Jesus grew up in Nazareth which is very close to Zippori, some call it Sepphoris. This was the town that was being re-built by Herod Antipas in the time of Jesus’ life and was a major hub in the region of the Galilee. Herod Antipas was one of the sons of Herod Agrippa; the very same Herod that Joseph dreamt about and left Galilee after Jesus’ birth and then returned to Galilee after his death.

In Zippori, there was an amphitheater being built, some paved roads and sidewalks, synagogues and churches, public buildings (stores), and private homes. Many groups lived here; not all were Jewish. Far from it, actually, because the Jewish people living here would have been largely influenced by the city’s “modern day” Roman influences.

This could have been the setting of Jesus working with Joseph in the town of Zippori. The amphitheater would require skilled workers and Joseph was one of those. Jesus, as was the custom, would follow in his father’s line of business and would be following his father to work to learn the trade. This amphitheater being built was apart of a town that was not in keeping in the traditions of the Jewish faith. Yet, Joseph and Jesus were there building. (Note: You can see in the picture above that they rebuilt part of the amphitheater on top of the old one from Jesus’ day.)

What does any of this have to do with you? There are a lot of people in this world, in the town you live in, that are trying to build their “kingdom”. They are trying to build a better house, a better career, a better something. We live among them. Some, like the Jews who lived in Zippori, mimic the beliefs of Christianity, but it’s not their primary focus; they just want to fit in to the society around them. This world, just like Zippori, is not keeping their love for God as their primary focus.

Just like Joseph and Jesus, we are all called to build something in the world around us. There are hard days where we don’t understand how what we are doing actually builds God’s kingdom. It might even appear that you are building an amphitheater for someone else’s kingdom.

Yet, we walk along the roads of life, see the lost among us, and realize in their lostness that we are just as lost. We see people in a different light, the way God sees them, because of His saving grace. In our journey of life, we build something every day. Look around you today, find someone who needs God, and pray. Pray while you build, look around while you build, and change the world one brick at a time.

© 2015 Susan M. Sims

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