After two thousand years we have seen countless depictions of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Each account just as convincing as the other. However, can we really deduce Who Jesus really was as a Man / God sojourning on this Earth? If we google "Jesus" we will see countless interpretations of His appearance and demeanor. We can only surmise that this is due to the fact that the Holy Scriptures of the Christian, the New Testament, does not describe His appearance. In modern times Hollywood and the mainstream mega churches have worked overtime to give their own rendition of Jesus and their power and influence has made their image and version of Jesus the defacto standard. However, thanks be to God, we can choose to not be deceived and discern who Jesus really was...if only we look at the bible as a whole (especially the New Testament).
If we use the worlds interpretation of Jesus, He would be dashing, memorable, oozing charisma, smiling and most of all...physically beautiful. But, is this true? Is there something, anything in the bible to give us a clue as to what Jesus might actually have looked like or possibly his traits? Since we know the New Testament does not offer clues, lets turn our attention to the Old Testament. Is there something there We could possible use? Yes! Isaiah 53, which to many scholars is the "Jesus chapter". Although "Jesus" name does not appear in Isaiah 53, it is widely believed among Christian scholars, that this chapter is all about Jesus.
The most popular passage that is often referenced is Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His †stripes we are healed.
This passage alone verifies the great payment Jesus made for the sins of His Elect.
But theres more...those who think Jesus had hollywood looks...take heed from Isaiah 53:2
For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
notice the phrase "He has no form or comeliness"? Comeliness, means "attractive"...this phrase obviously says that Jesus was the opposite. We can only surmise that Father God allowed Jesus to fulfill His ministry in this
way to keep with the theme of humility. By Jesus word and not by His looks, He would send the message of the gospel to those with ears to hear .
Today, the modern Christian is taught that "Jesus gets us". Whatever You want to do, Jesus understands...He is Your friend. Why change, continue as you are, He let His hair down...so should You.
But is that really true? Scriptually that is.
Jesus said to His followers in John 15:14
You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.
Notice the condition Jesus placed on His followers? You are His Friend "IF......".
...and how about this from Revelation 2:4-5
4“Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, †or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place — unless you repent.
...there it is again...a condition to keep your standing with the Lord Jesus...and this condition is to "Repent". If You repent, You will automatically start to follow his commands. Friends, this is how it works. You must count
the cost. There is a cost you must pay to follow Jesus. This cost is...You will lose your life in this world, in order to gain life eternal.
We have to remember that Jesus was relatively unknown before the start of His ministry. Before 30, not much is known in scripture about what He did in His early 20's or His late teen years. It is interesting because it is His formative years. Outside of the story of Luke as a Young Boy escaping His parents, only to be found later teaching in Jerusalem, there are no other stories to tell. We only wonder why that is? The anointed Son of God, living life in anominity. I believe in the humble nature of Jesus...It had to be so.
Consider that Judas had to tell the Jewish chief priests and elders that He would
kiss the betrayed
Matthew 26:48 - Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.”so to identify Jesus for arrest. This passage gives insight that Jesus in His 3 years of ministry did not leave a lasting impression by His looks or charisma, so much so that Judas had to give them a sign that this was the Man they wanted. You would think that after 3 years of continuous public presence in a relatively small region that the leadership would at least have some form of rememberance of who this offensive Man was. So offensive that they wanted to kill Him. (This confirms Isaiah 53:2)
I have heard from pastors who claimed Jesus was rich materially in His time here on Earth. We can never really know that of course, but We can deduce
the probability or improbability of that by just reading the scriptures. Jesus by the time He started His ministry never truly had a central base called His own
personal Home. It seems He was going from house to house throughout His ministry. Of course Jesus did say,
Matthew 8:20 - “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Of course Father God takes care of needs of those who are His, but I would say it would'nt be hyperbole if we said Jesus was homeless during His ministry.
Consider also the way of life that Jesus lived. He continually fasted, walking miles in the heat of the day, associating himself with the poor and lowly, and
eventually hunted down.
Is this the type of person we can call materially rich and well liked?
So there it is, for two millenia and counting, We have seen and heard the many versions of Jesus. We have been duped into creating a version of Jesus that is
personal to us. Mainly a Jesus who will accept our personal hidden sins. For a baby Christian who loves porn, this Jesus will accept the porn.
For a man who is commiting adultery, His Jesus forgives the unfaithfulness. For the drunkard...well..."Jesus made wine".
These are the many faces of Jesus of today. There are many "truths" but
The real truth is, Jesus was poor in material possesions but rich beyond measure in the spirit. The versions of Jesus
were created by Men in their own understanding. But thats just it, its Mans understanding and not the Father's (
Proverbs 3:5 -
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, †And lean not on your own understanding;
). But there is only One true Jesus.
If we just read the bible for ourselves
(with the direction of the Holy Spirit)
John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will †send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you....We can know who Jesus really is.
It all starts with this one Word