He went away from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands? Is not this the carpenter?”… Mark 6:1-3 (ESV)
In his earthly ministry…
Did Jesus ever hang a door?
Did Jesus ever fix a broken chair?
Did Jesus ever use his carpentry skills to help anyone?
But…
He was known to dine one day with religious leaders and the next with the scorn of society. He ate with them.
His discreet, but no less miraculous gift saved the day at a wedding he was merely attending. He was present.
He went fishing with his friends and turned a discouraging day’s labor into a miraculous catch. He helped out.
He turned the otherwise mundane task of drawing water from a well into a bridge to eternity. By asking for help.
What opportunities may be passing us by each day to touch someone’s life with the eternal. Talking about Jesus, teaching God’s word, bringing a lesson from Scripture, leading someone to a faith decision are all so very important. And we do all that.
But just being Jesus is too
Just being there
Sharing a meal
Showing up
Helping out
Maybe even asking for help
The people of Jesus’ hometown were astonished that he, a mere carpenter, was capable of such wisdom and miraculous deeds. The single moms in the favela are surprised that the man who teaches about Jesus also has carpentry skills. Either way, sometimes it’s good to surprise people.
Not so much with what you know, but what you’re willing to do. Share a meal. Show up. Help out. And sometimes even ask for help. Raiane, Joice, Cleonice, and all the other single moms help us lead singing and serve the breakfast afterward in our Sunday worship in the park.
Ever Sunday. Rain or shine.
Thank you for your prayers. For these moms. For their children. For us.
The mothers of Joana Bezerra