Jesus Was White?
Man, that Jesus was one good looking dude, wasn’t he?
From artistic portrayals to movies and television, we’ve been treated to a fair number of depictions of Christ that range from good looking to really good looking. It’s like the Son of God just up and walked out of a soap opera! (like soap opera star Diogo Morgado did when he played the role of Jesus in the 2014 movie Son of God)
Before “handsome Jesus” came along, second century philosopher Celsus made fun of Christianity for having an “ugly God”, when compared to the chiseled marble gods the pagans worshiped. Celsus wrote what is known as the earliest-known attack against Christianity, where he also claimed that Jesus was the son of a Roman soldier named Pantera, and His witnessed and verified miracles were merely sorcery. Needless to say, at least some of his criticism made an impact and imagery shifted more toward the radiant Jesus described in the Book of Revelation.
Ultimately, European art won over the “Jesus brand”, and He’s been a long-haired white dude since the sixth century.
Mormons especially love their “white Jesus”.
But, can we really know what Jesus looked like?
Well, we know He wasn’t white. He would have looked like pretty much any Galilean in the first century. There was nothing special about Jesus’ appearance. In fact, Isaiah 53 says:
He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:2-3)
When Jesus was arrested, Judas had a signal for the mob to know which one was Jesus, saying, “The one I kiss is the man” (Matthew 26:48).
Obviously, Jesus didn’t stand out from even His own disciples.
When it comes down to it, what Jesus looked like is not nearly as important as what He did: living a perfect life, dying on the cross for our sins, and rising again from the grave.
All who follow Him will have eternal life.
Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. (Acts 16:31)
Then we will get to see Him and know exactly what He looks like… even though we know better than to think of Him as “a good looking white dude”.
…when we understand the text.
(This video is by WWUTT. Discovered by Christian Podcast Central and our community — copyright is owned by the publisher, not Christian Podcast Central.)