CHAPTER NINETEEN/Joseph Provided for His Family -Continue

 Imagine Jesus as a small boy watching his adoptive father at work. His eyes wide and intent on Joseph's every movement, he no doubt admired the strength in those broad shoulders and sinewy arms. The skill of the hands, the intelligence in the eyes. Perhaps Joseph began his young son how to perform such simple tasks as using dried fish to smooth out rough spots on wood. He likely taught Jesus the differences between the varieties of wood that he used-the sycamore fig, oak, or olive, for example. 

Jesus learned, too, that those strong hands that felled trees, hewed beams, and pounded joints together were also gentle hands that caressed and comforted him, his mother, and his siblings. Yes, Joseph and Mary had a growing family that eventually included at least six children in addition to Jesus. (Matthew 13:55, 56) Joseph had to work ever harder to care for and feed them all.

Next time: CHAPTER NINETEEN/Joseph Provided for His Family - Conclusion

From the jw.org publications