330+ Everyday Things Jesus Didn't Have That Starts with A - Z

When you think about the ordinary comforts we enjoy every day that Jesus lived without during His earthly life, it’s incredibly humbling and sobering. Here are some amazing everyday luxuries we rarely think twice about and it really makes you think about how grateful we are to have such cool stuff, things that make our lives SO much easier!

Yet, despite all this technology, we’re a culture whose busier than ever.

Modern conveniences are intended to make our lives easier and save us time and what do we do with that extra time we save…we work. 😆

We busy ourselves in the wrong things, the mundane things of life we call important. We get bogged down by the “necessities” of life, thinking that they ARE necessities. But people for centuries have been getting along just fine without all that.

Maybe Jesus had it right to be born in simpler times without all the STUFF we THINK makes us happy, or maybe we are blessed to have all the technology. It’s definitely something to determine for yourself, as there’s no right or wrong answer here, just things to make you think about, to ponder. 💖

Here’s a list of 330+ Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts with A – Z and at the bottom of the post, I’ll go over more of the culture in Jesus’ time and how the people lived day to day. It’s really a fascinating study that helps you get to know the people of the culture more and what life was like when Jesus walked the earth!

Bible Verse That Starts with A – Z

In John 4:6, the Bible talks about how Jesus was weary from His journey and sat down by the well.

He knew what it was to be physically exhausted, thirsty, hot, and uncomfortable. There was no air-conditioned room to escape into, no refrigerated bottle of water to grab, and no comfortable car to carry Him home.

And yet, He willingly entered that ordinary human experience in order to save His people! 🙌❤️

If you like these historical Jesus facts and what life was like in Bible times, you’ll love these also!

Let’s dive into the everyday life during Jesus’ time…

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With A

Adjustable beds
Air conditioning
Air fryers
Air mattresses with electric pumps
Airplanes (invented 1903)
Air purifiers
Alarm clock (mechanical alarm clock invented in 1787)
Alexa
Aluminum foil
Artificial sweeteners
Aspirin
Audiobook players
Automatic garage door openers
Automatic soap dispensers
Automatic sprinkler systems

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With B

Baby monitors
Ballpoint pens
Band-aids
Battery banks for charging devices
Battery-powered flashlights
Bicycles
Bidet toilet seats with heated water
Blackout window shades
Blenders
Blu-Ray (discs, players)
Bluetooth speakers
Body wash
Bottled purified drinking water
Bread machines
Bubble bottles and wands
Built-in electric ovens

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With C

Calculators
Canned food
Carbon monoxide detectors
Cardboard boxes
Cars (electric motor and rechargeable batteries on a tricycle invented in 1881, three-wheeled gasoline-powered automobile invented in 1885)
CD’s
Ceiling fans powered by electricity
Cell phones
Central forced-air heating
Chapstick
Clothes dryers
Coffee (invented in the 1400s) and coffee makers
Computers
Contact lenses
Cooling gel pillows
Cordless appliances
Credit cards
Crockpots
Cushioned athletic shoes

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With D

Dehumidifiers
Delivery apps
Dental floss/picks
Deodorant
Digital alarm clocks
Digital cameras
Digital thermostats
Dishwashers
Disposable diapers
Doorbell cameras
Double-pane windows
Drip coffee makers
Drive-thrus
Dry shampoo
Duct tape
DVD’s

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With E

Earbuds
Electrical outlets
Electric blankets
Electric fans
Electric heating pads
Electric kettles
Electric lighting
Electric razors
Electric sewing machines
Electric toothbrushes
Elevators
Email
Escalators
Espresso machines
Extension cords

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With F

Fabric softener
Facial tissues
Fitness trackers
Fitted sheets with elastic corners
Flash drives
Fluoride toothpaste
Flushing toilets in private homes
Foam mattress toppers
Fog-free bathroom mirrors
Folding baby strollers
Food processors
Fountain pens
Freezers

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With G

Gaming consoles
Garage door remote controls
Garbage collection by trucks
Garbage disposals
Gas-powered lawn equipment
Gas stoves
Gel pens
Gel shoe inserts
Germicidal UV lamps
Glass shower doors
Golf carts
GPS navigation
Graphic tees
Grocery delivery services
Gym memberships

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With H

Hair dryers
Hair extensions
Hairspray
Handheld electric massagers
Health insurance
Hearing aids
Heated car seats
Heated toilet seats
Heat pumps
Highlighters
Home security alarm systems
Hot running water
Hot tubs
Hoverboards
Humidifiers

