Why do people assume that Jesus was white?

Question

If Jesus lived in Jerusluem ( I know I spelled it wrong) wouldn't he be dark skinned like Iran colored?

To all those who want to be rude or those "its not an issue" people...Its never been a thing i sit and ponder on, it just came to my mind and I thought I would ask it....

Answer 1

Good question. My studies show that most likely he was not white.

Answer 2

Follow the migration patterns of people in the area.
The folks that were Jews at that time, are now mostly Muslims and are living in Ethiopia.
The people we think of as Israeli Jews today are descended from Khazars from the steppes of Russia who converted whole-cloth to Judaism some 700 or so years ago, and moved to Israel, displacing the indigenous population.

So... you want a closer view of how Jews (and thus Jesus) would have looked during that period, take a look at the Ethiopians.
Probably not the starving ones, naturally... except after his 40 day fast...


Edit: Ironbear 2000... heh! You beat me by about 40 seconds with the Khazar reference. :)

Answer 3

I think it's because of the way He was painted in the Renaissance. Religious themes were almost the only thing artists were allowed to paint, and there were many talented artists. So they'd paint a good-looking European man and call him "Jesus" to satisfy the church. The images are pervasive.

I still remember something on this horrible 80s sitcom that was cute. A little white girl visits her black nanny's family. They have a portrait of a black Jesus. She supposes that if Kermit the Frog worshipped Jesus, he would have a painting of a green Jesus.

Answer 4

Most likely, but white Jesus is just an interpretation that has spread across the world d/t Christian crusades. There is also a black Jesus, Hispanic Jesus, whatever. Artists of different nationalities usually depict Jesus as their nationality. But historically there were no white, blue eyed, blond haired people in Jerusalem.

Answer 5

Jesus was Jewish. The Jews are part of the Caucasian race, which does include Arabs. Caucasian is not limited to skin color, but includes certain physical characteristics such as bone structure. The idea that Jesus was white is a notion derived from Jew-hating Anglo-Saxons, Aryans who have a strange and unbiblical form of Christianity. I live in Houston, TX, which has a heavy Jewish population and I can definitely tell you that Jews are not Anglo-Saxons. The majority of them have physical characteristics of Caucasians, but they are a distinct people within the Caucasian race and tend to have darker skin than Anglo-Saxons. This whole argument about what race Jesus belonged to is irrelevant. What is relevant is that he is the Son of God, the Christ and the Messiah, the Savior of the World. He came to us and died for our sins so that complete fellowship with God could be restored. the devil loves for people to get off on such trivial matters as what race was Jesus so that they pay no attention to the gospel.

Answer 6

LOL....many people perceive Him as being a white Anglo-Saxon, but reality is that He was probably dark skinned, with dark eyes, and hair.

People have a mental image based on paintings that have no basis in reality.

Yashua, Christ Jesus was killed and buried. He was resurrected and yet people think He looks the same as He did when He walked on this earth.

In Revelation 1 (12 & 17) we see that John fell at His feet as though dead when he (John) turned and looked upon Him.

The description in Rev. 1:14-15 is "His head and His hairs were white as wool, as white as snow; and His eyes were as the flame of fire; and His feet like unto fine brass; as if they burned in a furnace..."

This sure doesn't sound like any of the paintings one typically sees of Yashua.

Answer 7

Most European artists that began creating portraits of Jesus b/c that's what they were used 2.
Somehow the notion that Jesus looked like Europeans overruled common sense, which is terrible nowadays considering that the media shows us what "Middle Easterners" actually look like.
But hey, masses have a tendency 2 b pretty stupid, so what r u gonna do?

Answer 8

Gotta tell you Preacher, you must be a dude with the features you're describing. Everybody wants to look like Jesus, the thing is- nobody knows what Jesus looked like

Did you know that more and more research is pointing to the fact that we ALL came from AFRICA? and that our bone structure- yes Preacher, this includes your white self, is truly like your African brothers
Nice try though.

Answer 9

Most Christians understand that Jesus was Jewish and picture him somewhat dark and more semitic looking than the classic portraits depict. I don't think most people assume Jesus was white.

Answer 10

Good question. He had to be of semitic (semitic does not = jew) descent. He would have had looks to resemble those you see in the Palestinian areas.
Most modern "jews" are jews by religion, not birth. Most of them would be considered khazars by some and northern Europeans by inbreeding for centuries.
I'm not putting down jews. Do the research and look.

Edit to HIL..Thanks. A thumbs up for you. A least you understood the reference. I wonder how many others will?

Answer 11

People make assumptions that will support their beliefs. If they believe that white is the supreme race, they will make Jesus white, because they won't worship him if he were any other race. That's not true for all people, of course.

People make the assumption that there is no hell because they don't want there to be a hell. They make assumptions to conform to their beliefs and to reinforce themselves.