Isn't this the carpenter?

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

Indeed. What help could a carpenter really be? Especially in a dire situation, like:

... a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet Him. This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. (Mark 5:2-4)

No one. Could help him. He was beyond help...

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. (Mark 5:25-26)

No one it seems. Could help her. She, too, was beyond help...

Has life ever dragged you through a chapter like that? Are you in one now? Miserable for years. Sought help here and there and everywhere. Exhausted. Sick of it. Seems like no one can help. Feels like torture.

Or maybe you haven't fit in for so long, that... you feel like a cast-off. Living estranged and apart. No energy. Given up even.

They had their doubts. We have our doubts too -

... the people were astonished at His wisdom and His miracles because He was just a local man like themselves. "He's no better than we are," they said. "He's just a carpenter, Mary's boy... (Mark 6:3 TLB)

Isn't this Jesus, the little boy we used to see in Joseph's carpenter shop? Didn't He grow up to be a carpenter just like His father? Isn't He the son of Mary over there and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, Simon, and their sisters? Who does He think He is? And when they had thought about it that way, they became indignant and closed themselves to His message. (Mark 6:3 VOICE)

And yet Jesus calls the legion of demons out of the man. 
They saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind - (Mark 5:15)

The woman touches His robe and -
"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." (Mark 5:34)



"But what about you?" He asked. "Who do you say I AM?" (Matthew 16:15)

Local carpenter who fixes some things - for certain people? Or...
The Messiah. The Christ. Helper and Healer of all.
He did it before.
He can do it again.
Believe it can happen for you.