Do we know what Jesus looked like?
There are many different renditions of Jesus. Some are realistic, some are abstract, some we just aren’t sure how to classify them, and of course others aren’t worth the time to look at. Maybe you remember seeing flannel board Jesus smiling and holding a little child?
How about the one where Jesus is knocking on the door of a home? So, which one is correct?
As media professionals and amateurs we must make decisions about how we represent the Son of the Living God. The writer of Hebrews tells us that “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” (1:3). Now how in God’s green Earth are we suppose to live up to that standard?
How about starting with prayer? The Bible tells us he was just your average everyday ordinary looking guy…okay that is my paraphrase. Research the history of that time and that culture which Jesus lived. A great book to read is “The Jesus I Never Knew” by Phillip Yancey Our modern culture views Jesus as tame and timid. Phillip reveals through in depth study and careful observation of that culture and the life of Jesus that he was a radical – an extremist. He revolutinized the way people saw God and understood Scripture.
In the end, I believe that all true art will represent the reality of this life and give us small glimpses albeit sometimes out of focus of the Kingdom to come and the King we serve. But true art comes with a price. It requires a disciplined life that learns to reverance the Father and honor the Son. Obedience is the key. Obedience opens the doorway to hearing God’s voice and knowing His will.
So the next time you set out on a project that requires illustrating Jesus, consider all this he was, is, and will be. Ask the Lord himself to reveal himself to you, and wait for his revelation. Yet, don’t forget that we do have a record of his life in the Bible and even in other historical documents. Jesus is the historical Messiah after all. In all you do, do it for the glory of God the Father and to further the coming of His kingdom.
May 25th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
Here’s a crazy thought. Maybe( by acts of the Holy Spirit) God did not allow anyone to create a “true” rendition of Jesus? Maybe for the very reason that we humans, who love to take things to extremes, would be cutting our hair, and wearing clothes to emulate him like a rock star or hollywood actor? Being like the average Joe keeps him generic and easier to identify with. It’s not His physical appearance that makes Him the Son of God. Right?
May 26th, 2007 at 8:36 am
Yeah, that could be possible. It was rare for anyone to have their image put into art in the time. Only Caesar and several other important people had their likeness placed all over from statues to coins. The Bible does tell us that he was average in appearance. I think he came as the humble King and people wanted something more impressive in human terms. Think about it. God did not think it necessary for people to ’see’ him in physical terms.John tells us that Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory, the exact representation of His being. How amazing. This is I think the beginning of approaching Jesus: humility and reverence.