What Did Jesus Look Like?
Question:
What did Jesus look like when He was here? Did he have the same skin color and features as most Jews do? Or did he have blond hair and blue eyes? Please help me.
Answer:
Hi! Thanks for your question.
It's unlikely that Jesus had blond hair and blue eyes. Most people of Jewish descent don't. The truth is, no one knows what color skin, hair or eyes Jesus had when He was on the earth. The inspired word of God doesn't reveal those things. Therefore those details don't matter.
All we know about His appearance then was that He was rather plain-looking. When He left Heaven and came in human flesh, He took on "the form of a servant" (Philippians 2:7). In Isaiah 53:2, it was prophesied that "He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, there is no beauty that we should desire Him." In other words, He was an ordinary looking jew without any oustanding physical characteristics. What made Him stand out to the people was the power of His miracles (John 2:11,23; 3:2; 6:2; Acts 2:22) and the truth of His words (Matthew 7:28-29; John 6:68-69; 7:46).
“He was an ordinary looking Jew without any outstanding physical characteristics.”
The exception to His ordinary appearance was His transfiguration on the mountain to Peter, James and John (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13). After Jesus completed His task on the earth and ascended to Heaven, He appeared to John in a vision, choosing a form that was powerfully impressive (Revelation 1:9-20).
To sum up, very little is revealed to us about the physical appearance of our Lord on the earth. What matters most is that He is the Son of God who became our sacrifice for sin (John 3:16; Hebrews 9:26; Matthew 20:28). His beauty was in His life and in His love for all mankind (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). He wants us to remember Him in this way: discerning His body and blood on the cross (Luke 22:19-20; 1 Corinthians 11:23-29).
One day He will come again in the clouds for judgment (Acts 1:9-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; Matthew 25:31-46). Let's prepare for that day in which we will see His face, by submitting to Him as our Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36-38).
(via christistheway.com)
Article Navigation:
Answering The Atheist
The Atheist's Complaint:
Did Elisha receive Elijah's mantle before or after Elijah was taken up into heaven. 1 Kings 19:19 indicates that it took place before, but 2 Kings 2:11-13 reveals that it was after. Is there a contradiction?
Response:
Indeed, we are told in 1 Kings 19:19 that Elijah cast his mantle upon Elisha. However, what we must consider is whether this means that he gave his mantle to Elisha for him to keep, or whether this was perhaps some form of ceremony whereby Elisha was called to be Elijah's servant or by which he was called to become a prophet.
Certainly in reading 2 Kings 2, we know that Elijah retained his mantle after this event spoken of in 1 Kings 19. Notice:
2 Kings 2:8
Now Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up, and struck the water; and it was divided this way and that, so that the two of them crossed over on dry ground.
And again, in 2 Kings 2:13-14
He also took up the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and went back and stood by the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the mantle of Elijah that had fallen from him, and struck the water, and said, 'Where is the LORD God of Elijah?' And when he also had struck the water, it was divided this way and that, and Elisha crossed over.
It would seem that Elijah used the mantle in 1 Kings 19:19 to call Elisha, and that it was not Elisha's possession until after Elijah was taken up into heaven in the whirlwind.
There is no contradiction.
Mantle - Heb. 'addereth
feminine of 'addiyr, something ample (as a large vine, a wide dress); also the same as 'eder: -- garment, glory, goody, mantle, robe. (Strong's)
This article is in response to Skeptic's Annotated Bible.