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With I

Ice cream
Ice makers
Ice skates
Index cards
Indoor electric lighting systems
Indoor plumbing
Induction cooktops
Infrared thermometers
Instapot
Inkjet printers
Insect screens for windows
Instant hot-water dispensers
Insulated travel mugs
Internet access
Ironing boards

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With J

Jackets
Jacuzzi-style bathtubs
Jar-opening electric appliances
Jeans
Jellybeans
Jet airplanes
Jetted shower systems
Jigsaw puzzles
Juice boxes with attached drinking straws
Juicers powered by electricity
Jumper cables
Jump starters for car batteries

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With K

Ketchup
Kettles with automatic shutoff
Keurig machines
Keyboards
Keyless entry locks
Kids car safety seats
King-size mattresses
Kitchen faucets with hot and cold water
Kitchen range hoods
Kitchen timers
Knee-support ergonomic chairs

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With L

Laminators
Laptops
Laser eye surgery
Laundry detergent
Lawn mowers
LED light bulbs
Lighted vanity mirrors
Light switches
Lint rollers
Liquid soap
Luggage with wheels
Lumbar-support office chairs

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With M

Massage chairs
Matches
Mattress protectors made from waterproof materials
Memory foam (mattresses, pillows, etc.; invented in 1966)
Microwave ovens
Mobile banking apps
Modern antibiotics
Modern prescription pain medications
Motion-sensor lights
Motorcycles
Motorized wheelchairs
Mouthwash
MP3 players
Music streaming services

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With N

Nail clippers
Nasal spray bottles
Neck-support memory foam pillows
Neon signs
Neoprene wetsuits
Nightlights powered by electricity
Nintendo Switch game system
Noise-canceling headphones
Nonstick cookware
Notepads
Nursing pillows
Nylon socks

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With O

Oat milk
Office chairs
On-demand movie streaming
Online shopping
Orthopedic mattresses
Outdoor solar-powered lights
Oven mitts
Ovens – Modern (gas ovens invented around 1826, and electric ranges in 1892)
Overhead rainfall showers
Over-the-counter ibuprofen

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With P

Paperclips
Paper towels
Pencils (invented in 1500s)
Personal water bottles
Plastic (invented in 1855)
Plastic wrap
Plug-in space heaters
Podcasts
Portable air conditioners
Post-it notes
Power drills
Power reclining chairs
Prescription eyeglasses
Pressure cookers
Printables 🥺🥺🥺
Printers

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With Q

QR codes
Q-tips
Quads (ATVs)
Quartz countertops
Queen-size beds
Quick-boil electric kettles
Quick-dry microfiber towels
Quick-wash laundry cycles
Quiet-room electronic sound machines
Quilted toilet paper

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With R

Radios
Raincoats
Reading lamps with adjustable brightness
Rechargeable batteries
Reclining sofas
Refrigerators
Remote controls
Rice cookers (electric)
Robot vacuum cleaners
Rollerblades
Rubber bands
Running water from modern household faucets (invented 1800s)

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With S

Safety pins
Seat belts
Self-cleaning ovens
Shampoo
Showers with adjustable water temperatures
Smart home systems
Smartphones
Smoke detectors
Sneakers
Soaps (dishes, laundry soap; synthetic detergents invented in 1916)
Speakers (electronic)
Spring mattresses
Stain-removing laundry detergents
String cheese
Subways
Sunscreen with measured SPF protection
Synthetic thermal clothing

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With T

Tablets and iPads
Tea bags
Televisions (TV)
Toasters
Toilet paper
Touchless faucets & soap dispensers
Tractors
Trains
Trash compactors
Travel pillows with inflatable cushions
Treadmills
Tupperware

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With U

Ukuleles
Ultra-soft synthetic blankets
Ultrasound imaging machines
Ultraviolet water sterilizers
Umbrellas
Under-sink water filtration systems
Unicycles
Unleaded gasoline
Upholstered recliners
USB charging ports
UV-protective sunglasses

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With V

Vaccines
Vacuum cleaners
Vehicles
Velcro fasteners
Vending machines
Ventilation fans powered by electricity
Video calls
Video doorbells (Ring)
Video games
Vinyl records
Virtual reality headsets
Vitamins
Voice-activated assistants

