As a kid this white man vividly remembers a book on my parent's bookshelf that showed stylistic portraits depicting Jesus and His twelve disciples. Being a young, curious and impressionable boy, I always found the artistic portraits fascinating as they presented the only visual point of reference for this child trying to 'get to know' the biblical heroes of faith he was told about every week at church. They were always faceless individuals until I discovered this book and suddenly they really came to life in this young white boy's mind. Anyhow I recently found all the portraits on the internet, along with their accompanying individual biographical summaries. So here is One Jesus of Nazareth...as described by Publius Lentulus, Governor of Judea and depicted by Alberta Rae (Sune') Richards. Make of it what you will....
"There lives at this time, in Judea, a man of singular virtue, whose name is Jesus Christ, whom the barbarians esteem as a prophet, but whose followers love and adore him as the offspring of the immortal God. He calls back the dead from the graves and heals all sorts of diseases with a word or a touch.
He is a tall man, and well shaped, of an amiable and reverend aspect; and his hair the color of which can hardly be matched, the color of chestnut full ripe, falling in waves about his shoulders. His forehead high, large and imposing; his cheeks without spot or wrinkle, beautiful with a lovely red; his nose and mouth formed with exquisite symmetry; his beard thick and of a color suitable to his hair reaching below his chin. His eyes a bright blue, clear and serene, look innocent, dignified, manly, and mature. In proportion of body, most perfect and captivating, his hands and arms most delectable to behold.
He rebukes with majesty, counsels with mildness, his whole address, whether in word or deed, being eloquent and grave. No man has seen him laugh, yet his manner is exceedingly pleasant; but he has wept in the presence of men. He is temperate, modest and wise; a man, for his extraordinary beauty and divine perfection, surpassing the children of men in every sense."
That imaginative young white boy is now but a memory. And now he possibly contemplates too much as a deep-dwelling adult thinker. Yet to be honest, this white man has yet to see or hear of a Palestinian male, Christ or not, appearing to be so Aryan. I guess the question really is this - does it really matter what Jesus looked like? Or perhaps the more pressing consideration is confronting the truth of who He is in your heart?
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