Thoughts in Nazareth

We know little about the maturing years of Jesus Christ. Of His life between His instruction in the synagogue at age twelve and the start of His ministry at age thirty, the Apostle Luke gives us one sentence: "And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man." But we do know He apprenticed in the family business of carpentry with His father, Joseph.

However, the belief that Jesus spent his time carving rocking horses and other wooden toys is probably false. A more correct translation of the Greek word that describes Jesus' occupation is 'builder' and, since the most popular building material in Nazareth was stone, Jesus more likely worked with His father to build houses instead of horses, by moving large stone blocks, instead of pliable 2x4's. He spent His growing years building physical shelters for the citizens of Nazareth; He would spend his last three years creating spiritual shelter for us all. Indeed, He knew from personal experience the importance of building a house upon a rock.

Stone is the material that lines the walls of the synagogue in Nazareth where He proclaimed Himself as the Messiah after quoting the prophesies of Isaiah and adding, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears." The Nazarenes in the synagogue were bewildered at His gracious words and asked, "Is not this Joseph's son?"--which is a perfectly acceptable question in the context of His occupation. If the construction worker who built my home came to me with his yellow hard hat on and claimed to be the Messiah, my response would be the same.

But it was in Gethsemane--the Aramaic word for "oil press"--where He who provided shelter for all mankind received none for Himself.

Matthew 26:37-39 And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy. Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

In Jesus' time, before olives were made into oil they were ground into paste. The typical Nazarene olive press consisted of a large log on which was fastened three stones, each weighing one ton. The olive paste was placed under a flat stone and a basket was placed on top of the olives to separate the solid elements from the extracted oil.

The first press was with only the weight of the basket. The oil that seeped through was the best quality-- extra virgin. It was saved for temple anointings and other religious ordinances.

Matthew 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.

After the extra virgin olive oil was extracted, the full weight of the three stones (six thousand pounds) was dropped onto the already sweating olive paste for the second press. The pressure on the flat stone squeezed the remaining liquid from the olives. This oil was still fairly high quality and used for cooking and perfumes.

Matthew 26:44 And he left them, and went away again, and prayed the third time, saying the same words.

Luke 22:43-44 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.

The third and final press on the olives was the most grueling: the olives were completely sapped of their liquid. In fact, the flesh of the olive became so compressed that it squeezed through the basket.

The oil gleaned from this final press was absolutely everything the olives had it give. It was used to light the houses of the Nazarenes.

May we light our homes and our lifes with the oil of His atonement.