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With W

Waffle irons
Washing machines (electric washing machines were invented in the 1900s)
Water heaters
Water softeners
Waterproof breathable jackets
Water-saving showerheads
Weather forecasting apps
Webcams
Wheelchair-accessible elevators
Whiteboards
Wi-Fi
Wii video console
Window air-conditioning units
Windshield wipers
Wireless headphones
Wristwatches

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With X

X-Acto knives
Xbox gaming consoles
Xerox-style photocopiers
X-ray machines
Xylitol-sweetened toothpaste
Xylophones

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With Y

Yard lights powered by solar
Yard sprinklers with automatic timers
Yellow pages
Yogurt makers powered by electricity
Yogurt tubes
YouTube videos

Everyday Things Jesus Didn’t Have That Starts With Z

Zero-gravity reclining chairs
Ziploc bags
Zippered jackets
Zippered waterproof mattress encasements
Zip ties
Zoned heating and air-conditioning systems

What They Used Instead – Daily Life in Biblical Times

What was life like in Jesus’ time? What did ancient houses look like?

I wanted to cover a little bit about life in first-century Israel, to really see their culture from their point of view and how the people lived during that era, showing us the things we don’t think about twice in our day and how to them, the things we take for granted today, would really have been such a life-saver! The culture is really fascinating and I hope you enjoy it as much as I have in learning more about it. 💖

Toothpaste in First Century Judea Culture:

People in Jesus’ day didn’t have tubes of minty toothpaste, electric toothbrushes, or fluoride treatments to help protect their teeth.

But that doesn’t mean people in the ancient world never cleaned their teeth!

Different cultures developed various ways to care for their mouths.

Some methods included:

Tooth-cleaning powders: Ancient Egyptians used mixtures containing finely ground substances to help clean their teeth (pumice, burned eggshells, and ashes from ox hooves).
Salt: Used in some ancient oral cleaning practices.
Small sticks: Used to help remove bits of food from between teeth.
Cloth: Could be wrapped around a finger and used to rub the teeth with cleaning substances.
Water: Used to rinse the mouth.

We don’t know exactly how Jesus personally cleaned His teeth, but we do know that people living in His time didn’t have our modern dental products.

I can just imagine looking at my toothpaste, thinking about crushed eggshells, pumice stones I clean my toilet with, and animal feet ashes, and suddenly being VERY thankful for that little tube sitting beside my sink! 😱😂

Pillows (Everyday Items in Ancient Israel):

In Jesus’ time (first-century Israel), people used several types of pillows (nothing like our modern pillows today like memory foam or cotton-filled type), depending on their wealth and what they had available.

Wool-filled pillows – Cloth or linen cushions stuffed with sheep’s wool
Straw or dried reeds – Inexpensive stuffing used by poorer households
Animal skins – Sheep or goatskins could be stuffed with wool or chaff
Rolled-up clothing – A folded cloak or garment could serve as a simple pillow
Feather-filled pillows – These existed in the Roman world and were more luxurious

Running Water (Ancient World Daily Routine):

People generally obtained water from:

Wells – Drawing water with buckets or jars
Natural springs – Collecting fresh water
Cisterns – Underground reservoirs that stored rainwater
Aqueducts – Channels that transported water into cities

Interestingly, Jerusalem actually had a sophisticated aqueduct system during Jesus’ lifetime, but that wasn’t the same as modern household plumbing.

And think about John 4:7, when Jesus asked the Samaritan woman for a drink of water, which He never even got…by the way. 🧐

Getting water required actual physical labor. Someone had to collect it and carry it home.

Something as simple as turning on your kitchen faucet is a comfort Jesus wouldn’t have experienced during His earthly life. ❤️

Ovens (Ancient Jewish Customs & Routines):

People in Jesus’ time had ovens; just nothing like the electric and gas ovens we have in our kitchens today.

Instead, people cooked and baked using fire, clay, and a lot more hands-on work!

Clay ovens – Ovens made from clay that were heated with burning wood or other available fuel. Bread could be baked against the hot inner walls.
Open fires – Food could be cooked directly over flames or hot embers.
Cooking pots – Clay pots were placed over fires to prepare soups, stews, and other meals.
Hot stones and griddles – Flatbread could be baked on surfaces heated by fire.

Something interesting is that Jesus actually mentioned an oven in Matthew 6:30 when teaching about God’s provision, so they had them, just not like we enjoy today.

Imagine having to gather your fuel, start a fire, and keep it burning constantly just to prepare dinner. There was no turning a knob to 350 degrees and setting a timer!

