Which image do you think looks the most like Jesus?

Question

1) Jesus #1 http://biblia.com/jesusart/jesus-face-29.jpg

2) Jesus #2 http://www.apollonius.net/Images/shroud-face.jpg

3) Jesus #3 http://www.firstcong.net/youth/i/bfjesus.jpg

4) Jesus #4 http://www.marilynmylrea.com/images/Jesus_2.JPG

5) Jesus #5 http://www.rejesus.co.uk/expressions/faces_jesus/facesj_media/b_black_jesus.jpg

6) Jesus #6 http://mattstone.blogs.com/photos/sacred_images/b_jesus_nazareth.jpg

7) Jesus #7 http://www.kulturserver.de/home/uleive/ac111b.jpg

* Or post a link to your idea of the best image of Jesus.

** Thanks to angrysandwichguy2006 for the idea.

Answer 1

The image in my head is somewhere between #4 and #5 - I don't agree with the typical American pasty white, dainty flower image that's usually shown. The man is from the middle East, and was a carpenter - I imagine he was pretty strong and had big arms!

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Well, let's look at facts, shall we? Jesus was a Jew (which I always point out to incredibly stupid of so-called Christian antisemites) who lived in the area of Jerusalem.

Since none of the Gospels make any note of Jesus looking different than the rest of the folk (or him resembling a Roman), Jesus' #1 and #6 probably look nothing like Jesus.

As well, people of a complexion that we now call black were Africans. Jesus was a man of color, but probably not that darkly-complected - Jews of that time period intermixed with each other, and not so much the Ethiopians or Carthaginians. This excludes Jesus #3 and Jesus #5.

Jesus #2 is a reverse photography image of the Shroud of Turin, which has been rightly disproven as a painted fake. As well, the image seems to show a person of caucasoid features, which - obviously - Jesus of Nazareth was not.

Jesus #7 is a neo-impressionist painting. According to the tenets of the Impressionist school, the viewer is left to decide what he or she takes from the artwork as personal impressions. It is neither correct nor incorrect. It is artwork. Whether it is factual or not is not a part of the process.

Jesus #4 appears to be a Latin racial template applied to the basic description of Jesus. As Jesus has been described in both the Bible and the Gnostic texts as having "hair and feet the color of burnished copper" (ie, a reddish-brown hue), it is this depiction which might come the closest to representing the historical Jesus. the only exception is that Jesus - as a Jew - quite likely did not have long hair, as it was a shameful thing to have according to Jewish tradition.

There was a documentary a few years back by the BBC that asked your very question, they reconstructed the skull of a Jew from Jesus' time. It does not claim to depict what Jesus actually looked like, but what He might have looked similar to in facial bone structure, shape of head, etc.

All of this is academic, I feel. It doesn't matter what Jesus looked like (unless you are going to fabricate a false image of Him in order to persecute others). the physicality of Jesus matters less than the message that He tried to give us.

Answer 4

I believe the best image that can portray Jesus is this:

1. Love
2. Peace
3. Joy
4. Meekness
5. Faith
6. Temperance
7. Long suffering
8. Goodness
9. Gentleness

This is the qualities that looks like Jesus. Apostle Paul said in the scripture "Put on Jesus Christ" and this is the traits that qualify a man to look like Jesus. Each interrelated to one another.

Answer 5

I know that the first picture is a very popular conception of what Jesus loked like. As far as the others anything is possible. The image on the shroud could be very likely. The most important thing is that He lived and died on the cross a perfect man and believing in Him is what is important, not what He looked like. I have been told He was abit of a homely man but the glory of God did shine through somewhat for those who wanted to see. I personally do not know nor is ir that important to me. Thanks for the ideas of what He may look like.

Answer 6

I don't think any of them resemble Jesus that much...I mean, we are all used to the blondish Jesus in the first photo, but Jesus was a Jew, and look at the Jewish people in Israel now. No blondies, pretty much black hair with some curl...I think the bible even says that he is not attractive. It doesn't matter what he looks like. He is life changing. He is awesome. He rocks!

Answer 7

Nobody knows what Jesus looked like. They didn't have cameras back then but he was born oriental.
He was also born perfect and as a grown man he would of been probably 6 feet - 6'4" tall and of a muscular build. Very unlike those sickly pitifully thin twisted images of Jesus you see on crucifixes. Jesus would of been a well built strong man.

Answer 8

http://www.midbc.org/site_images/the_passion_christ.jpg
I think this is a possibility, since Jesus was Hebrew. Olive skin, dark hair. However, the Bible says that Jesus was not a pretty boy, so that people would not follow him for his looks. And no one on earth now has ever seen his face. But it will be wonderful, I guarantee you that!

Answer 9

I honestly think this depends on how you've been raised, your own personal beliefs and your race. Because, let's face it, we're all biased in our beliefs. We're probably not even supposed to know what Jesus looked like! I personally thought a mix between #5 and #6.

Answer 10

I'm sure Jesus was darker but i always love the portrayal of Robert Powell as Jesus ( number 6 ) his eyes are so kind