs of others (Mar 1:32-34; Joh 9:4). He He continues working today – interceding
never turned anyone away. Behind the for us and helping us through His Spirit
strong, calloused hands of this Carpenter (Heb 7:25; Mar 16:20). What a privilege it
lay a tender, compassionate heart. “I am is to work together with Him!

26 TRUTH kTidings January 2026