Images-11 "Most of what Jesus said and did took place in a secular workplace in a farmer's field, in a fishing boat, at a wedding feast, in a cemetery, at a public well asking a woman he didn't know for a drink of water, on a country hillside that he turned into a huge picnic, in a court room, having supper in homes with acquaintances or friends. In our Gospels, Jesus occasionally shows up in synagogue or temple, but for the most part he spends his time in the workplace. Twenty-seven times in John's Gospel Jesus is identified as a worker: 'My Father is still working, and I also am working' (Jn.5:17). Work doesn't take us away from God; it continues the work of God. God comes into view on the first page of our scriptures as a worker. Once we identify God in his workplace working, it isn't long before we find ourselves in our workplace working in the name of God."

[From Eugene Peterson's book The Pastor, p.281]

One thought on “The Dignity of Work

  1. Jesus dignified work and also the reality of private property. He taught generosity, but didn’t deny the reality of freewill. So He wasn’t a communist – rather He advocated for ethics within a free (capitalist) system.

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