Jesus Christ, the carpenter

[Antonios]

Dear friends,

I was wondering if anyone can recall any writings of the saints regarding Christ's work as a carpenter as it relates to His crucifixion. Today, while doing some construction around the house, I put some thought into this, namely, how He whose trade and profession was to transfix nails upon wood was Himself transfixed with nails on wood. The idea of wood has great significance in the Scriptures from my understanding (the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, the Burning Bush, the Ark, Moses' staff, the Cross, etc, etc). Can anyone recall reading any sources which expound on Jesus' profession as a carpenter as they may relate with other events in the Scriptures?
Thanks!

[Eleftheria]

Dear Antonios,

You (and many others) may not appreciate this response, but here goes...
The only time I have seen in writing how Jesus Christ, the carpenter may have felt about working with wood and how he may have felt being transfixed to wood was in Kazantzakis' The Last Temptation of Christ.
Nonetheless, I too would be interested in reading any of the saints (if any of them did) that have written about this.

In Christ,

Eleftheria

[Antonios]

Dear Eleftheria,

Thank you for your response. I have never read that book so I really can't comment about it. I'm glad you also share my interest in reading what saints have said about this topic. I imagine some saint at some time has made some kind of allegorical statements about this topic. I, in my relatively small amount of readings, can't recall this topic ever being discussed. Maybe someone else has?

Thanks,
Antonios

[John Charmley]

Dear Antonios,

A few words on this from the Fathers.

In the Apocryphal Gospel of St. Thomas we read:

And when Jesus had come to the eighth year of His age, Joseph was
ordered by a certain rich man to make him a couch. For he was a carpenter.
And he went out into the field to get wood; and Jesus went with him. And
having cut two pieces of wood, and smoothed them with the axe, he put
the one beside the other; and in measuring he found it too short. And when
he saw this he was grieved, and sought to find another piece. And seeing
this, Jesus says to him: Put these two pieces together, so as to make both
ends even. And Joseph, in doubt as to what the child should mean, did as
he was told. And He says to him again: Take a firm hold of the short
piece. And Joseph, in astonishment, took hold of it. Then Jesus also,
taking hold of the other end, drew it towards Himself, and make it equal to
the other piece of wood. And He says to Joseph: Grieve no more, but do
thy work without hindrance. And seeing this, he wondered greatly, and
says to himself: Blessed am I, because God has given me such a boy. And
when they came back to the city, Joseph gave an account of the matter to
Mary. And when she heard and saw the strange miracles of her son, she
rejoiced and glorified Him, with

There is a similar, but shorter account of this in the History of Joseph the Carpenter

We ought to note, however, what Origen says in Chapter 36 of Book 6 of his Contra Celsus:

He next scoffs at the “tree,” assailing it on two grounds, and saying, “For this reason is the tree introduced, either because our teacher was nailed to a cross, or because he was a carpenter by trade;” not observing that the tree of life is mentioned in the Mosaic writings, and being blind also to this, that in none of the Gospels current in the Churches is Jesus Himself ever described as being a carpenter.

Justin Martyr's Dialogue with Trypho Chapter 88 has this:

And when Jesus came to the Jordan, He was considered
to be the son of Joseph the carpenter; and He appeared without
comeliness, as the Scriptures declared; and He was deemed a carpenter (for
He was in the habit of working as a carpenter when among men, making
ploughs and yokes; by which He taught the symbols of righteousness and
an active life)

I hope these are helpful.

In Christ,

John

[Antonios]

Dear John,

Thank you for the post. They are helpful indeed! Its fascinating how much meaning there is in God's creation. Glory to God for all things!