RE: What did Jesus look like?
Respectfully, I disagree. IMO, Christ surely was human flesh, body and soul, and lived with us, like one of us. I think His divine nature was united to our human selves. His teachings however told us that He was from God as we all were - so man and God are the same. In other words, the only way He could relate directly to us was by being made flesh and therefore wholly human.
Some quotes for interest:
"Christ was a complete man." -St. Augustine
"Jesus Christ was God in the form of man; as completely God as if he were not man; as completely man as if he were not God."
-A.J.F. Behrends
"Jesus Christ, the condescension of divinity, and the exaltation of humanity." -Phillips Brooks
"Jesus became as like us as God can be." -Donald English
"Jesus did not become identical to us; he did become identified with us." -Donald English
"Jesus was man in guise, not in disguise."
-Handley C. G. Moule
"Remember, Christ was not a deified man, neither was he a humanized God. He was perfectly God and at the same time perfectly man."
-C. H. Spurgeon
"Christ was not half a God and half a man; he was perfectly God and perfectly man."
-James Stalker
"I think it's noteworthy that the Almighty didn't act high and mighty. The Holy One wasn't holier-than-thou. The One who knew it all wasn't a know-it-all. The One who made the stars didn't keep his head in them. The One who owns all the stuff on earth never strutted it.
Never. He could have. Oh, how he could have!
He could have been a name-dropper: Did I ever tell you of the time Moses and I went up on the mountain?
He could have been a showoff: Hey, want me to beam you into the twentieth century?
He could have been a smart-aleck: I know what you're thinking. Want me to prove it?
He could have been highbrow and upiddity: I've got some property on Jupiter...
Jesus could have been all of these, but he wasn't. His purpose was not to show off but to show up. He went to great pains to be as human as the guy down the street. He didn't need to study, but still went to the synagogue. He had no need for income, but still worked in the workshop. He had known the fellowship of angels and heard the harps of heaven, yet still went to parties thrown by the tax collectors. And upon his shoulders rested the challenge of redeeming creation, but he still took time to walk ninety miles from Jericho to Cana to go to a wedding.
As a result, people liked him. Oh, there were those who chafed at his claims. They called him a blasphemer, but they never called him a braggart. They accused him of heresy, but never arrogance. He was branded as a radical, but never called unapproachable.
There is not hint that he ever used his heavenly status for personal gain. Ever. You just don't get the impression that his neighbors grew sick of his haughtiness and asked, "Well, who do you think made you God?"
His faith made him likable, not detestable. Would that ours do the same!
-Max Lucado
And I honestly do think, whether it is 'only a film' or anything else, which provokes such a feeling of empathy, that if someone feels that representation of Christ is right for them, who can, or should, say otherwise?????
It was the laughing, joyful, sociable, HUMAN Christ, I related to, and still do. The one who made you feel thankful for the gift of life.
Love Gillyxxx
RE: What did Jesus look like?
ORIGINAL: gillyann
I appreciate what you are saying Dr. Mambo, but isn't it up to us as individuals to decide what image of Christ suits us best?
Love
Gillyxxx
Of course it is!
I just think if he was born in the middle east then chances are that was what he looked like! but nothing is impossible so he could of been of western origin.
Mind you was'nt Quetzalcoatl (aztec god) described as a white man with grey hair? food for thought right there.
= p e a c e =
RE: What did Jesus look like?
Hello NoPatterns,
Some years ago I was spoken to clairaudiently by Jesus. He asked me to draw him. At the time I had just discovered an ability to draw. Before this time the only pictures I could ever draw were stick figures. Such was my creative ability!
He asked me to draw him on the cross. I told him that I did not want to draw him on the cross for this was not the way I remembered him (sorrowful and in pain). He asked me to consider this for a while before engaging in the drawing process. During the next few days I dwelt deeply upon Lord Jesus and found a picture which had been given to me some time earlier. To my surprise and delight the picture, which was of His face, had a brilliant light going from above his left eyebrow across to His right eyebrow and from the centre of his forhead down the middle of his nose. This was the cross.
I knew that this was the portrait I was to draw. He had a very long thin nose. Eyes which kept you in their gaze. A sparse beard, almost a young man's new beard. His moustache also was sparse. Lips which were very soft and curvy, even sensuous, his fine moustache hair long but not completely covering his lips. A thinnish face with a very high forehead. Hair which also was thin and shoulder length.
The result of the portrait, which I did in pencil only, was more compelling by the feeling which it projected. Not so much the actual drawing but the peace and tenderness which it conveyed. He showed me how to capture the 'essense' of the individual and I went on to draw a number of my friends and families portraits.
He lives, oh yes, he lives.
Spirit Talk.
RE: What did Jesus look like?
Fascinating Spirit Talk. Reading your description of Jesus is as though He jumps into life:D
Goes to show too, how we all have different 'visions' on everything, be it spiritual or what ever 'normality' is.
Was it Einstein who said all our brains are wired up the same, yet see things entirely differently? One person's visual and mental concepts can be entirely different from the next.
Love Gillyxxxxxxxxxxx
RE: What did Jesus look like?
Hi Dr. Mambo,
Strange things gods!! So many theories about them, Aztec and all cultures, and you are so right! The written word and that passed on to us by legend tells us they come down in many guises.
Something for the Ancient Mysteries forum, if they havn't already discussed this!;)
Love Gillyxxxxx