We don't really know what the Lord Jesus Christ looked like. We do however, have a general idea of what a first century Jew looked like.
Where do you suppose the movie industry came up with their "blonde-hair/blue-eyed" Christ?
Don't get me wrong......it's a nice look and all. But I don't think Jesus looked anything like Leaf Garrett..........
What do you think?
Thanks,
Primo
2007-12-20 06:58:11 · 26 answers · asked by primoa1970 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Yeah Dave.....you owe Magley a drink
2007-12-20 07:03:16 · update #1
Wow - it's amazing how many people are missing the question. I think we're all smart enough to realize that Hollywood is a recent thing, but we also know they're not very original. They had to have seen a blond/blue Jesus somewhere in order to get the idea, because we who are educated all know that Hollywood rarely shows anything accurate when it comes to Christianity.
So where did they get this wrong idea? I would say that the other answerers who mention appealing to anglos is correct, artists who have painted Him over the years, maybe some Natzi influence, Euro-centric folks... I've seen a black Jesus too. Everyone want to see Him in a way they can relate to Him.
2007-12-20 22:47:32 · answer #1 · answered by BaseballGrrl 6 · 4⤊ 1⤋
It is very interesting. If you watch The Passion of the Christ, you will notice something about Jesus' eyes--they are gold! The eyes are the windows to the soul, and it is interesting to note that Mel Gibson make Jesus' eyes the color that represents the incorruptible God.
Hollywood does not have what it takes to portray Jesus properly. Let alone what He looked like. It is true, He would look Israeli, but He would not be handsome. Isaiah describes Him as not being comely, in that we would desire Him. God wanted His Word to be the drawing factor, since from that point on, that is all we would have to go on as well.
Whey we see Jesus, I think we will be shocked. Remember, His scars will still be there as a witness. It may be that his face may resemble Jürgen Prochnow.
2007-12-20 17:11:36 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question...I've heard this "blond haired, blue-eyed Jesus" suggestion before, but for the life of me I can't recall seeing a single Hollywood movie that depicted Jesus this way. Could you please provide some titles for me??
The only one that comes close in my memory is Jesus of Nazareth...he had blue eyes, but was hardly blonde in that one. The others I could remember off the top of my head...Passion of the Christ, The Greatest Story Ever Told, King of Kings (both version), Jesus...all portrayed him at least somewhat accurately with dark eyes and hair.
Perhaps you're basing your perception on Jesus Christ Superstar?...that's the only "sorta-blond" Jesus I recall but that was hardly a serious film about Jesus!
2007-12-20 15:19:21 · answer #3 · answered by KAL 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Prince of Peace, the Almighty God, and had power & authority to cast out demons, heal the sick, and raise the dead. He was a carpenter by trade but a Redeemer for All! My guess is that when He was in human form, he had the rough exterior of a blue collar laborer, callouses and all. The effeminate dirty blonde blue eyed pink cheek Jesus?! No thank you.
2007-12-20 15:25:07 · answer #4 · answered by Dr. G™ 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
LOL... Leif Garrett.... yikes!
I think it goes back to the idea that Europeans were somehow "better." Remember the Rudyard Kipling stories about the "White Man's burden," which was to civilize and spread Christianity to the heathen non-whites of the world. Would make that kind of arragonace a bit over the top if Jesus wasn't a white guy, wouldn't it?
2007-12-20 15:16:35 · answer #5 · answered by ZombieTrix 2012 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There is a funny/scary character in Mother Night by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. where a pro-Arian dentist claims that Jesus was White. His proof is that he has studied the jaw lines of all major paintings of Jesus and none of them depict a man with a non-Arian mouth!
It is a great book and movie but a scary character.
2007-12-20 18:02:56 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've always had a problem with the straight hair since in Revelations it mentions He had hair like wool, which to me means curly...No form or comelyness means he probably didn't look any different that the other Jews of that time. When Judas he said he'd kiss the one that was Jesus...if he looked like one of those portraits, he could have just said he's the one that looks different.
2007-12-20 23:49:51 · answer #7 · answered by Jan P 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well. Most movies today usually give him brown hair and eyes. But he's still unusually white for someone who was born Jewish in the Middle East.
If Jim Caviezel was 5 shades darker and more olive colored, it would have been more accurate *smiles*
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WAIT. I just found a picture of Jim Caviezel....his eyes are BLUE!....how disgraceful. Couldn't they at least find someone with dark eyes?
2007-12-20 15:36:50 · answer #8 · answered by Tohru ♥ Kyo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ive never seen pictures of this blond haired, blue eyed Jesus keep talking about.
2007-12-20 15:07:39 · answer #9 · answered by ? 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Blond haired? I've always seen him portrayed with brown hair. But yeah, when I think of how he must have really looked, I think of a combination of long robes, callused hands from carpentry... and the Jewish guys in Squirrel Hill in Pittsburgh...
PS- Anglos aren't the only ones who do it. I love the african-american nativity scenes. They rock.
2007-12-20 15:04:04 · answer #10 · answered by Lamborama 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