Mentioned only twice in the Gospels, the earthly occupation of our Lord Jesus was that of a carpenter, though some argue for Him being was a stonemason. either way, both occupations are highly skilled. In today's US building trades labor forces (12 million workers) less than 3% of them are at the top skilled level that can either direct or do it all. Our Lord Jesus would have been in that skilled labor catagory.

It is highly likely that Jesus was both a skilled carpenter and a skilled stone mason because Rome always took the best wood of the Providences for their own use. As such, He would made double the wage of the common construction worker of his day (50 denarii per month) or as one of the large herd shepherds.

In His pre-earthly ministery building craft, Jesus had to be intelligent, physicalyl fit, a problem solver and a strong leader. As I was a top-teir skilled/licensed electricial for 40 years, I and my 12 million fellow builders smile at the thought that our Lord Jesus was also a craftsman.

** Deseret News, Deseret Magazine, "A mason, and not a carpenter? Possibly ..."By Jerry Earl Johnston, Jun 3, 2006, Jesus, Both Carpenter and Stone Mason?

Rik Charbonneaux is a retired NE Iowan who loves all of God's Word and all of His creatures.