Jesus The Stonemason & What It Means For Ministry [Part 1]
[Part 1 of 3]
In this study, I would like to discuss a fun and thought-provoking claim that Jesus worked primarily with stone (not wood) and why this fits better in the overarching narrative of Scripture. In Part 2, I will propose that regardless of His specific occupation, the mere fact of Jesus (and His talmidim) having a secular job has tremendous implications on us as we live in this age His disciples and ambassadors in the world.
Ray Vander Laan suggests the following (episode 6, 41:53–44:20):
“The word in the Greek that describes Jesus is the Greek word tektōn. The Hebrew equivalent is [?]. Now, the word tektōn in Greek means ‘a builder.’ The word [?] means ‘a builder.’ One who builds. Structures, not matchbox models or computer systems, it’s building structures. Now, what were structures built of in the Jewish world? Stone. So what was Jesus? Stonemason. He’s not a carpenter. Not in the classic sense. We got to that word ‘builder’ and the Bible translators say ‘well what are builders? what do they build? houses? Well, carpenters build houses.’ If Jesus had lived in America He would have been a carpenter, but in the Middle East, He spent most of His time working stone. What difference does that make? Listen to this, this is Peter, [who] knew Jesus better than anybody else in the world — “I’m talking to you — you are living stones being shaped by the Messiah into His house” Why does he choose stone for you? Well because buildings were made of stone. But Jesus is shaping you. Why didn’t he say “you are beams being shaped by Jesus the carpenter?” Why did he say stones being shaped by Jesus? Because that’s Jesus’ trade.
Listen, I’ll tell you something. My father was a stonemason, and that’s not why I think Jesus was a mason, but my father was a mason, I watched him many many times work on stones. he would take the stone, he would turn it and turn it and tip it, it’s like “dad, hit the thing!” “not ready yet” He would turn it, turn it — “reading it” he called it — and then he’d turn it, he’d get it just right, then he’d take that 20 pound — BOOM — and it would break just exactly where he wanted it, almost always.
I don’t want any carpenters hitting on me. If I’m a stone, and Jesus has to shape me, it’s gonna hurt. He’s got to take off the chips it’s gonna take to make me fit. I want a Master Stonecutter. Now I realize that’s playing with the metaphor.. now did Jesus ever make wooden windows and tables, well he probably did that too but His skill — you gotta look at those big muscled hands of a stonemason.
This got me curious and I did my own study through the Greek and Hebrew. Here is what I found:
Regarding the Greek, tektōn is indeed better translated to ‘builder,’ and its variations are certainly more general than a ‘[wood] carpenter’ and are better translated (and indeed more commonly translated) as a general ‘craftsman.’
Regarding the Hebrew, though I can’t currently find the word that RVL suggests is the best Hebrew equivalent, all of the Hebrew equivalents I found myself (including the one that the septuagint links to tektōn) are also general words for building/crafting and often need qualifying prefixes/suffices to specify wood, stone, or metal, even though there are also more specific words that could be used for such things. If the septuagint links tektōn to more general words for ‘builder’ when more specific words exist in Hebrew, it is still right to say that tektōn is best translated as a general ‘builder’ [of buildings/structures].
Rocks, Stones, & Mountains In Scripture:
At the outset I will admit that wood and trees also play a prominent role in Scripture. Olives, Cedars, Rotems, Acacias, Ar’ars, Tamarisks, and more all have unique symbolism. Jesus died on a tree and wood was involved in the construction of the temple, ark, and tabernacle. While it’s hard to get an accurate count of the mention of wood vs stone in Scripture because of all the various words used for each, we might infer at least something from my best attempt at counting: Wood ~500, Stone ~1000.
Yet the number pales in significance to the meaning of such uses and their role in the story that God has written, so in this conversation of which material Jesus primarily worked with, I will suggest that stone fits much better into the whole narrative of Scripture.
