What color was Jesus?

[Pugwash]

Many christians will say Jesus' color has nothing to do with who He is, but we cannot ignore the images of Jesus we see portrayed in the media and what this says about us. What image do you see when you think of Him?

Pugwash:

 

[Gold Dragon]

Many christians will say Jesus' color has nothing to do with who He is, but we cannot ignore the images of Jesus we see portrayed in the media and what this says about us. What image do you see when you think of Him?

Pugwash:

Human skin coloured.

Jesus probably had similar skin to Mary who was a Jew in the first century. Probably similar in tone to modern day Arabs. I wonder how that would affect Arab or Muslim haters or Klan members if we had an actual picture of Jesus.

 

[Celticflower]

Human skin coloured.

Jesus probably had similar skin to Mary who was a Jew in the first century. Probably similar in tone to modern day Arabs. I wonder how that would affect Arab or Muslim haters or Klan members if we had an actual picture of Jesus.

I think Gold Dragon hit it right on the head. I would also love to see the reaction if we had a color photo of Jesus-and how many would reject him based on their own prejudice toward certain groups.

Celtie

 

[Dr. E W Bullinger]

Many christians will say Jesus' color has nothing to do with who He is, but we cannot ignore the images of Jesus we see portrayed in the media and what this says about us. What image do you see when you think of Him?

Pugwash:

Does it really matter?

 

[servant4ever]

I really does not matter what Jesus looked like. If He was white, black, brown, blue, yellow, red, purple, green or a mixture, He is still my Lord and Savior and I worship Him.

servant4ever

 

[InnerPhyre]

And the obvious follow up question: Who cares? If Jesus was Japanese, would it matter?

 

[Razzie]

No it doesn't matter! But I think what Pugwash is trying to do, is just see what our image of the Lord is. Because many have this image in our heads and would never try to imagine Him any other way.

 

[InnerPhyre]

Well we can look at Eastern Iconography and perhaps get an idea of what He might have looked like, since great care was taken to represent Jesus's features in the same way in each icon, and tradition holds (I think) that St. Luke was one of the first iconographers who passed the tradition down. We can safely assume He didn't have white skin or blonde hair. Most likely dark haired with olive colored skin. This is my favorite image of Jesus. If I remember correctly, it's an icon from around the 5th century.

 

[lands21]

Though I understand that it is not important as far as salvation is concerned. But God gave us minds for something. It is a great question, and a great point to make.

I think the changing of Jesus's skin color and apperance in this day and age shows how the church has started to change Christianity to fit today's world. Post Modernistic theology.

Can be scary stuff!

 

[Gold Dragon]

I think the changing of Jesus's skin color and apperance in this day and age shows how the church has started to change Christianity to fit today's world. Post Modernistic theology.

Can be scary stuff!

I'm confused about what you are referring to.

When did views of Jesus' skin colour and appearance change in this day and age?
Who changed it?
What does our image of Jesus have to do with how the church changed Christianity to fit today's world?
What does any of this have to do with postmodern theology?

 

[Lynn73]

It doesn't really matter what He looked like. He was a Jewish male so He probably was dark skinned. In my mind I imagine Him as white with hair down to his shoulders with a beard and mustache but I doubt He really looks like I imagine Him to. As someone said, He's our Savior, it doesn't matter if He's blue.

 

[Pugwash]

Well I know that He is our saviour etc. but if His skin color was of no importance then why have the Western countries tried so hard (successfully, in my opinion) to *whiten* Him up? Could it be the thought of humbling oneself to a dark skinned man is not a pleasant thought for some?

Pugwash.

 

[Lordbay]

Pugwash, that is a very good point. I can see what you are trying to say. You are not trying to find out what color He is, you are just trying to find out why the world has made Him the color we see in your minds. The point is that, the Bible says what He is like and man has made Him the color they like and want Him to be and not he truth.

 

[Roald]

It does not seem to matter in any practical way, but I would not say that His appearance does not matter at all. His appearance is part of His Body, and the body is an important part of the identity of human beings. In fact, by virtue of His Incarnation, the human body is elevated to a new dignity; even more so is raised the dignity of the Jews, from whom Jesus took His Body and His appearance.

 

[servant4ever]

I'm a caucasian man and I see Jesus as a Middle eastern man, not white

 

[Lordbay]

I'm a caucasian man and I see Jesus as a Middle eastern man, not white

Yes, that is what he is trying to say. We are now starting to see the truth. For many years, movies and pictures have not shown the truth. They have put it in away that most people want to see. I heard on the news one year that there was a passion play that was going to use a black man to play Jesus. Their was such a stink over it, that they when back to using the white man with blue eyes. I thinks this is what he is trying to get you to see, that we are changing, we want the truth now.

 

[Crimson Rose]

Jesus was Jewish color, not black, not white,..... I mean, come on, He was born to a Jewish family, God didn't want him to stick out like a sore thumb!

 

[Lordbay]

Jesus was Jewish color, not black, not white,..... I mean, come on, He was born to a Jewish family, God didn't want him to stick out like a sore thumb!

That is all Pugwash is trying to get you to see. It is that simple. Now that you see it, why are you still making it so hard.

 

[Lordbay]

I'm a caucasian man and I see Jesus as a Middle eastern man, not white

Thank you for answering the post. The post is only trying to get you to say how do you see Jesus. Not to argue over what color he is and if it matters.

 

[xenia]

It does not seem to matter in any practical way, but I would not say that His appearance does not matter at all. His appearance is part of His Body, and the body is an important part of the identity of human beings. In fact, by virtue of His Incarnation, the human body is elevated to a new dignity; even more so is raised the dignity of the Jews, from whom Jesus took His Body and His appearance.

You hit the nail on the head! Of course it matters. Everything about Him matters.

-Xenia