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No one knows exactly what Jesus looked like, since his physical appearance is not described in the Bible. This indicates that Jesus’ physical features are not important. However, the Bible does give us some idea of Jesus’ general appearance.
Misconception: Some argue that Jesus must have been of African descent because the book of Revelation compares his hair to wool and his feet to “burnished bronze.”—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., The New Jerusalem Bible.
Fact: The book of Revelation is presented “in signs.” (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) The description of Jesus’ hair and feet uses symbolic language to illustrate Jesus’ qualities after his resurrection, not to describe his physical appearance when he was on earth. In saying that Jesus’ “head and his hair were white as white wool, as snow,” You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. uses color, not texture, as a point of comparison. This represents his wisdom due to age. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) This verse is not comparing the texture of Jesus’ hair to that of wool any more than it is comparing the texture of his hair to that of snow.
Jesus’ feet looked “like fine copper when glowing in a furnace.” (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Also, his face was “like the sun when it shines at its brightest.” (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Since no race has skin color matching these descriptions, this vision must be symbolic, showing the resurrected Jesus as the one “who dwells in unapproachable light.”—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
Misconception: Jesus was weak and frail.
Fact: Jesus was manly in his behavior. For example, he boldly identified himself to the armed crowd that came You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Jesus must also have been physically strong to have worked as a You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. using manual tools.—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
Why, then, did Jesus need help to carry his torture stake? And why did he die before the others executed with him died? (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Just prior to Jesus’ execution, his body was seriously weakened. He had been up all night, in part because of emotional agony. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) During the night the Jews had mistreated him, and the next morning the Romans had tortured him. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Such factors likely hastened his death.
Misconception: Jesus was always somber, melancholy.
Fact: Jesus perfectly reflected the qualities of his heavenly Father, Jehovah, whom the Bible describes as “the happy God.” (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) In fact, Jesus taught others how to be happy. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) These facts indicate that Jesus often reflected happiness in his facial E×ρréššions.
- Features: Jesus was a Jew and likely inherited common Semitic traits from his mother. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) It is unlikely that his features were especially distinctive. On one occasion he was able to travel in secret from Galilee to Jerusalem without being recognized. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) And he apparently did not stand out even among his closest disciples. Recall that Judas Iscariot had to identify Jesus to the armed crowd that arrested him.—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
- Hair length: It is unlikely that Jesus’ hair was long, because the Bible says that “long hair is a dishonor to a man.”—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
- Beard: Jesus wore a beard. He followed Jewish law, which prohibited ãdül† males from ‘disfiguring the edges of their beard.’ (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Also, the Bible mentions Jesus’ beard in a prophecy about his suffering.—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
- Body: All indications are that Jesus was physically robust. During his ministry, he traveled many miles. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) He You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., overturning the tables of money changers, and once drove out livestock with a whip. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) McClintock and Strong’s Cyclopedia states: “The whole evangelical narrative indicates [Jesus’] sound and vigorous bodily health.”—Volume IV, page 884.
- Facial E×ρréššions: Jesus was warm and compassionate, and his facial E×ρréššions no doubt reflected this. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) People of all sorts sought him out for comfort and help. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Even children felt at ease in his presence.—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
Misconception: Some argue that Jesus must have been of African descent because the book of Revelation compares his hair to wool and his feet to “burnished bronze.”—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now., The New Jerusalem Bible.
Fact: The book of Revelation is presented “in signs.” (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) The description of Jesus’ hair and feet uses symbolic language to illustrate Jesus’ qualities after his resurrection, not to describe his physical appearance when he was on earth. In saying that Jesus’ “head and his hair were white as white wool, as snow,” You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. uses color, not texture, as a point of comparison. This represents his wisdom due to age. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) This verse is not comparing the texture of Jesus’ hair to that of wool any more than it is comparing the texture of his hair to that of snow.
Jesus’ feet looked “like fine copper when glowing in a furnace.” (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Also, his face was “like the sun when it shines at its brightest.” (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Since no race has skin color matching these descriptions, this vision must be symbolic, showing the resurrected Jesus as the one “who dwells in unapproachable light.”—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
Misconception: Jesus was weak and frail.
Fact: Jesus was manly in his behavior. For example, he boldly identified himself to the armed crowd that came You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Jesus must also have been physically strong to have worked as a You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now. using manual tools.—You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now..
Why, then, did Jesus need help to carry his torture stake? And why did he die before the others executed with him died? (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Just prior to Jesus’ execution, his body was seriously weakened. He had been up all night, in part because of emotional agony. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) During the night the Jews had mistreated him, and the next morning the Romans had tortured him. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) Such factors likely hastened his death.
Misconception: Jesus was always somber, melancholy.
Fact: Jesus perfectly reflected the qualities of his heavenly Father, Jehovah, whom the Bible describes as “the happy God.” (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) In fact, Jesus taught others how to be happy. (You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.You do not have permission to view the full content of this post. Log in or register now.) These facts indicate that Jesus often reflected happiness in his facial E×ρréššions.