Consider the ways in which God emphasizes stone:
Physical Stones — Imagery & God’s Exaltation Over Them
Precious stones were found in the garden and were called good (Gen 2:12), serving as protection and beautification for men (Ezekiel 28:13), and were emphasized alongside food and water as a key provision in the promised land of Israel (Deut 8:7–10). Indeed, stone was more or less the choice material for mankind’s greatest unified (albeit prideful) structural feat (Gen 11:3, 11:6). Precious stones are given as gifts to the king along with gold and spices (1 Kings 10:2, 10:10–11, 2 Chron 9:1, 9:9–10, cf. 2 Chron 32:27, Est 1:6). Do archeologists typically find wooden structures or structures of stone? Which takes longer to erode? Because of their permanency, stones were used as boundary markers and geographical indicators/landmarks (Josh 15:6, 18:17, 1 Sam 24:2, 2 Sam 20:8, Jdg 7:25, 20:45–47, 21:13, Is. 10:26), as well as altars of remembrance (Gen 28:18–22, 31:45–46, 35:14, Deut 27:2–8, Josh 4:3–9, 4:20–24, 24:26–27, 8:29, 1 Sam 6:18, 7:12, 2 Sam 18:17), and it was near a pile of stones that David hid first from Saul, and where he and Jonathan departed from one another (1 Sam 20:19, 20:41). It was standing upon a rock and in the cleft of a rock that Moses saw God’s glory (Ex 33:21–22, Sinai/Horeb in further discussion below) and where Samson, David, and others (even animals) hid for safety from danger (Jdg 15:8–13, 20:45–47, 21:13, Job 30:5–6, 1 Sam 23:25–28, 1 Chron 11:15, cf. Job 39:27–30, Ps. 104:18, Is 33:16). Stone was used for the housing of water for flocks and people, keeping water clean for both practical use and ritual purification, and providing access to it (Gen 29:2–10, John 2:6). It is from a mountain (Hermon) that God provides the main source of water for the land of His people.
Stones are used as one of the most brutal methods of death and punishment (Ex 8:26, 17:4, 21:18, Lev 20:2, 20:27, 24:14, 24:16, 24:23, Num 14:10, 15:35–36, 35:17, 35:23, Dt 13:10, 17:5, 21:21, 22:21–24, Josh 7:25–26, 10:11, 1 Kings 12:18, 21:10–13, 2 Chron 10:18, 24:21, 25:12, Ezekiel 16:40, 23:47, Mt. 23:37, Lk 13:34, 20:6, John 8:5–7, 8:59, 10:31–33, 11:8, Acts 14:5) and used as a weapon against some of the fiercest enemies of God and foreshadowings of the antichrist, destroying both land and wicked men (Judges 20:16, Job 41:27–28, 1 Sam 17:40, 17:49–50, 2 Kings 3:19, 3:25, 1 Chron 12:2, 2 Chron 26:14, 26:15, Ps. 137:9, Jer 51:63–64, cf. Lam 3:53), for stones can both kill and keep land/plants/animals/people from flourishing and living according to their design (2 Kings 3:25, Job 8:17, Is. 5:2, 62:10, Amos 6:12, Lk 8:6, 8:13, Acts 27:29, cf. Lam 3:9), and can cause self-harm used incorrectly in the hands of fools (Prov 26:8, 26:27, Ecc 10:9, cf. 2 Sam 16:6–13, Mk 5:5).
Stone is also used as imagery for a weight [of sin and God’s sovereignty] that wicked men cannot overcome (Ex 15:5, 15:16, 1 Sam 25:37, Neh 9:11, Prov 27:3, Rev 18:21, cf. Is 14:19), and as a prison for even kings in both life and death (Josh 10:18–27). Yet as permanent as a stone is, its permanency is a mere symbol and picture of God’s will and providence (Jer 43:9–10). [Stone] walls are seen as that which the foolish man refuses to build or allows to be broken down, giving access to the enemy (Neh 4:2, Prov 18:11, 24:31, 25:28, Ps 80:12, 89:40). Stones of a city were also something plundered in war (1 Kings 15:22, 2 Chron 16:6).