Cars (Differences Between Biblical Times & Now):

During Jesus’ time, traveling even a relatively short distance could be exhausting. There were no cars with comfortable seats, air conditioning, or GPS navigation to help people reach their destinations.

Instead, people traveled by:

Walking – The most common way most people traveled. Journeys could involve miles of walking along dusty or rocky roads.
Donkeys – Used to transport people and carry supplies. Jesus Himself rode a donkey into Jerusalem (Matthew 21:7).
Carts and wagons – Pulled by animals and used primarily to transport goods and supplies.
Horses – Available in the ancient world, but more expensive and commonly associated with wealthy individuals, soldiers, and officials.
Boats – Used to cross bodies of water, including the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus and His disciples traveled.

Think about how many miles Jesus walked during His earthly ministry, traveling from town to town to teach and minister to people.

When we need groceries, we simply place an order on Amazon or Instacart. Jesus knew what it meant to walk long distances, endure the heat, and become physically exhausted.

Washing Machines/Dryers (Things Jesus Lived Without):

Laundry was a completely different experience during Jesus’ lifetime. There were no washing machines, convenient laundry detergent pods, or dryers that could finish a load of clothes in an hour.

life without modern technology, such as washing clothes, involved a tremendous amount of physical labor!

People used methods like:

Water from wells or streams: Water had to be collected or clothes taken somewhere they could be washed
Large basins or containers: Clothing could be soaked and washed by hand
Natural cleaning substances: Alkaline materials made from certain plants and other cleaning agents helped remove dirt and grease
Scrubbing and beating: Clothes could be rubbed, beaten, or even trampled underfoot to loosen dirt
Sun and fresh air: Washed clothes were spread or hung out to dry naturally

There were even professional cloth cleaners called fullers who specialized in cleaning and treating fabrics.

In Mark 9:3, the Bible describes Jesus’ clothing at His transfiguration as becoming extraordinarily white, whiter than any fuller or launderer on earth could make it.

Imagine spending hours washing dirty clothes by hand, carrying heavy water containers, and waiting for the sun to dry everything.

Today, we can press a button and let a machine do almost all that work for us! We are truly blessed! 🙏

Soap – Dishes, Laundry Detergent (Modern Comforts We Take For Granted):

People in biblical times (think: history of ancient Judea) didn’t have bottles of dish soap sitting beside their sinks or modern laundry detergents that could remove tough stains.

However, they did have natural cleaning substances that served similar purposes.

Some of the cleaning methods and materials available in the ancient world included:

Water: Used to rinse dishes, household utensils, and clothing
Plant ashes: Certain plants produced alkaline ashes that could help clean fabrics and remove grease
Natural alkaline salts: Used to help loosen dirt and oils from clothing
Sand and other abrasives: Could be used to scrub stubborn residue from cooking pots and utensils
Scrubbing by hand: Cleaning required physical effort rather than machines or ready-made products

Interestingly, the Bible actually mentions a type of cleaning substance used by professional cloth cleaners! Malachi 3:2 refers to “fullers’ soap”, an ancient alkaline cleaning substance used in washing and preparing fabric.

Think about washing a greasy cooking pot without a convenient bottle of Dawn dish soap, a sponge, or hot running water.

Even the simplest household chores required much more time and effort than they do today.

Alarm Clocks (How People Lived in Jesus’ Day):

Jesus didn’t have a digital alarm clock beside His bed or a smartphone that could wake Him at a specific time every morning.

People in biblical times often organized their daily routines around daylight and the natural rhythms of life.

Instead, they could rely on:

Sunrise: Natural daylight helped signal the beginning of the day
Roosters crowing: The sound of roosters was a familiar indication of the early morning hours
Sundials: Used in the ancient world to help measure time using the sun’s shadow
Water clocks: These existed in the Greek and Roman world, although they weren’t ordinary bedside appliances
Other people: Household members or servants could wake someone when necessary

Here’s a really interesting biblical connection…

In Mark 13:35, Jesus referred to different watches of the night, including the time when the rooster crows.

And in Mark 14:30, Jesus told Peter that before the rooster crowed twice, Peter would deny Him three times. So, a rooster didn’t just crow once, but twice.

Today, we can set five alarms on our phones, hit snooze, and roll over for another ten minutes.

For most people during Jesus’ lifetime, waking up was much more connected to the natural world around them.

Looking for more…see all the A-Z lists here!