What Does Jesus Really Look Like?

No one has a photograph of Jesus.  He never posed for a portrait or a sculpture. Still, he has appeared in the works of countless artists throughout the centuries.

Of course, those artists did not know what Jesus really looked like.  Prevailing culture, religious beliefs, and the wishes of their patrons often dictated how the artists portrayed Jesus.  Even so, their imagery could influence, even blur people's view of Jesus and his teachings.

Some artists depicted Jesus as a frail weakling with long hair and a thin beard or emphasized a look of melancholy. In other  presentations, Jesus appears supernatural, adorned with a halo, or distant from those around him.  Do such portrayals correctly characterize Jesus?  How can we find out?  One way is to examine statements in the Bible that can shed some light on what he might have looked like.  They can also help us to have the correct view of him.

Next time: What Does Jesus Really Look Like? -"YOU PREPARED A BODY FOR ME"

From the jw.org publications