The Many Faces of Christ

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The Face: Jesus in Art is one of the best documentaries on Jesus and art. The bible gives very little details on the physical appearance of Christ. Throughout the centuries man has tried to construct a visual representation of what Christ looks like. A study of Christian history will reveal that the representation of Christ in Art will reflect the ideal of Christ that dominate during that particular time. For instances, during times of peace Christ represented has beautiful without blemish but during times of war the humanity of Christ is shown with wounds and scares. I believe however that Jesus was blemished physically but what counted to God was that Jesus was internally without blemish (Jesus was sinless). Below I have listed what scripture says about his appearance.

Matthew 28:3
New International Version (NIV)
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. (Appearance after the Resurrection)

Rev 1:12-16
New International Version (NIV) (Future Appearance)

12 I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone like a son of man,[d] dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 The hair on his head was white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and coming out of his mouth was a sharp, double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

Isaiah 52: 14-15 53: 1-3 ( Appearance of the Suffering Servant)
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him[a]—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being
and his form marred beyond human likeness—
15 so he will sprinkle many nations,[b]
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Isaiah 53
1 Who has believed our message
and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?
2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot,
and like a root out of dry ground.
He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him,
nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by mankind,
a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.
Like one from whom people hide their faces
he was despised, and we held him in low esteem.

Rev 5:6 NIV
6 Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders.

There may be other scriptures to describe His appearance but they are few. The interesting thing to draw from scripture is that He is described in different ways depending on the event that is takeing place in scripture. From a suffering servant that has no beauty to attract us, to a resurrected conquering savior with the appearance of lighting, to the slain majestic lamb upon the throne who shines like the sun