The Lutheran Hour
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"What Did Jesus Look Like?"
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Text: John 6:63
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PRAYER O Lord of love; O God of grace. By Your all-powerful Word You created the whole world. And by Your Word, O Lord, You sustain all of creation. By Your Word You call us into Your Kingdom. And through Your Word You have delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of Your Son in whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of our sins. O Lord, for this we thank You. In Jesus’ name we pray. AMEN.
Last Easter Sunday US public television broadcast a nationwide program showing how artists over the last 2,000 years have drawn pictures of Jesus. Or, at least, this is how these artists think Jesus might have looked. Using icons and frescos and other media, artists have depicted Jesus as a teacher. Some have shown him as a judge, or a man of sorrows, or a man in glory, or in many other ways.
This public television production included works by famous artists such as Raphael, Rembrandt, and many others. College professors who saw this production exclaimed this would be a great way to teach art history.
Now here is what is most interesting! When the New York Times carried the announcement that all these pictures of Jesus were to be shown, they noted not one of the Gospels–not one–provides a clear description of exactly how Jesus looked.
References in the Bible of Jesus’ physical appearance are inconclusive. In fact, over 700 hundred years before Jesus was born, Isaiah, the prophet, foretold it would not be the physical features of Jesus that would draw people to Him. And, it would not be His appearance that would be most memorable and most powerful. “He has no stately form or majesty,” Isaiah said, “that we should look upon Him” (Isaiah 53:2).
The prophecy of Isaiah has been born out over the centuries. The power of Jesus to transform people’s lives does not flow from His picture. Instead, the power of Jesus to transform people’s lives comes from His Word and His Spirit. “The Words I have spoken to you,” Jesus said, “are spirit and they are life” (John 6:63).
The life-giving power of Jesus’ words has been repeatedly recognized by Biblical scholars over the centuries. For example, in his book “Follow Me,” the great Bible scholar Martin Franzmann explains how Jesus comforted the leper. In this instance, through the power of His life-giving Word, Jesus did what the Law could not do. Jesus simply said to the leper, “Be cleansed!” Instantly, not a period of days or weeks, but instantly the leper was cleansed and healed and restored to the people of God.
Now in another situation the Bible tells about a Roman centurion who pleaded that Jesus would restore his servant. So great was the faith of this centurion in the power of Jesus’ words, this Roman officer in simple faith said to the Lord “Only say the Word.” Then the Bible says, with Messianic authority, Jesus cast the demons out of the Roman officer’s servant “with a Word!”
Now Dr. Franzmann also notes when Jesus spoke about the life-giving power of the Word, He was not speaking anything new. In the Old Testament the psalmist says, “[God] sent forth His Word and healed them. He delivered them from destruction” (Psalm 107:20). Throughout the Old Testament the people of God realized God’s Word was different from man’s word. Man’s word is a dead letter. God’s Word is dynamic, alive and life giving. And this is also why St. Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians, “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.” And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you receive the Word of God’s message, you accept it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the Word of God which also performs its work in you who believe.
Now let’s not forget that special time when Christ’s disciples were stunned by the power of God’s Word. In the Gospel of Matthew we read where one day Jesus got into a boat with some of His disciples. And then, the Bible explains, “There arose a great storm on the sea. This storm was of such intensity the boat was covered with waves. The disciples began to fear for their lives.
Now, while this storm raged in great intensity, Jesus was sleeping. Jesus was sound asleep! Finally, the disciples knew if there was any hope for their survival, they would have to call upon Jesus. The Bible says they awoke Jesus and said to Him “Save us, Lord; we are perishing!” Jesus awoke. But then He said to His disciples: “Why are you so timid, you men of little faith?” Then, at that moment, Jesus commanded the winds and the sea and instantly everything became perfectly calm. This did not happen over several minutes or several hours. This was instantaneous. Wow! So sensational and incredible was Jesus simply by speaking His powerful Word that the disciples said, “What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the seas obey Him?”
Let’s relate this to something that happened not long ago. Two years ago the strongest tornado in the history of the U.S. struck near Oklahoma City. Immediately after learning of the event, my family and I traveled to this area to help the victims. When we arrived, we could not imagine the destruction and power of this disaster. Cars were rolled and pummeled into small balls. Large trees were stripped completely of their bark. It’s in a situation like this that we begin to contemplate the power of Christ’s Word. Had Jesus been visibly present at that storm, and, had He so desired, in the midst of the worst of this killer tornado, Jesus could have said, “Stop,” and all would have been instantly quiet!
“Incredible.” That’s the only way to describe the power Jesus wields through His living Word. However, the most important power that Jesus’ Word has for you is not a power to still storms. It is not the power to heal those sick with cancer, as important as this may be. The most important power Jesus has for you is demonstrated in the story in the Bible involving the paralytic.
In the Gospel of Matthew we read that one day people brought a paralytic to Jesus. He was lying on a bed and the Bible says seeing their faith Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, My son, your sins are forgiven.”
Jesus was immediately criticized for what He had done. Our Lord, however, responded by saying, “In order that you may know the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins”…. He then said to the paralytic, “Rise, take up your bed, and go home.” The Bible tells us when the multitudes saw this, they were filled with awe, and glorified God!
