The Cornerstone of Building

With the weather staying the 20s to mid-30s today, I am glad my house is pretty much air-tight. It was constructed by good builders with my husband on-site ensuring a solid foundation. When I think about how well-constructed and warm my home is, I also think about how well-constructed my life should be, like: 

 

1.     Is my life (house) built on a firm foundation? Daily in God’s Word

2.    How do I feel about stepping into a boat daily. Do I fear or trust it will not rock with the waves? Faith in God

3.     Are my ideals rooted deep like the mighty oak tree? Obeying God’s Word 

4.    What have I made the cornerstone of my life?  God’s Inspired Scripture

 "But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Jeremiah 17:7-8

Carpenter or Stone Mason?

     According to Wikipedia, Tekton is an ancient Greek term for an artisan/craftsman, in particular a carpenter or wood worker or builder.  The term is frequently contrasted with an iron-worker, or smith and the stone-worker or mason.   
     Why did I look this up?  When I visited Israel, our tour guide stated that Jesus' earthly father, which referred to in the Bible as a carpenter, could very well have been a stone-mason.  After seeing the ruins in and around Israel, I found this to be an interesting concept. 
     Most of the houses during that time were constructed with stones chiseled or carved or stacked in building blocks.  Also, in and around the area where they lived, there was very little access to trees and wood. 
     I decided to go further and look up information on typical homes which were built during that time.  I found that most smaller homes were little more than a square, stone structure covered with a whitewashed sort of stucco.  Some houses in hilly regions were partial cave dwellings.  Still another source stated homes were made with a rough stone foundation and mud-bricks on site with a minimum of wood used in the roof structure.
     I looked for information on furniture but found little.  We know there were tables from scripture readings.  Seating was probably some chairs or maybe cushions.  I have no idea.
     Whether Jesus learned His father's trade with hammer and nail or by hammer and chisel is, I suppose, really irrelevant.  We are not told much about that simply because it is not what is important.  What I do know is that Jesus was a Master Craftsman of the heart and the Cornerstone of my life.  He knew His Father and He was willing to sacrifice His life for me.  He knew the pain of rejection , as well. 

Matthew 13:55 "Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? ..."

 

Mark 12:10-11 "And have ye not read this scripture; The stone which the builders rejected is become the head of the corner:  This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes." 

Acts 4:11 "This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the corner."

Ephesians 2:20  "...Christ himself being the chief corner stone."

 

 

The Carpenter's Foundation

     We studied about the foundation and the cornerstone set by Jesus last Sunday.  It reminded me of how precise a carpenter has to be when he constructs a home.  However, no matter how solid man sets a foundation, there is only one which will truly stand, and that is the foundation and cornerstone set by Jesus.   No other can raise a temple in three days, but when Jesus died on the cross He raised a temple in three days, and he established Himself as the very cornerstone of life.    Ephesians 2: 20b "...Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone."  John 2:19 "Jesus answered  and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

The Carpenter’s Foundation

Wham, wham, wham!
Tap, tap, tap!
You could hear the echo of the hammer
  as the boy worked along side his dad-
  a simple life portrayed.
It was just a carpenter’s trade,
  one the boy had come to do.

Wham, wham, wham!

Tap, tap, tap!
The foundation soon to be hammered in place;
  the cornerstone set!
A death to cover mankind's debt.
This Carpenter would build the way
  with blood and sweat.

Wham, wham, wham!

Tap, tap, tap!
Do you hear it pounding in your ear-
  the nails being set in place,
  see His pain, sweat, and blood
  dripping with His labor of love?

Wham, wham, wham!

Tap, tap, tap!
One cross with 3 long nails-
  the people's anger unfurled.
A foundation set before the world.
Behold the tender embrace
  of a Carpenter come to build a dwelling place;
A cornerstone set by His nail-scarred hand,
  unshakable as the earth quaked and rocks rent the land.

Wham, wham, wham!
Tap, tap, tap!
The final nail in place;
  the Cross slammed into the ground.
Darkness fell and silence was the sound-
  a death, a resurrection, a call!

Listen! Rid your doubt,
  heed His shout,
  “It is finished! Come unto me."
By the Carpenter's nail-scarred hand,
   He has set us free.
                             Mary Crisp Jameson