Return to 4th Quarter 2023 articles.
What did Jesus Christ look like? In my travels, I have seen pictures of Jesus with Asian features, Caucasian features, Hispanic features, and features of people of color. We do not know what Jesus looked like, and we really should not care. The fact that he could slip through a crowd unnoticed (Luke 4:28-30) and Judas had to use a kiss to identify him (Matthew 26:48-49) indicates that he must have looked pretty much like a typical Jewish man of his time.
The important thing about Jesus is not his appearance but his message. If you read Matthew 5, 6, and 7, you will not see a picture of Jesus, but you will get a good look at the uniqueness and practical value of his teachings. The August 24, 2023, issue of Time magazine reviewed the various cover images of Jesus they had published over the years. They would have done better to publish what Jesus taught in those chapters of Matthew's gospel, since that is what our society needs today.
Read Acts 2:37-42 and notice how the people who listened to Peter's message about Jesus responded to God's invitation. They were not concerned about what Jesus looked like. They were changed by what Jesus taught and what he did. They were baptized, not as an emotional response to a speaker but to receive the gift God offered to them through Jesus.
Read Romans 6 and notice what baptism is about. It is not like joining a club and is not dependent on hearing a preacher. Baptism is a personal response to God and a change in one's life. It is also the way to bring God's Spirit into our feeble human existence so we can live a new life. Reading and acting on God's Word can make an incredible difference in our lives and future.
Picture credits:
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Scripture links/references are from BibleGateway.com. Unhighlighted scriptures can be looked up at their website.