You go into most churches and hanging on a cross he appears disoriented and miserable like he's confused about himself. The bible says, HE HAD THE OIL OF GLADNESS MORE THAN HIS ENEMIES. What gives?
2006-10-27 18:16:20 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
You know, Damage Control, I was wondering the same thing--except about Mary... I downloaded about 60 icons from many centuries for a friend of mine who is a painter and also Orthodox. After awhile, I'm saying, "why are all these Madonas about 35 to 40 years old, looking sickly and pale and morose? I think Mary was probably a teenager and very joyful. I think the problems with pictures of Jesus is that there are pictures of Him at all. Most of the painters--if not all of them--did not have a clue as to what Jesus looked like. How could they? The book of Isaiah describes Jesus as " a man of sorrows" maybe that is why they paint him historically as not smiling. But I , like you, think He was joyful, having the oil of gladness. "I delight to do Thy will." The joy of the LORD is my strength" In His presence is fullness of joy." I believe when he was interacting with children or healing people He was very kind and compassionate and probably smiling a great deal. When he was dealing with the Pharisees and the religious hypocrites I think he was stern.
Besides all of this, I think it is impossible to catch His radiance, his holiness on canvas. He is after all, according to Christian theology, God. So how you going to capture God with pen & ink or paint. It says "every eye shall see Him." when He returns.. "God is a spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth. What about you, Damage Control, will Jesus be smiling at you when He comes back? Or will He say "Depart from me, I never knew you."
2006-10-27 18:51:40 · answer #1 · answered by Spec 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In Isaiah 53:3 It says "he was a man of sorrows" You cant have much compassion on hurting people if you've never known sorrow and pain for yourself.It seems like the modern church is trying to do away with that teaching and make us think Jesus was more like hugh hefner or donald trump.I suppose a reason why he is portrayed that way is if someone that just lost a loved one or had someother trajedy in life that made them seek God in a church certainly wouldnt feel better if Jesus was pictured as all smiles in a happy go lucky way.
2006-10-27 18:19:21 · answer #2 · answered by Mr Toooo Sexy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On the cross, He died, and I don't think people die with a smile on their face. I have 3 pictures of Him smiling, one with children sitting around Him listening to Him, one will a lion and a lamb next to Him and the other with Mary and Joseph when He was a child. It depends on the artist's view of Him. But when He was on the cross, He was in great agony and pain in His heart and in His body. I've never heard of a person smiling while being beatened to a bloody pulp, while being nailed to wood nor while hanging on a cross for several hours. Would you be able to smile if you experienced this? Remember, He was human (and divine) but He did feel human, physical pain.
2006-10-27 18:22:20 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do agree that this seems a diservice to Christ and His life techings. The Bible also describes Him as "merry". I love to find pictures of Him laughing and smiling. Here is a great link with several.
http://images.google.com/images?q=jesus+laughing&ndsp=20&svnum=10&hl=en&lr=&start=0&sa=N
Blessed Be
2006-10-27 18:25:32 · answer #4 · answered by Celestian Vega 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is a picture follow this link...
http://www.apostlesofprayer.org/Jesus%20smiling%20looking%20down%20use3.jpg
There are many others as well.
http://www.mrdankelly.com/ljfolder/SmilingJesus2.jpg
http://mdp1.apostolicnetwork.com/SmilingJesus5.jpg
http://www.throwtheword.com/uploaded_images/Smiling_Jesus-747000.jpg
http://www.tumclv.org/images/Smiling_Jesus.jpg
http://fredmillerjr.com/Smiling%20Jesus.jpg
Strangely they are all white Jesus, I can't wait to see a Jewish Jesus. I know he would be coming back if that happened.
2006-10-27 18:18:24 · answer #5 · answered by Adyghe Ha'Yapheh-Phiyah 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know, but the man was ripped! You see him hanging on that cross and think, "wow... he musta really kept to the protein and stayed away from carbs & fat." His definition and muscular striations are the envy of many!
2006-10-27 18:38:05 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am with you. I just can not understand why the biggest symbol of this faith is this terribly gruesome image of their head guy. It sets a tone of misery which does not build up, but it depressing and fosters guilt, in my opinion.
Maybe it is just the idea that he is a martyr. To see him happy diminishes the tragedy of his image. Could it just be marketing?
Peace!
2006-10-27 18:21:20 · answer #7 · answered by carole 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think a grinning Jesus hanging on a cross would be sort of odd, don't you. He suffered and died....a horrible death, that's frown worthy stuff.
2006-10-27 18:19:26 · answer #8 · answered by chris 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There really are few/no depictions of anyone smiling that are more than about 100 years old.
(The depictions of Jesus originate in depictions of Bacchus, the god of wine. )
2006-10-27 18:28:34 · answer #9 · answered by lenny 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Maybe he was British. Bad teeth.
2006-10-27 19:56:58 · answer #10 · answered by Cuthbert 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