A Jewish man? Just a guess here...
The Shroud of Turin would probably be the best place to start.
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.
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.
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/
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.
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.
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!
I have a hard time accepting Popular Mechanics as a source for this.
That’s Walter Matthau with a beard. I agree with the posters who point to the Shroud of Turin. I believe it is genuine, and I would therefore believe that Jesus looked like the recreation based on the Shroud.
The Shroud held a man who was 5’8” tall.
Protestants come up with the goofiest depictions.
Take a look at the Shroud.
Samson had long hair, but what is long? Shoulder length hair was perhaps not considered long. Hair down the back would surely be considered long.
I’m sure I’m out-of-step with most here, but I do not believe it’s biblical to depict Christ in any manner. On the basis of Exodus 20:4-6, among other passages, I believe it’s forbidden idolatry to paint pictures of Jesus Christ or portray Him in movies. Graven images are forbidden because God is a Spirit, not to be conceived of or fashioned in man’s image, or the image of any other created thing.
Exodus 20
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
And in Romans 1, the Apostle Paul wrote:
22Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
I’m pretty sure this is a picture of Ronald Reagan.....
