Home of Jesus in Nazareth 

Originally, the home of Joseph and Mary was a one-room stone structure made of stone and clay that was typical of the homes in Nazareth at the time. The home had a flat roof, which was used for various purposes, including sleeping outside during the hot summer months; and it doubled as a play area for the children, serving as well as a space where the family kept a dovecote. There were outdoor stone stairs leading up to the canvas-roofed bedroom. Jesus accidentally fell from these stairs in his youth during an unexpected sandstorm. Jesus suffered no serious injury, but after this accident, Joseph built a balustrade up both sides of the stairway due to the concern for their children’s safety. Jesus especially liked to lay on this roof, long after his bedtime, to observe the starry heavens at night.

Two of Joseph’s brothers assisted him in building the family home where Jesus grew up and after the birth of Martha (the sixth child), Joseph also built an addition to this house, a large room, which was used as a carpenter shop during the day and as a sleeping room at night. An adjoining building used for housing the animals was nearby in the backyard, and near the animal annex was the shelter, which covered the oven and the mill for grinding grain. It required two persons to operate this type of mill, one to grind and another to feed the grain. As a small boy, Jesus often fed grain to this mill while his mother turned the grinder.

The furniture in the home consisted of a low stone table, earthenware and stone dishes and pots, a loom, a lampstand, several small stools, and mats for sleeping on the stone floor. The home was simple but comfortable, providing a safe and nurturing environment for the family. As the family grew in size, they would all squat about the enlarged stone table to enjoy their meals, helping themselves from a common dish, or pot, of food. During the winter, at the evening meal, the table would be lit by a small, flat clay lamp, which was filled with olive oil.

Joseph, a contractor, established a repair shop near the village spring with business associates, including his brothers. As Jesus grew, he split his time between helping Mary at home and observing his father's work, absorbing the chatter of caravan travelers. Despite his playful nature, he adhered to Sabbath rules but developed woodworking skills alongside his father. After Joseph's death, Jesus dedicated long hours in the home workshop to support his family, emphasizing humility and devotion.

Working in the family shop, Jesus was uninterested in wealth or power and valued service and learning practical skills. His brother James gradually took over the carpenter shop, allowing Jesus to explore boat design and building. A pivotal moment came at Zebedee's boat shop in Capernaum when Jesus, on January 13th, 26 CE, announced his departure for John's baptism, marking a significant shift in his life's purpose.

The home of Joseph and Mary underscores the significance of community in Jesus's upbringing. Growing up in Nazareth, a close-knit farming and craftsman community, Jesus was deeply connected to the people's struggles. Compassionate and moved by their suffering, he aimed to alleviate their pain. Nazareth's location on a major trade route offered opportunities for Joseph's carpentry sales and Mary's homemade goods. Jesus believed in the community's role in God's plan, encouraging mutual care and fostering a collaborative spirit to create a better world. He, too, adhered to a strong work ethic, rejecting external assistance, emphasizing personal responsibility, and nurturing creative bonds with friends like Jacob and the potter, Nathan.

Mary's education, remarkable for her time, led to the establishment of a home school for her daughters, Miriam, Martha, and Ruth. Restricted from the synagogue school with boys, the girls received an excellent education under Mary and Joseph's guidance, emphasizing skills and training. Jesus, with a passion for music, exchanged dairy products for harp lessons, becoming a skillful harpist by age eleven. He also fostered an interest in vocal music among his peers. Joseph's presence improved the family's economic condition, as seen in upgraded home facilities and the increased number of smooth whiteboards that were used as writing slates.

Jesus, successfully employing positive child-rearing methods, influenced his mother's acceptance, avoiding the negative, forbidding approach. Throughout his public teachings, Jesus emphasized positive exhortation, transforming family practices and earning the role of the household's unquestioned head.

An adjoining building used for housing the animals was nearby in the backyard, and Jesus learned to milk the family cow and care for the other animals. He also learned to make cheese, selling dairy products for a little spending money while his father, Joseph, was alive. At one time, Jesus faintly hoped that he might be able to gather up sufficient means to purchase a small farm. He had given serious thought to this plan, but when Herod refused to pay them any of the funds due to Joseph, they gave up their ambition of owning a home in the country. As it was, they enjoyed much of the experience of farm life as they had three cows, four sheep, a flock of chickens, a donkey, and a dog, in addition to doves.

Jesus rented land north of their home, creating a family garden plot where each older child had an individual garden, fostering a competitive spirit in agricultural efforts. Despite Jesus' wish for a country farm, they faced the reality of urban life. He worked to adapt, demonstrating a practical but idealistic approach while actively engaging in efforts to satisfy each family member’s aspirations within their existing circumstances.

The home of Joseph and Mary represents the humble beginnings of Jesus’ life and reminds us of the importance of humility, love, and service to others. It teaches us that greatness is not measured by wealth, power, or status, but by our willingness to serve others.

The home of Joseph and Mary also reminds us of the importance of family. It was in this home that Jesus was raised, and it was here that he learned the values that would guide him throughout his life. It was a place of love, support, and nurturing, and it provided a strong foundation for the family and an enduring appreciation of it as one of the ideals of all human striving.