Indeed, physical stone is not sufficient to care for us. For example, though it can be cooked upon (1 Kings 19:6), the stone itself cannot provide bread (Mt. 7:9, Lk 4:3), and yet the Lord can turn stone to bread (Mt. 4:3), and is Himself both stone and bread (John 6:33, 6:35, 6:48, 6:51). Thus, stone itself is not to be worshipped or to be used wrongly in worship, though for its strength and beauty it holds perceived power and influence over men (Lev 26:1, Num 33:52, Dt 4:28, 28:36, 28:64, 29:17, 2 Kings 19:18, Prov 17:8, Is. 27:9, 37:19, 57:6–7, Jer 2:27, 3:9, Ezekiel 20:32, Dan 5:4, 5:23, 11:38, Hab 2:19, Acts 17:29, Acts 19:35, Rev 9:20). Though life’s path be rocky, and we be weaker than stone (Job 6:12), the Lord gives us feet for it (Hab 3:17–19) and supernaturally protects us from stumbling upon it (Ps 91:12/Mt 4:6/Lk 4:11, Job 5:23). Stone, for all its strength, cannot contain nor keep out the power or the Word of God, for He breaks rock with His word, levels cities and strongholds into mere rocks, renders the shelter of rock useless for men, and yet overcomes even death by breaking through a tomb created and secured by heavy rocks (Ex 7:19, Num 24:21, Job 14:18–19, 28:10, 1 Sam 13:6, 1 Kings 18:38, 19:11, Dan 6:17, Is. 2:19–21, 7:19, 31:8–9, 57:5, Jer 4:29, 16:16, 21:13, 23:29, 48:27–39, 49:16, Ezekiel 26:4, 26:14, Obadiah 1:3–4, Nahum 1:6, Mt. 27:51, 27:60, 27:66, 28:2, Mk. 15:46, 16:3–4, Lk 23:53, 24:2, John 11:38–41, 20:1, Rev 6:15). Indeed, it is stone that came after God (Job 38:4–6, Hag 2:15) and worships God (Hab 2:11, Lk 19:40), and God and His wisdom is to be cherished above all gold and stone (Job 22:23–26, 28:1–28, Prov 20:15). Man may think he controls stone, but God determines its use, either blessing or cursing man’s stone weapons and man’s stone work, even if it be His temple (Ecc 3:5, Is. 9:10, Ezekiel 26:12, 27:22, 27:27, 28:13–16, Amos 5:11, Micah 1:6, Zech 4:6–9, 5:4, 9:14–15, Mt. 24:2, Mk 13:1–2, Lk. 19:44, 21:5–6), and He will provide something yet greater (Is. 60:17). God can change even water into stone (Job 38:30), produce water out of stone (Ex 17:6, Num 20:8–11, Deut 8:15, Ps 78:15–20, 105:41, 114:8, Neh 9:15, Is. 48:21, 1 Cor 10:4, cf. Deut 32:13, Job 29:6, Ps. 81:16), give life to stones (Mt. 3:9, Lk 3:8), and change the hearts of wicked men from stone to flesh (Job 41:24, Ezekiel 11:19, 36:26, cf. Jer 5:3).
Indeed, regardless of Jesus’ earthly profession, we can say confidently that God has all power over stone, as the Master Stonemason.
And yet there is even greater spiritual significance to rocks and stones in Scripture.
Use Of Stone In Worship & Spiritual Imagery
Altars to the Lord were to be made of stone (Judges 6:26, 9:5, 9:18, 1 Sam 6:14–15, 1 Sam 14:33–35, 1 Kings 18:31–32, Ezekiel 40:42, cf. Ezekiel 24:7–8), and the stone used in construction of an altar to the Lord was not to be cut with tools, but to be pure as it came out of the earth (Ex 20:25, Josh 8:31, cf. Deut 27:2–8, Jdg 6:20–21, 13:19), and to be rightly used and maintained lest they fall to ruin (Hos 12:11), for stone altars were also used in idolatrous worship (1 Kings 1:9, 2 Kings 16:17).
A great quantity of stone was used in the construction of the Lord’s house/temple with great reverence and highly skilled craftsmen (1 Kings 5:17–18, 6:7, 6:36, 7:12, 2 Kings 12:12, 2 Kings 22:6, 1 Chron 22:2, 22:14, 29:2, 29:8, 2 Chron 2:14, 3:6, 34:11, Ezra 6:4), as well as the king’s palace (1 Kings 7:9–11). Stone was incredibly common in Jerusalem, the city of God’s choice and dwelling amongst His people (1 Kings 10:27, 2 Chron 1:15, 2 Chron 9:27), cherished likewise by them (Ps 102:14, Lam 4:1), and the city’s walls — the city’s primary protection — were made of stone (Neh 4:3, Ps 51:18, 122:7, Ezr 5:8).
It is significant that this city is on a mountain. The Lord’s appointed city where He will rule and reign, the mountain Zion, is referred to as the Rock of Israel (Is 30:29), but there is another mountain we must discuss before we get to Zion.
