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Monday, April 18
Learning a trade from a father was essential. A tradition of following in a father’s footsteps. And so this young man obeys.
In the humble beginning of his apprenticeship, he is learning from his father to carve out the design of the wood, to press his hands against the wood and feel the grain, and to carry stacks of wood.
Still a young lad and learning his trade, he needs the direction of his father’s callused hands to guide his unskilled hands, which now need a little rest.
Stepping away from the carpenter’s bench, he walks outside the shop to take a break from his work and stretch his back.
Standing in the warm, noon sun, he picks at another of the daily splinters in his hands, as the rhythm of the hammer pounds in the background. Extending his arms toward the sky, he says a prayer of thanksgiving to God the Father.
He breathes in fresh air to rid his nostrils of sawdust. First shaking his head to dislodge more sawdust tangled in his hair, he then removes his sandals and shakes out the wood shavings.
As the sun’s warmth soothes his aching muscles, he wonders when he first loved the savory aroma of wood. From the stories his father has told him, he decides the first whiffs seeped into his memory from the wooden trough at his birth.
When would Jesus realize all these things were harbingers of agony upon a wooden cross?
Did that dreadful day of agony revive all those fragrant memories of His childhood? What did those harbingers herald?
* Stepping aside from His carpenter’s life means stepping into His glorified life.
* The sawdust that clung to His hair is now exchanged for a crown of thorns encircling His head.
* Stretching His sore back could never compare to the excruciating pain from the flesh-revealing stripes received from a scourge.
* The removing of His sandals rid them of sawdust; now removing them reveals His feet for torture.
* The wood He once carried strengthened Him to carry a cross-beam along the Via Dolorosa.
* His hands, once suffering splinters from pressing against the grain of the wood, now feeling pain as shards puncture them from bearing the weight of the wooden cross-beam.
* The hammer that pounded in the background now pounds in rhythmic timbre upon the nail heads, piercing His hands.
* The memory-scent of the wood, embedded in His nostrils, infuses His soul as the punctured wood releases that familiar fragrance.
* The fresh air He so easily breathed in now barely makes it into His nostrils as He struggles to breathe.
* His muscles that ached from work now throb from the pain of crucifixion, which no soothing sun can ever relieve.
* His arms extended once again...in prayer to His Father.
Following His heavenly Father’s guidance, this young Man obeyed...unto death.
The scent of the wood released from obedience.
A sweet aroma to the Father.
Amazing that our victory comes from the most tragic event in human history!
Thank you for the sweet reminder of what our Savior endured so that we might have life, hope and peace!
Wow! That was a quick response! Thanks so much, sweetie! I am always so honored to have you visit...and comment! You always bless me. May you have a very blessed Easter! Love you!
You made me cry ... Lynn, you have such a way of putting "flesh" to the image we have of Jesus. I never would have thought of Jesus smelling wood.
Why do we "spiritualize" Him so? He was a real man, and he suffered real pain and separation from the Father ... for us.
I've been following the daily messages (on The Incomparable Christ) at reviveourhearts.com. I has also helped to focus my thoughts.... I highly recommend it to you and your readers.
Thanks again for the reminder, dear Sister-Girlfriend, that Jesus' death was personal to Him and personal for us.
God bless you as you continue to focus on Jesus during this season.
Oh, Dawn, you have so blessed me that I'm in tears! You have truly encouraged me. Thank you so much for your kind words. And thank you for the site. Going to check it out. Blessings to you for a special Easter.
Lynn, this is very eloquent. Thank you.
Thank you so much, Terra. So good to have you visit. Hope all is well with you. Hope you have a blessed Easter!
Beautifully written. I'm gonna share this one on Facebook. You have such a gift.
Beautiful, Lynn! Never thought about the thoughts the scent of the wood may have evoked in our Saviour. Thanks for this poignant post. Have a blessed Easter!
Wonderful thoughts Lynn that will stay with me for awhile...
Again, personal, beautiful imagery. I hand not thought of the sensory triggers. Wonderfully done, thanks for sharing, Lynn.
This is great. Comparisons always make a deeper impression and the Bible is filled with them--an example for us to follow. Thanks for sharing this one!
Linda, thank you so much for your comment and for sharing it. You have made my heart happy! Bless you!
Maria, since scent is the main trigger of memories, I'm sure all that happened to Jesus opened the door to all those memories. Thank you for visiting and commenting. I deeply appreciate it. Blessings to you!
Hey, dear Lorrie! I've missed you. Thanks so much, sweetie! Love you!
Thank you, Ceci. You make my heart happy! You're a sweetheart! Bless you!
Sheila, thank you, dear one. I deeply appreciate your comment. Bless you!
Graphic. Sobering. Well written. It stirs our imaginations about what was done, and our appreciation for it being done. Good post.
God speaks to you in such a special way, Lynn, and has given you a great gift of writing. I was unable to make it to the service tonight, but your post has touched me as much as any sermon could have. Blessings to you, my sweet friend.
Thank you so much, Warren. Your words are always an encouragement. Bless you!
Oh, sweet Connie! I'm so honored by your generous words. Thank you so much! You make my heart very happy. Blessings to you!
Oh, this is so powerful.
My dad was a carpenter. I grew up with the scent shaved wood and sawdust. This brings back memories as well.
Oh, my! Sandra, that so touches my heart. Thank you so much. Easter blessings to you, dear one!
Lynn -
You paint a picture that is indelible.
I'm constantly amazed at God's sovereignty. I can actually picture this scene and it is breath-taking.
Thank you Lynn for sharing. God bless! Hope you had a wonderful celebration of "Resurrection Day!"
Wow! You bless me, Dean. I'm humbled by your kind words. Thank you so much! Blessings to you!