So, friends if you are caught up in the current craze of wondering what Jesus looked like, stop wasting your time. Stop dilly-dallying around. You will not be spiritually helped. You will not be spiritually saved by speculating or ogling over what Jesus looked like. You are forgiven and are saved not by Jesus’ appearance, but by His life-giving Word. And this is the Word that informs you that Jesus died for your sins and He was raised again for your justification. Stop speculating about what Jesus looked like. Let the artists of the world draw and paint all kinds of pictures of Jesus. These only glorify Him. You need to contemplate not what Jesus might have looked like, but instead, on what Jesus has done for you. Jesus said He did not come to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many and this includes you.
Therefore, if you are going to hang a picture of Jesus in your home, then display a picture of your blessed Lord hanging on the bloody cross. Yes, this is the powerful image we need to have constantly before our eyes. The bloody cross most correctly describes who Jesus is and what He has done for you.
In the Book of Acts, we read that Jesus Christ has purchased us “with his own blood” (Acts 20:28). And also in Romans, chapter 5, the apostle Paul says “Much more than, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” Again, in Romans, chapter 5, we read that in Christ Jesus “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of God’s grace” (Romans 5:9). In Revelation, we read that Jesus “loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood” (Revelation 1:5).
So then friends, now is the time for you to get the real picture of Jesus. It is not whether He had a beard that will save you; it is not whether Jesus had a long or short neck that will impact you; and it is not whether He was four feet or six feet tall.
The picture of Jesus that will affect and impact you–your entire life and eternity–and that which will determine your eternal destiny is the picture painted in the Bible. This is the picture that out of His love for you Jesus gave up His throne in heaven, humbled Himself and was born a man. Then, in spite of all your mistakes and shortcomings, Jesus died to pay for them. This is the Good News. The Bible says that whoever believes this Good News of God will not suffer eternal damnation for their sins, but rather will be saved to be with God in Paradise forever. Oh, may God grant this picture of Jesus in your life today. Amen.
LUTHERAN HOUR MAILBOX (Questions & Answers) for July 1, 2001
ANNOUNCER: Dr. Schulz, you mentioned the recent movie that talked about the appearance of Jesus gave artists’ impressions of what Jesus might have looked like. Is this something Christians should spend time thinking about?
SCHULZ: I certainly think it is a legitimate subject to question or to wonder about. But I also think the very fact that not one of the Gospels goes into any detail about Jesus’ physical appearance is compelling. That alone is a powerful statement.
ANNOUNCER: Why then is it so important to focus on Jesus’ words?
SCHULZ: Well, first of all, Jesus Christ is God. Jesus openly claimed divinity when He said, “I and the Father are one.” Secondly, God has made it very clear throughout the Old and New Testament that He relates to His children and He continues to uphold all His creation through the power of His dynamic and life-giving Word.
ANNOUNCER: So it’s nothing to think about how Jesus might have looked, but it’s extremely important we maintain our focus on that which is truly important?
SCHULZ: You’re 100% correct. To focus on Christ’s physical appearance at the expense of His life-giving words and teachings would be like remembering Albert Einstein–remembering how he looked but forgetting all the specific and special scientific theories he is identified with. Or, it would be like remembering Jonas Salk, the father of the polio vaccine, and forgetting about the vaccine which cures.
ANNOUNCER: Why do you suppose we are hung up on things like physical appearance?
SCHULZ: I think there’s always a fascination to see the physical appearance of any well-known personality. I think there is also another issue here and that is the devil. You see, the devil uses many tricks and disguises to take our attention away from the powerful words and the teachings of Christ. We can be sure Satan is absolutely delighted when we get carried away and spend all our time researching how Jesus looked when none of the Gospels emphasize this element of our Savior. Now, most importantly however, the devil knows from his own experience the words of Jesus are the power of Jesus. When the words of Jesus are spoken or sung, as Martin Luther points out, the devil has to beat it. He’s got to flee. So, it is to the devil’s advantage to sidetrack individuals or even an entire church in arguing or discussing at great length what Jesus might have looked like.
ANNOUNCER: Is it a bad idea for Christians to have a picture of Jesus in their homes?
SCHULZ: No. In fact, Mark, I think it’s a good idea. You see, when Christians have images of Jesus, no matter what they might be, they cause a follower of Christ to recall their faith. Plus, some of these images, such as Jesus on the cross or Christ with His head hung down bleeding from the crown on His head, remind us of what Christ has done for us; how He died for our sins.
ANNOUNCER: Could you suggest a specific image that might be appropriate?
SCHULZ: Without a doubt, an appropriate image would be a picture of Jesus at the empty tomb. This picture would remind us that Jesus not only died on the cross for our sins, but He rose again on the third day to show His victory over sin, death, and the devil. Now, whenever we think of our Lord Jesus Christ, we always need to focus on Christ’s resurrection. You see, the Bible says we are united with Christ into His resurrection through baptism. And this is what gives us hope, even in our most difficult days. And the knowledge of Christ’s resurrection and our being united with Him through God’s gift of faith, gives us the blessed assurance of an eternal hope forever with God.
ANNOUNCER: Thank you, Dr. Schulz. We now come to the end of our broadcast for another week.