I think most of us have either read or head something along the lines of Jesus being a carpenter. The Bible doesn’t actually say that He was a carpenter, but it does say that His earthly father, Joseph was. In the understanding that many children often followed in their father’s vocation (James and John for example), we determine that Jesus was also a carpenter.
Recently, I have heard some evidence that this might not be the case. Much of this came from a class in Second Temple Judaism that I audited with Dr. Kevin Youngblood at Freed-Hardeman University and Rob Bell. The basis of the Second Temple Judaism class was to talk about the social and governmental changes that became after the Second Temple was built. After being ruled by the Babylonians, Persians, and influenced by the Greeks, Hasmoneans, Ptolemies, and Seleucids among others, one cannot help but have their customs changed. One of the things we discussed is the educational system.
Now that the Jews had been scattered through a larger area of the world, they couldn’t just educate in the Temple. A Synagogue was in most every town with at least one rabbi (teacher) there. All the male boys started their schooling around the age of six. From about the age of six through ten they were at the first level of education called either Beth (pronounced bait) Sefer. In this school the rabbis taught the Torah (Gen-Deut). The students memorized it and well as learning to apply the text to their lives. So, by the age of ten every Jewish boy knew the first five books of the Bible by heart! So, there was no doubt when Jesus taught scripture the people knew the text that He was talking about very well.
At this point those who were exceptional students would move on to the next level of education (similar to going from elementary school to secondary school). The ones who didn’t move on in education would go home and learn their father’s trade. The next level was Beth Talmud. Here the students learned the rest of the OT as well as some of the rabbinic literature like the Talmud and Mishnah (which discuss the oral traditions that go with the text). This level of schooling lasted until the age of thirteen or fourteen. And many of them would have all 39 books of the OT memorized. They also learned the art of asking questions.
There is a time in Jesus’ life that is mentioned when He falls into this age group. When He is 12 he is found in the Temple listening and asking questions. If Jesus grew up as a Jewish boy, Did He go through the educational system just as all the other boys? Here He is asking questions and learning in the Temple. Was He there extending His education and faith on His way to becoming a Rabbi?
At this point, once again, those who are the best students would move on to the next level of education, Beth Midrash. Here they would learn as a disciple under a rabbi. They would ask to be the rabbi’s disciple and then would be grilled on the scriptures and traditions to see if the student had what it took to be the rabbi’s disciple. If the student did, the rabbi would say, “Come follow me.” They have what it takes. Did Jesus go through a situation such as this?
It is interesting what Jesus says, to a couple fishermen. “Come follow me.” He is telling them that they have what it takes to be His disciples, to do what He does. Yet, they are following in the family trade. They were the ones who weren’t the best. They were the ones who didn’t make the cut. Yet, Jesus believes they can do everything that He does. Jesus is their Rabbi and He believes in them. He believes in us.
I would say that Jesus was a Rabbi, not a carpenter. He was in the temple because He was on His way to being a Rabbi. It is interesting when the rich young ruler comes to Jesus. He says, “Good Teacher (Rabbi).” I would think Jesus would say, “Whoa, wait, I am a carpenter not a rabbi.” But He never calls into question His rabbi status; He calls into question the fact that He is called “good.” For only God is good.
One might want to say that Jesus was a carpenter, but I think Jesus was instead a Jewish rabbi. A rabbi who calls the uneducated, the not good enoughs, the tax collectors, the zealots, the lepers, the women; He calls you and me and says we can follow Him. We can teach what He taught. We can do what He did. I think that is much more powerful!
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