How do they know what jesus looks like

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1. What did Jesus look like on the cross?
2. What does Jesus look like in heaven?

Jesus' lineage

From the accounts in the New Testament, we gather that several times Jesus slipped away into the crowd and could not be found (Luke 4:30). Matthew 1:1-17 also traces the lineage of Jesus from Adam and Abraham down to his parents, Joseph and Mary. Why is this important? He looked similar to the other Jews living in Israel at the time and thus there was little to distinguish Him from the rest of the crowd. Another fact that sheds light upon what Jesus looked like was his profession. Carpenters worked long hours without the aid of modern power tools meaning that Jesus probably had a muscular build with strong rough hands.
Browse: Where was Jesus Born?

Was Jesus Beautiful?

The Old Testament prophesied in Isaiah 53 that Jesus would not have any external features or beauty that would attract or draw people to Him. Isaiah adds that Jesus would grow up like a plant out of dry ground with no form of kingly majesty. In short, Jesus looked like an average person with no distinguishing characteristics. The crowds that followed Jesus didn’t follow Him because he looked like a rock star or a model. Instead they followed Him because of His words, teachings and doctrine. Jesus’ teachings were not like the leaders of the time, rather He spoke with authority (Matthew 7:28-29).

What Did Jesus Look Like on the Cross?

Additionally, the Bible says in Isaiah 52 and 53 that near the time of crucifixion Jesus endured immense torture both physically and mentally. Isaiah 53:4-5 says that Jesus carried our grief and sorrows and that He was whipped, wounded and bruised for our sins. Imagine what Jesus looked like after going through all of that torture. Imagine the look on His face when the nails were placed in His hands. Imagine the look on His face when the crown of thorns was placed on His head. Imagine the look on His face when He forgave Peter. Imagine the love on Jesus' face when He sees you, over 2,000 years later, and forgives you for all you have done.

What Does Jesus Look Like in Heaven?

The book of Revelation describes what Jesus looks like after ascending to heaven with a glorified body. In two main places, Revelation 1 and 19, John sees Jesus in vision and writes down the following description. Jesus looks like the “Son of Man” who is clothed with a garment going down to His feet and a golden sash around His chest (Revelation 1:13). His head and hair are white like snow (Rev 1:14) and His eyes are like flames of fire (Rev 1:14; 2:18; 19:12). John sees Jesus holding seven stars in His right hand (Rev 1:16) and His feet look like highly polished brass from a furnace (Rev 1:15, 2:18). Jesus’ face also shines like the sun in its brilliance (Rev 1:16).

Revelation 19 also paints the picture of Jesus coming back to earth crowned with many crowns and sitting upon a white horse having a name written upon Him which no man knew (Rev 19:11-12). The vision continues, adding that Jesus will rule with a rod of iron having the name “King of Kings” and “Lord of Lords” written on His robe and thigh (Rev 19:16). Revelation also says that the voice of Jesus is like a trumpet and the sound of many waters (Rev 1:10,15; 19:6).

Jesus in Daniel’s Visions

It is interesting to note that Daniel describes Jesus with nearly identical characteristics. Daniel 10:5-6 describes Jesus in the following way:

• Dressed in linen (Daniel 10:5)
• Pure golden sash around waist (Daniel 10:5)
• Body looked like Beryl (Daniel 10:6)
• Face like flashes of lightning (Daniel 10:6)
• Eyes like flaming torches (Daniel 10:6)
• Arms and feet like polished bronze (Daniel 10:6)
• Voice like the sound of a multitude (Daniel 10:6)

Q. This might be a silly question, but do we know what Jesus looked like? Does it matter?

A. There is a depth to this question that one might not immediately notice. After all, Jesus Christ is the “image of the unseen God” (Colossians 1:15). He himself also said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). When the Word became flesh, he did it so that we could see and know him. Apparently, it is a good thing to be able to see Jesus.

In fact, there is something incredible about the Incarnation that reveals the very identity of God himself.

The fullness of revelation is most importantly connected to the words and actions of Jesus while he was on this earth. The Gospel writers never said, “Jesus stretched out his long finger and wrote in the dirt on the ground” or “Jesus looked through his piercing, dark eyes at the rich young man. . . .”

St. John does kind of describe Jesus in figurative language in the beginning of the Book of Revelation, and Isaiah describes something of Christ’s appearance in his prophecy about the Suffering Servant, but these are less about the actual visage of Jesus and more about the nature of how he looked.

We can deduce that it is a good deal less important to know what Jesus looked like than it is to know his identity. His identity is revealed through what he said and what he did.

There is an incredible variety of depictions of Christ through art. Some are good art, some are bad art. Some are good theology, and some are bad theology. The images are meant to teach or reveal something. What they reveal ought to be accurate.

Still, regardless of the talent and objectivity of the artist, almost all images of Jesus are essentially caricatures; one thing is emphasized at the cost of the whole.

The same is true when it comes to images of Jesus in art. They are products of their time and of the aspect of Christ that the artist is trying to convey. They are essentially bound by the limitations of the artist.

We have all heard the critique of the “blond haired and blue-eyed Jesus” of Hollywood. That’s fine, but it is no more limited than the “African Jesus” or the “Asian Jesus.” In fact, this may be an asset, if it helps to remind us that Jesus identifies with all human beings, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Yes, Jesus was Semitic. As such, he would have most likely looked like any other Jewish man of his time and region. He would have most likely been dark-complected with dark eyes. He was likely around five and a half feet tall and well under 200 pounds. Jesus got 100 percent of his DNA from one woman: Mary. He would have looked like her in many ways.

For something of an accurate “photo” of Jesus, the Shroud of Turin seems to be genuine. Of course, it might not be, but it is my understanding that the latest scholarship has supported its authenticity.

No matter how well done a piece of art of Jesus is, it will always be limited. Some will leave us unmoved. So what are we to do? Is there no “face” of Jesus? Well, we have at least two.

First, Jesus identifies himself with the poor, the immigrant, the marginalized, the widow and the orphan. If you want to know what Jesus looks like, we have only to look at those whom the world rejects.

We are obsessed with good-looking people and with fit and healthy people. Beauty and strength are goods, and they reflect something of God. But Jesus identifies himself more with the weak and rejected than with the strong and the popular.

The other image of Jesus is just as incredible and mysterious. While all images of Jesus in the world are approximations of what Jesus might have looked like, the Eucharist is Jesus. We look at art. We look through icons. We behold the presence of Christ in the Eucharist. His face is both seen and unseen in the Eucharist.

Father Schmitz is director of youth and young adult ministry for the Diocese of Duluth and chaplain of the Newman Center at the University of Minnesota Duluth. Reach him at .

Tags: Catholic, Christian, Jesus

Category: Ask Father Mike