Is This the Real Jesus?

What did Jesus Christ actually look like?

If you were walking down a street in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago, would you have recognized Jesus Christ?

What did He look like?

Would any of the pictures painted of Jesus or the statues made of Him help to easily spot Him in a crowd?

In all likelihood, probably not.

For the simple reason that the Bible actually reveals a completely different appearance of Jesus Christ.

First of all, Jesus did not have long hair.

The apostle Paul says that it is a disgrace for a man to have long hair (1 Corinthians 11:14). Moreover, Paul continues, “If anyone is inclined to dispute this, I do not practice or observe it. Nor do the other congregations of the Church of God” (verse 16).

Some have assumed that His long hair was because He had taken a Nazarite vow.

This was absolutely not the case.

The purpose of a Nazarite vow was to separate oneself for a period of devotion to God, which included abstaining from wine and strong drink, not cutting one’s hair, and avoiding contact with corpses (Numbers 6:2-6).

Jesus Christ came from Nazareth (John 1:45; Acts 22:8; 26:9). 

The early Christians were sometimes called Nazarenes (Acts 24:5).

But neither of these words have anything to do with a Nazarite vow.

Notice that Jesus drank wine (Matthew 11:19).

He also touched the dead body of this 12-year old girl who was very sick and died before He arrived at the family’s home.

Notice Matthew 9:25.

25 “But when the people were put forth, He (Jesus) went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.”

So clearly Jesus had not taken a Nazarite vow.

This world also pictures Jesus as one of the most effeminate persons among the great men of all history.

But what do we find in the Scriptures regarding the real Jesus Christ and His personal character traits?

Jesus was a carpenter; a builder in the hard and stony hill country of Galilee.

He was not some pale, frail individual; but He was a strong, tanned, muscular individual who worked with heavy rocks and timbers under the hot Judean sun.

That is how He was able to endure the most horrible beating and the most agonizing death ever suffered by any human being.

Jesus Christ resembled the typical, ordinary-looking Jewish man!

To identify Him, Judas had to kiss Jesus on the cheek so the Jewish officers could arrest Him (Matthew 26:48).

If He had long hair, it would have been very easy to spot Him.

He was also loving, kind and helpful. He had tenderness, mercy, patience, long-suffering and forgiveness.

While teaching a large crowd outside of the city, Jesus “was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14).

If you continue reading the following verses you will see that He deeply cared for them and also provided a meal for them.

When He saw a need, He took care of it. Even if the religious leaders accused Him of breaking the Sabbath day by healing the crippled and the blind (John 5:10, 16; 9:13-16).

The pictures of Jesus portray Him as a weakling.

Yet, He spoke with such unmistakable authority (Luke 4:32) and demonstrated strong, physical power.

Turn to Mark 11:15-16.

15 . . .and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

16 And would not allow any man to carry any vessel through the temple.

At other times He would confront the religious leaders of that day and openly, publicly declare them to be hypocrites (Matthew 23:23); and call them snakes and vipers to their faces (Matthew 12:34).

The truth of the Bible will open your eyes to the real Jesus Christ, His dynamic personality and the powerful Person He actually was.

The Bible reveals the REAL Jesus Christ and what He actually looks like at this very moment, seated at the right hand of His Father’s throne in the third heaven.

Read these amazing scriptures in Revelation 1:13-16.

13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.

14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;

15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;

16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

This is the real, living, all powerful Jesus Christ Who is very different from the one portrayed in any picture or statue.

He is now a glorified, powerful spirit Being that will soon return to this earth to reign and rule all nations as the King of kings and Lord of lords!

This is the real Jesus Christ!