Believing is seeing when it comes to Jesus

Have you ever wondered what Jesus looked like or what he was like to be around?  While there are no official paintings or photos of Jesus, we do find some answers to those questions in the Bible.   

First, his looks.  Did you know there are only two descriptions of Jesus’ physical looks in the Bible?  While there are many artist renditions of him, reality is, they’re most likely all wrong.  We have the Renaissance paintings where Jesus has a halo around his head.  We know that can’t be true because when Judas betrayed Christ, he had to give the religious leaders a signal (a kiss) of who to arrest.  We glean from that event exactly what the first description of Jesus tells us.  Isaiah 53:2 (prophetically speaking of the Messiah, says) “… He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.”   

In other words, Jesus didn’t stick out in the crowd, Judas had to identify him, so the halo theory is out.

Then we have modern renditions of what Jesus looked like, some with blond hair and blue eyes, obviously not portraying what an ancient Semite looked like.  Others paint Jesus with a huge smile, and I like those, because I have to believe Jesus found a lot of joy in ministry, even enduring the cross for the joy set before him (Hebrews 12:2). 

While we don’t know what Jesus looked like physically, we do have one description in the New Testament of how the risen Christ appeared to the Apostle John. 

Revelation 1:12-16 “…I saw…one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.  The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.”

That’s quite the picture!  In fact, John was so taken back that he fell at Jesus’ feet like a dead man, but Jesus laid his hand on John and said; “Do not be afraid.”   While John saw Jesus in his majestic glory, he also heard a word that reminds us of how Christ was as he walked this earth.  When others would cower in fear because of their sin, Jesus was called; “a friend of sinners.”  Not that he approved of sin, but he embraced those who were far from God and offered to them the free gift of forgiveness and eternal life.

While we can’t see Jesus physically, we can keep our eyes fixed on him (Hebrews 12:1).  We see him in the gospel narratives, we see him as we pray in his name, and we see him in the life of those he has given a heart of love.    

John 20:29 Jesus said; “…Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

That’s us!  While we do not see him in the flesh, you can know him as you turn away from sin and receive the free gift of salvation that comes by grace alone through faith in Christ alone.  Have you seen him today?

Pastor Rich Lammay of High Sierra Fellowship is a member of the Carson Valley Ministers’ Association.