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... being assured of your place in the world to come

Christianity: what’s different?

Was Jesus’ appearance
closer to this ...

Jesus as typically portrayed in art of the Middle Ages

or to this ...?

Jesus portrayed in true racial and cultural context

Which of the images on the right is closest to how Jesus might have looked?

The first is influenced by the art of the Middle Ages and shows Jesus with European, rather than Jewish, looks.

  • In reality, Jesus must have had Semitic features with olive skin, darkened by exposure to the sun. His hair and beard would have been black, curly and bushy – untrimmed in obedience to the command in the Law [Leviticus 19:27]
    Leviticus 19:27

    “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard.”

    . The Bible says He was not physically attractive [Isaiah 53:2]
    Isaiah 53:2

    He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground.
    He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

    . Beauty, in God’s eyes, comes from within [1 Peter 3:3-4]
    1 Peter 3:3-4

    Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

    .
  • On the other hand, the devil is handsome [Ezekiel 28:14-17]
    Ezekiel 28:14-17

    “You were anointed as a guardian cherub, for so I ordained you. You were on the holy mount of God; you walked among the fiery stones.

    You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created till wickedness was found in you.

    Through your widespread trade you were filled with violence, and you sinned. So I drove you in disgrace from the mount of God, and I expelled you, O guardian cherub, from among the fiery stones.

    Your heart became proud on account of your beauty, and you corrupted your wisdom because of your splendor. So I threw you to the earth; I made a spectacle of you before kings.”

    .
  • The gospel rings true in my heart is because it is the opposite of the way man normally thinks.
  • Who would have conceived a philosophy where salvation would come through believing that God would come to us as a helpless baby, born in a stinking stable, a peasant among a despised, subjugated people in an obscure land, and would later be nailed up to die like the worst of criminals.
  • The natural mind is more attracted to youth and beauty, success and acclaim.
  • But, God’s thoughts are the opposite of man’s thoughts [Isaiah 55:8-9]
    Isaiah 55:8-9

    “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.”

    .

What does the Bible say on these matters:

Be wise about what is good.

~ Romans 16:19