Responsible

^{When God made man, he set them above all other creations. We see that in Genesis 28:1, “And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.”  He gave man the responsibility to keep the land clean, so why do we have litter today? God said replenish the earth, not destroy it.}   

     ^{There are other examples of man’s responsibilities. Look at Joseph. Being sold as a slave to an Egyptian, Joseph trusted God and he also became trusted, so much so that the Egyptian left Joseph in charge of all his household. There is gain in being responsible and trusted.}

     ^{Still another example is given by the 3 men who were entrusted with their master’s money. One hid it, the other two invested it -one better than the other.  When the master returned and asked for an accounting, the one who hid the money had it taken away. He was not wise or responsible with money.  At the end of the parable we find, "Unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath sall be taken away from him.”}

     ^{In Matthew 28:19 we are told, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." Herein lies another responsibility.}       

     ^{What all this means to be is that we are to be responsible with what we have been given. We are to cherish and upkeep our land. We are to be diligent and wise with the use of our money. We are to be trustworthy, and we are to trust God as well as share God's love to others. Most of all, "We are to be thankful!'}

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."

 

 

THREE DAYS!

     “The saddest and the happiest day was in 3 days.”  This was on a sign I saw during  Easter.  As Christians we can only imagine how the followers of Jesus felt, as they stood and watched Him hanging on that cross and even before, when they watched the abuse and the nails being driven into His hand.  Yet joy occurred in just 3 days.   Jesus gave us hope and life in his resurrection.  Death, burial, and resurrection-it all happened in three days.

     As I reflected on this in “A Friendly Shade,” I thought it might be interesting to discover what other Biblical events brought sadness or happiness in just 3 days. 
 
     I went back to Genesis 40 when Joseph was in prison with the Pharaoh’s butler and baker.  They both had dreams which Joseph interpreted. One ended up being a very happy day while the other ended sadly. 
     ¹² And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:¹³ Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.
^{…………………
     16} When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:¹⁷ And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bake meats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.¹⁸ And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:¹⁹ Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.²⁰ And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants.²¹ And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:²² But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
     The question to consider here is, what did the butler do with his joy?  How long did it take before he remembered his promise to Joseph? 

     After the death of Moses, we find in Joshua 1 that the people were told they would finally possess the land promised to them.    This 3-day wait must have been very exciting as preparations were being made.   Here we must remember the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness because of disobedience and lack of faith. 
     ¹¹ Pass through the host, and command the people, saying, Prepare you victuals; for within three days ye shall pass over this Jordan, to go in to possess the land, which the Lord your God giveth you to possess it.

          I cannot leave out the story of Jonah who tried to flee from doing the Lord’s calling.   After being in the belly of a whale for 3 days, can you imagine the happiness of being back on dry land?    Then in Matthew we find a comparison being made.  
     ¹⁷ Now the Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights………Matthew12: ⁴⁰ For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

     In Mark 8, we find Jesus feeding the multitude after they had been with Him for 3 days. This act truly shows Jesus’ love and power.  Of course, His healing power had already, time and time again, been demonstrated to the people following him. 
     ² I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat:³ And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. ⁴ And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?⁵ And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven. ⁶ And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. ⁷ And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them. ⁸ So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets. ⁹ And they that had eaten were about four thousand:

     In Luke 2, we find the story of Jesus when Joseph and Mary were returning from the feast of the Passover.  Unknowingly, Jesus tarried behind, and Joseph and Mary had to return to look for Him.  After 3 days they found him in the temple.   In response to their question about why he has stayed behind, Jesus said,  vs 49: “How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?”
     ⁴² And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast.  ⁴³ And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. ⁴⁴ But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance.  ⁴⁵ And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him.  ⁴⁶ And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions.

     We also see in Act 9 when Saul was on the road to Damascus with intent to persecute the followers of Jesus, he was suddenly blinded by a light from heaven.  What joy there must have been when, after 3 days,  he could see again.  Here was a cruel man who suddenly had his life changed.  vs 20 “And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.”   

     ⁷ And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man.  ⁸ And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus.   ⁹ And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.

 

     There are many more references to 3 days in the Bible, but none overshadow the death, burial and resurrection of my Lord.    John 2: 19   Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.  

The saddest and the happiest in just 3 days certainly has meaning.