What does Jesus look like?

Have a look at Isaiah Chapter 52 vs 13 to Chapter 53 vs 12.  Can there be any doubt that Jesus is being described here, the manner of His death and its purpose?  (You might also want to look at Psalm 22)

Now it may seem strange to be looking for a description of Jesus in the old testament but the fit here is really very good.  It’s so good that scholars had thought this part must have been written after Jesus, ie AD.  But when a copy of the book of Isaiah was found in the Dead Sea scrolls and dated to 100 BC, it confirmed the text as we have it.  (book ref  Come with me through Isaiah by David Pawson)

So what does Jesus look like?  In Ch 53 vs 2 it says, “He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”

In short He was ordinary looking, nothing special – a face you would pass over in a crowd.  He was so ordinary that He lived unnoticed for 30 years before starting His ministry.  When he started his ministry and was preaching in Nazareth, His home town, people said “Where did this man get all this?  What is this wisdom that has been given to Him?  What deeds of power are being done by his hands!  Is not this the carpenter, the son of  Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not His sisters here with us?”   And they took offense at Him.  Mark Ch 6 vs 2-3

Even John the Baptist seems to have second thoughts and sends two disciples to Jesus to ask “Are you the one who is to come or are we to wait for another?”   Read Luke Ch 7 vs 18-23 for the context.

Then when Jesus is brought before Pontius Pilate, Pilate is rather underwhelmed by Him and dismissive of Him.  He sees no fault in Him and wants to release Him but there is a loud outcry from the Chief Priests and the guard and veiled threats.  Pilate goes back and takes another look at Jesus and says “Where are you from?”  Read John Ch 18 vs 28 to Ch 19 vs 16

These verses seem to confirm that Jesus was ordinary and of unspectacular appearance.  It is the things he said and did that show Him to be otherwise.

Do what Pontius Pilate did,  Take another look.  The Gospel of Mark is a good place to start from.

And as it’s Advent have a look at this YouTube clip;