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What Did Jesus Look Like?
The Gospel Coalition ^
| 07/10/2013
| Justin Taylor
Posted on 07/10/2013 2:46:20 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
The answer, of course, is that we don’t know.
We do know that Jesus was probably in his early 30s when he began his ministry and would not have had long hair.
It’s fair to assume that Jesus had a beard, in light of first-century Jewish culture and traditionthough Scripture doesn’t say this explicitly. (Isaiah 50:6 says the suffering servant, ultimately exemplified in Jesus, has his beard plucked out, but the NT doesn’t cite this).
Isaiah’s messianic prophecy suggests that there was nothing unusually attractive about him (“he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him,” Isa. 53:2)though it’s taking it too far to say that he was thereby unattractive or homely.
He was a Galilean Jew who spent a lot of time outdoors, so his skin tone would likely be a darker olive color, as is typical of those in Mediterranean countries.
In December 2002 Popular Mechanics did a cover story called “The Real Face of Jesus.” The positioning of the piece was obviously sensationalistic. But it was nevertheless quite interesting. Using “forensic anthropology” scientists and archaeologists combined to investigate what a first-century Galilean Semite might have looked like, with medical artist Richard Neave commissioned to do the rendering. The article describes the process:
The first step for Neave and his research team was to acquire skulls from near Jerusalem, the region where Jesus lived and preached. Semite skulls of this type had previously been found by Israeli archeology experts, who shared them with Neave.With three well-preserved specimens from the time of Jesus in hand, Neave used computerized tomography to create X-ray “slices” of the skulls, thus revealing minute details about each one’s structure. Special computer programs then evaluated reams of information about known measurements of the thickness of soft tissue at key areas on human faces. This made it possible to re-create the muscles and skin overlying a representative Semite skull.
The entire process was accomplished using software that verified the results with anthropological data. From this data, the researchers built a digital 3D reconstruction of the face. Next, they created a cast of the skull. Layers of clay matching the thickness of facial tissues specified by the computer program were then applied, along with simulated skin. The nose, lips and eyelids were then modeled to follow the shape determined by the underlying muscles.
How tall would a first-century Jew be? “From an analysis of skeletal remains, archeologists had firmly established that the average build of a Semite male at the time of Jesus was 5 ft. 1 in., with an average weight of about 110 pounds.” I admit that it feels a bit strange to think of being over a foot taller than Jesus! But it’s good to have our cultural preconceptionseven prejudiceschallenged.
Of course no depiction can tell us what Jesus looked like for sure. But the following rendering is undoubtedly closer to reality than the typical rendering by artists and film-makers:
TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: faceofjesus; jesus
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To: SeekAndFind
A Jewish man? Just a guess here...
To: SeekAndFind
The Shroud of Turin would probably be the best place to start.
3
posted on
07/10/2013 2:55:42 PM PDT
by
MNDude
(Sorry for typos. Probably written on a smartphone, and I have big clumsy fingers.)
Comment #4 Removed by Moderator
To: MNDude
The Shroud of Turin would probably be the best place to start.
To: MNDude
And, as a sacrificial lamb, without blemish.
6
posted on
07/10/2013 2:57:46 PM PDT
by
Errant
To: F15Eagle
RE: Yes, and:
“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.”
(Isaiah 53:2)
Comment #8 Removed by Moderator
To: SeekAndFind
Jesus' facial reconstruction based on the Shroud of Turin:
To: SeekAndFind
A painting from around the 6th century:
To: SeekAndFind
11
posted on
07/10/2013 3:04:25 PM PDT
by
GrandJediMasterYoda
(Someday our schools will teach the difference between "lose" and "loose")
To: SeekAndFind
We do know that Jesus was probably in his early 30s when he began his ministry and would not have had long hair.
The comment about length of hair is divorced from history and the realities of that day.
In fact, Jesus of Nazaruth could very well have been wearing hair down to his shoulders at a maximum and certainly past his ears minimally.
It takes very few web searches to discover this but, as a child I was not allowed to be a teacher for 3rd grade bible studies, as my hair was about 3/4 of an inch past the top of my ears.
I wore my hair that way to cover what is called a Darwinian Lobe, which other kids would make fun of and call me “Spock”. Didn’t care about the Spock comment but, wanted to be my own person.
The point of how a man or woman ought to dress has to with removing ambiguity and confusion about your gender.
For instance, during Christ’s time nearly everyone wore robes. Today, we associate robes with women.
However, it begs then “What was the difference between men’s clothing and women’s, as well, the difference between their hair?”
On the issue of clothing it would amount to cut and design of the clothing that more closely matches the body types of men and women respectively.
Additionally, the adornment of effeminate qualities that, really, chicks would be expected to wear and would be odd for a man to wear.
The same can be said for how a man wears his hair and the way a woman wears hers.
12
posted on
07/10/2013 3:04:54 PM PDT
by
Vendome
(Don't take life so seriously, you won't live through it anyway)
To: SeekAndFind
This face looks a little too Arab to be Hebrew. In the end, it doesn’t matter if He looked like Justin Bieber. He was the most important figure in human history, and He is risen.
To: SeekAndFind
My husband and I watched a program that used the Shroud as a basis for a computer program that created the face of the man in the shroud. It somewhat resembled the common portrait we see. The really chilling comparison is the face created by this program compared to the famous painting of Jesus done by the young girl who claims to have been taken to heaven. It’s the same face. http://blog.godreports.com/2012/01/for-child-art-prodigy-akiane-jesus-is-for-real/
14
posted on
07/10/2013 3:07:48 PM PDT
by
Wiser now
(Socialism does not eliminate poverty, it guarantees it.)
To: MNDude
15
posted on
07/10/2013 3:09:18 PM PDT
by
exPBRrat
To: SeekAndFind
Jesus is a Rabbi for the House of Hillel. He looks like a Rabbi, and he looked like a Rabbi. Jesus is still alive and is still with us.
To: SeekAndFind
Walking everywhere, a carpenter, probably dark skinned, rugged, dirty, and didn’t smell too good. Wore loose clothing to catch the sweat and when the wind blew, cooled him down. bearded, scruffy looking. Would look like any bum out on the corner.
17
posted on
07/10/2013 3:11:51 PM PDT
by
Dallas59
(Q: The worst president in US history?)
To: SeekAndFind
That depiction doesn’t appear to be a person that could influence and direct many disciples, as well as thousands of believers to follow. That Jesus does not appear to be a calming influence that exudes leadership.
Conversely, the depictions based upon an interpretation of the Turin shroud, indicates a more mature leader, one to be more respectful toward, one more acknowledging of his status among his followers.
Finally, who knows what Jesus looked like!
18
posted on
07/10/2013 3:12:10 PM PDT
by
Noob1999
(Loose Lips, Sink Ships)
To: SeekAndFind
That would be my guess.........
But I don't care..........
19
posted on
07/10/2013 3:13:13 PM PDT
by
Osage Orange
(Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.)
To: SeekAndFind
20
posted on
07/10/2013 3:13:47 PM PDT
by
Errant
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