The Mountains Of God
It was at the prominent rock Horeb and the [very] nearby rocky mountain Sinai (which are often referred to as being the same thing) that God first spoke with Moses of His plans for His people (Ex 3:1), where He provided for them in their wilderness journey (Ex 17:6), and where He prepared them and promised to go with them into the land (Ex 33–34, Deut 1:2–19, 4:10, 4:15, 5:2, 9:8, 18:16, 29:1, 1 Kings 8:9, 2 Chron 5:10, Ps. 106:19, Mal 4:4). It was at this mountain where God gave instruction for the priest’s ephod, which was full of precious and beautiful stones identifying the names of God’s people (Ex 25:7, 28:9–21, 28:21, 28:36, 39:6–14), made by incredibly skilled craftsmen (Ex 31:1–11). The command not to touch the mountain (Ex. 19:12) is what the command of not touching the Ark (with the stones of the law inside) points back to, for it would seem that both are a symbol of God’s presence. The mountain [the most prominent mountain in the area (Ex 19:2, “Mount Sinai In Arabia”)] itself is God in a loose sense, for we cannot touch Him. God spoke ‘out of the mountain’ itself (Ex 19:3). It was the mountain where Moses would serve God, meet with Him (Ex 3:12), and it was the ‘mountain of God’ (Ex 3:1, 4:27, 18:5) where His people were to be ‘planted’ like a seed (Ex 15:17). Precious and beautiful stone was seen under God’s feet as He dined on this mountain with Israel (Ex 24:10), where He then gave Israel His law and covenant on tablets of stone (Ex 24:12, 31:18, 34:4, Dt 4:13, 5:33, 9:9–11, 10:1–3, Josh 8:32, 1 Kings 8:9).
Indeed, this very place is where the God of the universe betrothed Himself to a people of His creation (“Sinai To Zion” Part 1, Bema Discipleship season 1, episode 10 and season 1, episode 22).
Thus, it follows that this was the place where Elijah went to hear from God (1 Kings 19:8) and where Paul went to learn “his gospel” directly from God (Gal 1:11–17, 4:25, Gen 21:20–21, 25:6, 25:18, 37:25, Ezekiel 27:20–21, Is 60:7, “Mount Sinai In Arabia” chapters 7 & 8).
Despite the glories of this betrothal ceremony, this mountain is not the only one discussed nor the most prominent in Scripture. We’ve already mentioned Hermon (above), and it is other rocky mountains that God uses to symbolize His blessings and His curses (Deut 11:26–29, Amos 4:1, 6:1), but there is another which God Himself identifies with.
As we all know, “Rock” is what God often calls Himself (Deut 32:4, 32:15, 32:18, 32:30–31, 32:37, 1 Sam 2:2, 2 Sam 22:2–3, 22:32, 22:47, 23:3, Ps. 18:2, 18:31, 18:46, 19:14, 28:1, 31:2–3, 42:9, 61:2–3, 62:1–12, 71:3, 78:35, 89:26, 92:15, 94:22, 95:1, 144:1, Is 17:10, 26:4, 44:8, Hab 1:12), tested and trustworthy (Is. 28:16), paralleling this name with Shepherd (Gen 49:24). It is fitting then that a rock was utilized for Jacob’s rest (imagery perhaps for Israel resting upon the Rock, that is, God/Messiah) (as well as Moses’ rest (Ex 17:12)) (cf. 2 Sam 21:10, Job 24:8), but this was also a foreshadowing for God’s ‘house’ and dwelling place upon the earth (Gen 28:11, 28:18, 28:22), which is Zion.
Conversely, there are ‘enemy mountains’ that come against Zion. Namely, the antichrist’s nation and empire that will come against Messiah, His people, and His mountain in the days leading up to His return (Ps 68:15–18, cf. Dan 11, Ezekiel 38–39). It is from Mt. Sinai to Mt. Zion that Messiah will march with His hosts when He returns, destroys the antichrist, and restores Israel (“Sinai To Zion”).
Whereas Israel and God had been betrothed at Sinai, it is on this mountain (Zion) where Messiah will be wed them [now with Gentiles grafted into their family tree (Rom 9–11)] (Mt. 9:15, 22:1–14/Mk. 2:18–22/Lk 5:33–39, Lk 12:35–48, 14:7–24, Is 49:18, 61:10, 62:5, Jer 2:2, 2:32, 7:34, 16:9, 25:10, 33:11, Joel 2:16, John 3:29, Rev 18:23, 19:7, 21:2, 21:9, 22:17, cf Song 3:11) and where Messiah will reign for a thousand years (“When A Jew Rules The World,” Rev 1:5, Zech 8:3, 14:9, Ps. 2, cf. Joel 3, Zech 12–14, Is. 60–66, Jer 30–31, Ezekiel 37–48). David, as the premier foreshadowing of the Messiah King, refers to himself as a formerly rejected stone and which yet becomes the most important foundational stone in the construction of the Lord’s kingdom (Ps. 118:22, Is. 28:16). As a side note, I find it cool that David’s crown featured a prominent precious stone (2 Sam 12:30, 1 Chron 20:2). So then regarding Jesus, just as much as He is a Rock of protection and peace, He is a Stone of stumbling and a trap for those who reject Him and His people (Ps 27:5, 40:2, 104:18, Prov 30:26, Song 2:14, Is. 2:9–22, 8:14, 22:14–19, Zech 12:3, Mt. 21:42, 21:44, Mk 12:10, Lk 20:17–18, Acts 4:11, Rom 9:32–33, 1 Peter 2:4–8, cf. Jer 13:4). Though the Messiah was Himself judged on a stone (John 19:13), He will come again as the stone of judgement Himself to destroy the antichrist and his kingdom, becoming a strong mountain (Dan 2:34–35, 2:45, Is. 2:1–5), rendering the brutality of death by rock more favorable than His wrath as Judge (Rev 6:15–16).
