For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
Isaiah 53: 2 NKJV
I was reminded recently of yet another depiction of the image of Christ Jesus when a friend mentioned that one of her memories was a tv sitcom which portrayed a painting of a African American Jesus. I wasn't surprised at all. For mankind has long tried to place a picture to the history of one of the most influential men history has ever known. Yet, to this day nobody has even come close, in my humble opinion, of depicting the Christ in a form which we can relate to Him. Many have tried, even a few who have claimed life after death experiences have come up with painted images of Jesus. My first question to anyone who desires to know a image of Jesus would be, what are you searching for? Are you indeed looking for a closer relationship with Him, or does a painting of His image somehow give you comfort in some way? Perhaps both are true. For those who wish to know a visual image of Jesus, you should know that the early followers of Jesus refused to show images of Him for they considered it idolatry. I get it. After all, is your heart set on knowing Him, or simply a image of Him? If we seek comfort in knowing a image of Jesus, then we have a lot of competition out there. There are black and brown Jesus'. Bearded and without a beard. Which one will you choose? Then again, if what you are looking for is a relationship with Jesus, then there is only one you need seek. That is the one and only true Christ who gave Himself that we would be united with Him {2 Corinthians 5:21}. I'm not so much interested in His appearance as in what He accomplished for me at the cross. For I don't believe that Jesus is bound by what we know as a earthly appearance. We are told that Jesus was God manifested in the flesh {1 Peter 3:16}. Jesus took the form of man because that was the environment He was in. Would anyone have known the love of God if not for Jesus? Probably not. Would we have known of the Fathers one true nature if not for Jesus? I doubt it. So, if Jesus manifested Himself as a man, His true image is something different, right? That may be true, but His image as He lives today is something we might not expect.
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Galatians 2: 20 NKJV
Many well meaning Christians are unaware of the image of Christ Jesus as He lives today. I mean, Jesus is alive and well, right? If He isn't then that entire rising from the dead miracle was for not. So, we know that Jesus lives. But, where does He live? Well, if you ask most Christians they will repeat the church line that Jesus resides now in heaven as the Fathers side. That's a good story if you can sell it. The apostle Paul did not believe that Jesus was confined to the heavens. In fact, after his Damascus road conversion, Paul laid out what it was that overcame him that day. Paul tells us that in the Lords timing, Christ was revealed IN HIM {Galatians 1:15-16}. Paul goes on to say that he no longer lived in his fleshly body, but that 'Christ lives in me.' {Galatians 2:20}. Why is this important to a discussion of the many face of Jesus? Because, if Christ indeed lives in us, then He...resembles us. For those desiring a true to life depiction of Jesus, you don't need a fancy painting, just look in that mirror. However, I do not consider someone a non believer if they have yet to receive the revelation of Christ Jesus in them. Remember, the man Saul was pretty long in the tooth before his own revelation. If you seek to know Jesus, then your own revelation of Christ in you will come at the exact moment the Father desires it. We need not be focused on His image, but on knowing Him.
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2 Corinthians 3: 18 NKJV
~Scott~
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