What Does Jesus Look Like?

I have been thinking about this for a few days, and to actually describe His looks? It's impossible! Because in John 20:29 Jesus said to Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blesssed are they that have not seen, yet have believed. Also, there is the story in Luke 24:13, of the two men who were on their way to Emmaus, and who were talking together of the things that had happened regarding the resurrection. Jesus came along and joined into the conversation as they walked along. The verse says their eyes were holden, which refers to the fact that they were unable to recognize Him. They did not know who He was, but kept talking about it. He made as if He didn't know what they were talking about. They were shocked that He hadn't heard the news. They thought He was a stranger to the area. But after He went into the place of their destination, and sat at meat with them, and took the bread and blessed it and brake it and gave to them to eat, "did not our hearts burn within us?"

As I understand the Scripture, no one can truly know what He looks like until they learn to know Him. It is in believing and learning to get to know Him that our eyes see Him.

When I was a young girl of 15, on my deathbed in the hospital, I saw in a vision in a mirror of what I had known to be Jesus. The vision was like the picturesof Jesus I had seen as a child. He smiled at me, but He had a much more personal touch than what a picture on a wall has. There was a kindness I knew in the smile, and it was directly at me. And at that moment I believe I was touched and healed.

The vision only lasted a very few seconds, but the smile has lasted me a lifetime. I am 74 years old now and can still see and feel His personal touch and His smile upon my life. The closer I get to Him the more I realize His hand holding mine.
Marianne Vandervalk

Note from Helen: Marianne is my sister, and I remember well the incident she is referring to of her death-bed experience…

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2... OPINION from Joyce Blume
I've been reading some of your poems and articles ... About the one, "What did Jesus Look like?" He looked like You. Love! Do you know what love looks like? That's Jesus. I believe that God The Father, hid from the world His Son's appearance, for He wanted others to see Jesus through them, His Children. Thank you for showing me and others what Jesus looked like....I get so much from your writings. Thanks.
Joyce Blume

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3... Opinions from Mary Ellen Grisham.
I think your article is a very good "antidote" to the over-glamorized versions of Jesus in some movies and on the Internet.

Your quotes from Isaiah support your conclusions, and I think that Jesus himself would NOT have wanted his image to be idolized or distorted. Perhaps one of the reasons He came at the time He did was so that there would be no mass media hype and publicity.

I do, however, think that whatever his outer physical appearance was, He did have a beautiful spiritual presence. That is, I think people sensed a warmth, rightness, and spiritual light emanating from his person that drew people to him as well as to the goodness of his teaching and miracles. I think people felt His love, His goodness, His righteousness, and His absolute integrity. His spiritual qualities made Him beautiful even if His countenance and demeanor were serious, intent, dedicated, and totally committed to His Father's work.

I enjoyed the reading and thinking that your writing inspired.
Blessings,
Mary-Ellen Grisham E-Mail or E-Mail

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4... Opinions from Evelyn Splane
When God created man, He created Him "in His own image." (or likeness) Genesis.1:26 - 28 "God is Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and truth." So when God formed Adam out of the dust of the ground He gave him a spirit as well as a physical body.

When Jesus was born of a Jewish woman, He undoubtedly took upon Him the physical characteristics of the human race into which He was born--that is the Hebrew race. Generally speaking, while He walked upon earth, outwardly He appeared like others of that race. Our conception of how He looked is influenced by pictures artists have portrayed of a Jewish man. However, if an African person heard of the love He showed but had never seen a portrayal of Christ as a "white man" he may have a mental picture of the nicest, kindly black man they have ever known. Similarly, people of any race who had not been influenced by man's portrayals of Jesus, might create their own mental concept of Him as being like their physical likeness.

Nevertheless, as for Christ's emotional expressions, they could be according to whom He was dealing with or was talking with. To an innocent little child, He would smile and show love. He took little children up in His arms and blessed them. To an inquirer seeking help, like the woman with an issue of blood for 12 years, He knew her case. He demonstrated sympathy and spoke the word of healing. She feared, but He removed her fears by saying "According to your faith be it unto you."

But when He encountered deliberate sin and wickedness, as when men were doing merchandise within the temple, He became angry and overturned the tables letting their gains scatter to the floor. He said: "You have made the House of God a "Den of thieves." I am sure His face showed His rage.

He blessed many people and He condemned others. I do not believe He showed frivolity, but He did show kindness, love and sympathy as well as joy.

Evelyn Splane
Gospel Of Christ Outreach

Note from Helen: Evelyn is my sister.

For even more opinions, please see the comments at the end of this article on: FaithWriters

PLEASE KEEP YOUR COMMENTS COMING.... E-Mail Me - Helen Dowd