And He will rebuild His temple and reign from Jerusalem (Is. 2, Ps. 2).
Stones & God’s Kingdom of Priests
In Zech 3:9, in the Messianic Millennial reign, it is Messiah, as a ’stone with seven eyes’ (having perfection and fullness of knowledge), who is ‘engraved’ (indicating permanency, Job 19:24) perhaps with the names of His city (Ezekiel 4:1) and His elect, just as the high priest wore on the ephod (Ex 25:7, 28:9–21, 28:21, 28:36, 39:6–14) (Is. 49:16). Conversely, we, like stones hewn from Him (Is. 51:1) are intended to be shelter and shade for the inhabitants of the earth, just as our King is (Is. 32:1–2). We, as rocks, are being built up as a spiritual house/temple (1 Peter 2:5) engraved with His name, His city (Rev 3:12, 14:1, 22:4), and His law (Prov 3:3, 7:1–3), just as a king’s subject wore a signet ring which bore the name, responsibility, and authority of their king (Gen 41:42, Esther 3:10–12, 8:2, 8:10, Dan 6:17, cf. Ex 28:11, 28:21, 28:36, 39:6), which indeed we are given (Hag 2:23). We are also given a white stone with a new secret name (Rev 2:17, 19:12) (cf. Ex 28:36–38, 39:30), and noteworthy is that stone is a descriptor in the beauty of His bride (Song 4:4, Is. 54:11–12). Even now as ambassadors we are a ‘letter from Jesus’ with Him engraved on our hearts by His Spirit just as His law was engraved on stone (2 Cor 3:3–7), and our work — either stone or wood — will be tested by fire (1 Cor 3:12–13).
It is hard for me to ignore that we are referred to as stones hewn from Him (again Is. 51:1) and that we are being built up as a temple (of which stones are the most prominent visible feature; Mk 13:1, Mt. 24:1–2).
It was the firm stone walls of the wadis that Jesus identified as the wise place to build a house (Mt. 7:24–25, Lk 6:48) and it was the imagery of rock on which He said He’d build his kingdom of priests (Mt. 16:18). The eldest of His talmidim He named ‘Rock’ in Aramaic and Greek (“Cephas,” and “Petros/Peter,” respectively) (John 1:42, Mk 3:16, Lk 6:14).
“Those were apparently the first words Jesus ever said to Peter. And from then on, “Rock” was his nickname. Sometimes, however, the Lord continued to refer to him as Simon anyway. When you see that in Scripture, it is often a signal that Peter has done something that needs rebuke or correction…Jesus changed Simon’s name, it appears, because He wanted the nickname to be a perpetual reminder to him about who he should be. And from that point on, whatever Jesus called him sent him a subtle message. If He called him Simon, He was signaling him that he was acting like his old self. If He called him Rock, He was commending him for acting the way he ought to be acting.” (MacArthur, John F.. Twelve Ordinary Men: How the Master Shaped His Disciples for Greatness, and What He Wants to Do with You (p. 34))
Regardless of Jesus’ earthly profession, rocks are what Jesus wants us to be, that He might use and build with, to build something that will last. Conversely, His enemies are referred to as worthless and useless stones in His hands (Jer 51:26).
May we be found useful in His hands.
Jesus’ Earthly Occupation
Why can’t His hands be those of a stonemason? Might we say this with at least as much confidence as ‘carpenter?’
Jesus often pointed to various things readily around Him (perhaps literally pointing with His finger) for illustration as He taught, such as birds and flowers (Mt 6:25–34, Lk 12:22–31). It is logical to me that the disciples would have understood this stone-building imagery well, not because they were simply acquainted with cultural architecture, but because they often observed Jesus’ working with His hands, just as Paul’s disciples would have with him.
John Stott in “The Message of Acts” provides us with a key cultural comment on first century rabbis, and while he is specifically discussing Paul’s trade, we might even more readily apply this to Jesus knowing that Jesus was a rabbi:
“What is certain is that he worked with his hands. Indeed, Rabbis were required to learn a trade, and urged all young men to do the same.”
We will discuss the implications and applications of this in Part 2.
