I have always been amazed at how much Jesus' message seems to have gotten twisted, and we argue over interpretation... but its never questioned what Jesus looked like. Of course -- we've all seen the pictures. You can find them all over; in malls, christian bookstores, pastors offices... right next to the Kincaids. Jesus has perfect hair (no split ends), a nice groomed beard, He is usually thin and very clean looking. I'm not quite sure where this picture of Jesus started from, but i do find it interesting that it is hardly even questioned. In fact, i'm surprised franchised churches and other coffee-houses... er, churches haven't picked up on this. Why not show a picture of Jesus as we would know him? Short haircut, maybe a cool goatee, some designer jeans, and maybe a really nice preppy polo. (oh i can see the mailer now)
As much as the visual of the thin-bearded Jesus has really made over at least the last 1,000 years; i'm quite sure we've lost much of our understanding on who Jesus really was. What we have here today is... an American Jesus. When we hear stories from the Bible, we immediately begin to associate and identify in a way that is common to us -- not in a way that was common to them. This can be difficult when understanding a passage, because we are immediately infusing a concept that may have never meant to be implied. What should our goal be? i assume our goal would be to unlearn our Western thoughts, and begin to attempt to think with an Eastern mind. Yes, Jesus was not American... He was in fact Eastern, Middle Eastern to be exact.
I think Jesus was in fact not a thin, clean cut, groomed person we picture him as. I've got a feelilng He had rough hands, a frame that made you hope He was friendly, and a sweet ZZ-Top beard... ok, maybe not the super-long beard, but i doubt it was nicely groomed and wearing new balance's. We can never fully adapt a completely new mindset, but we sure do need to try.
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3 comments:
Hello Pat,
You raise some good points and points that I have been aware of for many years. I am not alone in this understanding either.
Jesus Christ was rough and ready, possibly a builder like his human father, not a long haired effiminate wimp, as portrayed by papist illegitimates.
This minor issue is a tiny part of the Devil's work in hijacking the Church. This began in the first century with Simon the sorcerer in Acts when he attempted to buy the Holy Spirit from Peter.
Here's my web page, have a look and tell me what you think. It is a work in progress.
http://yes2truth.com.istemp.com/index.html
y2t
It's always useful to see images of non-white Jesuses from other cultures because it breaks false patterns in our thinking.
Or at least for white boys like me.
Hello John,
It's not helpful nor is it useful to have any physical images of The Lord, especially erroneous images of Him being effeminate, black or any other silly descriptions.
Paul made it clear that it was a shame to a man to wear his hair long. By association this must mean Our Lord never had long hair.
y2t
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