1. Picture extrapolated from the Shroud of Turin by computer graphic artist Ray Downing.
2. Picture painted by Akiane Kramarik , who painted it from memory of the time when she had died and gone to heaven, met Jesus, and she returned to life. Verified by Colton Burpo, who also had died and gone to heaven where he met Jesus and was returned to life.
3. Painted by Frank Nicolette.
4. Drawn by Phillip Wortman.
None of the above is a graven image. A graven image is something used in idolatry . “You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God...” Even if you were absolutely sure you had the real picture of Jesus, you wouldn’t worship the picture (making it a graven image) rather than Jesus Himself.
You’ll notice that none of the above represents Jesus as a skinny, bedraggled, washed out white guy as portrayed by many artists over the years. Jesus was a robust first century man who worked with His hands. It was said that Jesus was easy to locate in the crowds because He was a head taller than most. If the shroud of Turin is real, He was five foot eleven inches.
Since He was a first century Jew, in the Middle East, we can assume He had olive skin, dark hair and dark eyes.
In the Book of Revelation His head and hair were white like wool and snow, with eyes like blazing fire. His feet were like glowing bronze and His voice sounded like rushing water. Out of His mouth came a double edged sword and His face was like sunshine.
Isaiah 53:2 indicates He was just an average looking man. Psalms 45: 2-3 indicated he was better looking than most.
He was beaten so severely that, as He was lead to the cross, it was difficult to identify Jesus as a man, much less Himself. He was under so much stress on the Mount of Olives that He was sweating blood (hematohidrosis). A crown of thorns was jammed down on His head. He was beaten with fists and spat on. He was scourged with a whip that had multiple ends with hard objects on them which were designed to rip the flesh. He was forced, in His traumatized condition, to carry His cross. He was nailed to the cross. He was temporarily abandoned by His Father and all the host of Heaven. He had a spear slice into His side, releasing blood and water. The order of the emissions of blood and then water proved He was already dead.
No man, anywhere on the face of the earth, put up with so much. Why did He do it? He did it so that you could freely receive the salvation you didn’t earn and don’t deserve. He paid the ultimate price on your behalf and in your place. Because He rose again from the dead, all you have to do is ask forgiveness and receive Him as your Lord and Savior . What does it really matter what He looked like: it looks like to me, He accomplished what no one else could do. He looked like what He said: “It is finished”.
Rick Rahn
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