Monday, February 4, 2013
Psalm 105:4 Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always.
WHAT DOES JESUS LOOK LIKE?
A well-known picture of Jesus (it's not unusual to see it on display at religious bookstores) is Sallman's "Head of Christ." It was painted in 1941 by the Christian artist, Warner Sallman. Many of our readers may well be acquainted with it. Some may even have it hanging on the living room wall.
Many pictures of the Savior have been produced down through the years. Artists have sketch ed illustrations of Jesus for children's books. We see pictures of Jesus on covers of Sunday bulletins and in materials produced for Sunday School youngsters. The truth, of course, is that nobody knows what Jesus looked like. So far as we know no portrait was painted of Him. Cameras weren't around to snap photos. Did our Savior have brown hair or was it black? Did He have a beard? If so, how long was it? What color were His eyes (brown, blue, green)? We don't know.
Oh, there are several passages of Scripture that may refer in general terms to Jesus' physical characteristics. Isaiah prophesied: "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him" (53:2). When He went the way of the cross "His appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness that many were appalled at Him" (Isaiah 52:14). Because our Savior emptied Himself of the full use of His divine prerogatives to function as our lowly servant, He looked like an ordinary man. It was for this reason, sadly, that many among His own people didn't recognize Him.
In our devotions in the next days we will take a closer look at the appearance of Jesus. Not His facial features, however, but His heavenly traits as revealed in the sacred Scripture. God grant, as we view the divine qualities of Jesus, that we may receive strengthening for our faith in Him as our Savior from sin and death -- and encouragement for our walk as His disciples -- until the Day arrives when we shall see Him face-to-face. Here's a prayer to pray:
God of mercy, God of grace, Show the brightness of Thy face;
Shine upon us, Savior, shine, Fill Thy church with light divine,
And Thy saving health extend Unto earth's remotest end.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 20:1)
