As you know, I love collecting graphics and looking at artwork. Of course in my travels through the art world, I look at representations of faces Of God, especially of Jesus Christ. And as expected, there are literally thousands of images of artists' impressions of what He looks like. Frankly, it makes me a little uncomfortable.
I feel that if God wanted us to know with a surety what His Son looked like, He would have given us a description of Him in scripture. Whereas we know from scripture only that He was a normal man with no particular distinguishing or even handsome features. Certainly nothing that would cause envy among men or cause women to turn their heads. He was to all accounts, visually just a man with a beard.
Another thing that makes me uncomfortable is that in trying to capture the likeness of God, the viewer is limited to the imagination of the artist. Often this can lead to our own perceptions of the face of God being different, and we can either love or loathe the Christ represented.
Now, I know that in posting pictures of Christ, it will sometimes conflict with your idea of what He looked like: but we are limited to representing the Divine in human visible form through art and film. My favourite pictures of what is to me the representation of the Divine may conflict with yours.... it depends on my idea of what is attractive and manly and godly.
I have this painting in my entry hall because to me, this is most likely what Jesus would have looked like. Why do you not have others? you ask. Because they are not appealing to me. That is my point.
It is of no small significance that God in His Wisdom did not give us a detailed description of His Son in the scriptures. I believe that this was intentional. Knowing how fickle humans are, God knew that some would reject Christ based solely on the fact that He had a bulbous Jewish nose or that He was of a different skin tone or eye colour than what we fancied. If we doubt that we are fickle in this regard, we have only to think of Hollywood, cosmetic surgery, and designer babies!
No, obviously the outward appearance is not of great consequence to God, but the heart and spirit of a man are. And we find much about those qualities in relating to who Christ is in scripture. Finally, to all of us who love the LORD, the actual facial features are not that important: we love the Man and King of Kings regardless! Painting is Prince of Peace by Akiane painted at age eight
I feel that if God wanted us to know with a surety what His Son looked like, He would have given us a description of Him in scripture. Whereas we know from scripture only that He was a normal man with no particular distinguishing or even handsome features. Certainly nothing that would cause envy among men or cause women to turn their heads. He was to all accounts, visually just a man with a beard.
Another thing that makes me uncomfortable is that in trying to capture the likeness of God, the viewer is limited to the imagination of the artist. Often this can lead to our own perceptions of the face of God being different, and we can either love or loathe the Christ represented.
Now, I know that in posting pictures of Christ, it will sometimes conflict with your idea of what He looked like: but we are limited to representing the Divine in human visible form through art and film. My favourite pictures of what is to me the representation of the Divine may conflict with yours.... it depends on my idea of what is attractive and manly and godly.
I have this painting in my entry hall because to me, this is most likely what Jesus would have looked like. Why do you not have others? you ask. Because they are not appealing to me. That is my point.
It is of no small significance that God in His Wisdom did not give us a detailed description of His Son in the scriptures. I believe that this was intentional. Knowing how fickle humans are, God knew that some would reject Christ based solely on the fact that He had a bulbous Jewish nose or that He was of a different skin tone or eye colour than what we fancied. If we doubt that we are fickle in this regard, we have only to think of Hollywood, cosmetic surgery, and designer babies!
No, obviously the outward appearance is not of great consequence to God, but the heart and spirit of a man are. And we find much about those qualities in relating to who Christ is in scripture. Finally, to all of us who love the LORD, the actual facial features are not that important: we love the Man and King of Kings regardless! Painting is Prince of Peace by Akiane painted at age eight
© Glenys Robyn Hicks
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him. Isaiah 53:2
Very well said.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
DeleteThis reminds me of the scripture from the Old Testament -- I cannot remember the exact wording, but the gist is that man looks at outward appearance but the LORD looks at the heart. I agree -- I think He wants us to pay more attention to the heart of Jesus than His outward appearance.
ReplyDeleteBut the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
DeleteJen, I had forgotten about that one, but it is spot on! Thanks. We are too caught up on the external usually! Thanks for taking tea today!
I know that the scriptures say in Isaiah that there was nothing "majestic" about Christ's appearance. But I think He's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteReally glad you've linked Glenys. You're a gifted teacher.
Thanks so much, Jennifer. Glory to God! I believe that when we see Christ, He will thrill each and everyone with His appearance as well as character. Thanks for sharing tea today!
Delete