Chip off the old block?

We knew him as the carpenter's son.

The carpenter was Joseph, son of Jacob.
You could trust him.
He was a good man, was Joseph.

We expected young Jesus to be a 'chip off the old block'.

We thought he would go on working with his father
- at the bench
- or out on a building site somewhere.
Then take over the business when Joseph died.

But Jesus went off for a while - don't know where.

We heard he wasn't working as a journeyman carpenter.
He was healing and preaching.
What him? the carpenter's son?

When he came home, we were intrigued.

We crowded into our synagogue in Nazareth to hear him.
It was astounding what he said.
How did he learn that at the carpenter's bench?
Who is putting these ideas in his head?

Yes, we did take offence.

If you take what Jesus says seriously, who knows where it will end?
You could trust Joseph, but Jesus?

Not a chip off the old block after all.

Joseph could build a table fit for a banquet.
We trusted him.
Jesus seems ready to turn all our tables upside down.
We don't want any of that here.

Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

This post is the 11th in a series of Lenten reflections based on daily Bible readings from the Common Worship Lectionary of the Church of England.
This one is based on Matthew 13: 54-58.