What Did Jesus Actually Look Like?

What did Jesus look like? Is it possible to answer that question thousands of years later?

Join us as we try and put together a picture of what God’s son, made fully man, looked like while He lived on earth.

Remember though, Jesus comes alive in us through the Holy Spirit. If when you pray you picture or imagine Him a certain way, that’s all good!

What Did Jesus Look Like? What Are Some Of His Physical Characteristics?

While we may never know for sure what Jesus looked like, there are some clues that can give us an idea of his physical characteristics.

First off, we know that Jesus was of Jewish descent. This means that He likely had dark hair and brown eyes, as these are common physical traits among Jewish people. We can also assume that He had olive skin, as this is typical of people from the Middle East.

In terms of his height, we don't have any definitive information. However, we can make some educated guesses based on historical records and archaeological findings. The average height for men in the region during Jesus' time was around 5'5" to 5’7".

The closest we get to a physical description of Jesus in the Bible is found in Isaiah 53:2:

"He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”

This short verses suggests that Jesus wasn’t physically striking or impressive in any way. So, we’re left with imagining a fairly average looking man.

We can also look at historical records for clues about what Jesus looked like. The historian Josephus, who lived in the first century AD, wrote about Jesus in his book Antiquities of the Jews. He described him as "a man of simple appearance, mature age, dark skin, and small stature.”

How Did Jesus Present Himself To The Public?

One of the recurring themes throughout the gospels is Jesus being invited into people’s homes. Much of his ministry took place in the homes of friends, family and His wider community.

Another theme is how He welcomed and readily spent time with children and families.

What does this tell us about Him? It suggests that He was a warm, friendly and approaching man. Sure, His hard-hitting teaching must have been quite something to encounter but overall the New Testament paints Jesus as man that people loved to be around.

What Are Some Of Jesus' Moral Qualities?

As Christians we believe Jesus was both fully man and fully God. Wondering what His moral qualities are, from that perspective, is a bit of a non starter. Why? Because we believe that God not only created but defined love and that He is the author of every good thing on earth.

In essence, one of the foundations of Christianity is that following Jesus is the only way to God and God is the creator of all good things.

Jesus clearly demonstrates compassion, humility, kindness and forgiveness throughout the New Testament. He’s clear, though, to attribute His actions to God, saying in John 5: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”

There is no goodness except from God. Every moment of beauty, connection and love in this world is authored by Him, whether we give Him credit or not!

Jesus is celebrated as a moral example outside of Christianity too. His position on social justice, for example, inspires people to live generous, charitable lives. But, as Christians, we believe that it is God’s holiness and sovereignty that we build our lives upon and good moral behaviour is a fruit of abiding in connection with a truly good God.

How Did Jesus Treat The People Around Him?

Wondering ‘What did Jesus look like?’ Is one thing. But perhaps the more important, more interesting question is, ‘how did He treat people around Him?’

Jesus was known for his compassion and kindness, particularly toward those who were marginalized and oppressed. He spent much of his time ministering to the sick, the poor, and the outcasts of society, showing them love and acceptance when others turned them away.

One of the most famous examples of Jesus' kindness is the story of the woman who was caught in adultery. The religious leaders of the time dragged her before Jesus, demanding that she be stoned to death as punishment for her crime. But instead of condemning her, Jesus showed her mercy and forgiveness, telling her to go and sin no more.

He also showed great love and compassion for children, rebuking his disciples when they tried to shoo them away. He said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

Jesus' love extended even to His enemies. When He was betrayed by Judas and arrested by the authorities, He did not retaliate or seek revenge. Instead, He endured torture and humiliation with grace and humility, ultimately giving His life on the cross for the sake of others.

In short, Jesus' physical appearance may be a mystery, but His character and actions are clear. He was a man of great moral conviction and compassion, who showed love and kindness to all those around him, regardless of their status or background.

What Did Jesus Say About His Relationship To God?

There are a few key moments when Jesus describes His relationship to God. Every time He emphasises His unity with God and how He lives in abiding connection with God. Remember, this is the exact same way of living that we are invited into!

In John 14:11 Jesus says: "I am in the Father, and the Father is in me". This intimate connection with God is further emphasized in his prayers, such as when he prays in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done" (Luke 22:42).

Jesus also taught his followers to pray to God as "Our Father" in the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), emphasizing a familial relationship between believers and God. In addition, Jesus often spoke of his mission as being to do the will of the Father, saying, "For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me" (John 6:38).

Overall, Jesus saw himself as being in a unique and intimate relationship with God the Father, and encouraged His followers to see themselves as children of God as well. Through His teachings and example, He showed that true fulfilment and purpose in life can be found through a close relationship with God.

What Did Jesus Do To Demonstrate His Divine Power?

Well, how long have you got? Right from the moment Jesus performed His first miracle (turning water into wine at a wedding feast) until the moment He took his final breath (death by crucifixion, only to live again three days later) Jesus demonstrated extraordinary divine power.

Jesus performed miracles not to show off or gain power. Partly, He did things like heal people and cast out demons out of a pure love for people. He wanted to see people made whole and free!

He also revealed His divine power in order to point people towards God. Every time He healed the blind, made the lame walk again or even raised the dead it was a way of saying ‘look how good my father in heaven is”.

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