Who’s your Jesus?
Posted on March 7, 2008
Filed Under Jesus, life, opinion, today's church, truth
A cursory reading of KJV Bible verses containing the word image would lead one to understand that God is no fan of images being used for worship. In fact, I believe one of the most obscene things man does against God, from His point of view, is worship images. Ask the ancient Jews, and they may concur.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 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. Romans 1:22, 23
It certainly seems clear that God doesn’t want man to make images of Him or any god. The Ten Commandments has this mentioned as part of Number Two: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above… (Ex 20:4a)
So what do we do? We make pictures of God: old man, throne, beard, lots of light and a cloud. You may have seen one.
We make Jesus pictures, too, and those vary greatly, though fall into a couple categories:
There’s Baby Jesus, venerated by millions at Christmastime, if you call putting little mass-produced idols on your table, or large baby dolls in your front yard “veneration”. It’s such a common image that “Baby Jesus” is a punchline to many people, and has indeed become an equally common form of blasphemy. One thing to note about this image of the Savior, is that He looks very powerless, whether half naked or even worse, tied up tightly in those swaddling clothes.
Then, there’s EuroJesus, also known as Italian Jesus and even Hippie Jesus, due to the long flowing hair. This one is in millions of Protestant Grandmother’s homes, as well as many other places. In fact, this may well be the residual image that pops into most people’s minds when they think of the Savior; it’s that well known. Sadly, there is very little chance that Jesus ever actually looked like this, since he was hard-working, sun-drenched Jewish carpenter, rather than an effeminate male model from Milan. Isaiah told us straight up that He would not be pretty; “he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, [there is] no beauty that we should desire him.” (Isaiah 53:2) Again, this representation of Jesus is embarrassingly weak-looking as well.
Then, there’s Dead Jesus, a particularly saddening image of the Savior at the lowest point in His existence. This one, called a crucifix, is found in cathedrals everywhere in the world, as well as in millions of homes and even hanging from rear-view mirrors. It’s an image that definitely receives a lot of worship and veneration, and again runs the gamut from huge, expensive sculptures to cheaply-made plastic trinkets. Clearly, this is as powerless as He ever appeared in the eyes of men; both dead and completely restrained by nails through His hands and feet.
Finally, we have Sacred Heart Jesus, a very strange and very non-biblical representation of the Saviour. This image is specifically created for worship, and in particular, worship of the physical heart of Jesus. Found frequently in bedroom shrine displays and the Mexican food aisle of Kroger, the Sacred Heart image is actually a depiction rife with occult symbology. The two fingers of the right hand, the heart shape, the sunburst, the flames and more all originate from Chaldean mysticism, forerunner to virtually all satanic religions. Any power that this “Jesus” supposedly has rests solely in that “magic heart”.
Personally, I find all of these images outrageous. Like it or not, Jesus Christ is God Himself, and is singularly worthy of glory. It is a well-established fact that He was murdered and subsequently rose from the dead to be seen by over 500 people before ascending into Heaven in front of many onlookers. Jesus lives. Today, we are told, He sits at the Right Hand of the Father, prepared to return as King. That cross no longer has a dead body hanging on it, even though some would prefer to leave Him on there for eternity.
So if you feel the need to visualize Jesus Christ, I propose you read the following passage from Revelation 1, which is a very different picture from the ones that the religionists employ to batter us into senselessness:
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send [it] unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks [one] like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.
And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Revelation 1:10-18
That’s Jesus today, right now, and I am not sure how much more powerful one could possibly be. So worthy of worship that John fell down before Him as a dead man; yet so loving that Jesus lifted him back up with words that no one else could ever say.
I can’t wait for my opportunity to fall at His Feet! That’s my God. That’s God Almighty. No image can begin to do justice to that picture of our Savior.
God bless you Bro;
An excellent article and makes us think outside the box, into which so many have tried to fit the Lord Jesus Christ.
Here is a little piece I wrote awhile back:
My picture of Christ:
A skin of olive, hair dark, with a stature no taller than the others of His area, with strength and muscle reflective of a carpenter’s trade, strong callosed hands and broad shoulders capable of lifting and moving the beams of the trade. A physical appearance indistinguishable from that of His people.
The eyes of brown would have been riveting in their depths, with the softness of a love and empathy unmatched in any other, as they would look upon the vulnerable and needy, and yet were riveting in fire and absolute assurance against those who were false and hypocritical.
The roughened hands so calloused from the splintered lumber, and yet from which not even the smallest child would flinch, for the smallest lamb knows the hand of the shepherd.
A voice which though softly modulated, was striking in its wisdom and message. The crowds gathered close, for on very few occasions would the voice have shouted forth, but which was spoken with authority and command, that even the storm would obey, and not even the dead could resist.
Jesus of Nazareth was a man who from a distance was unrecognizable from any other Middle Eastern resident, but whose presence exuded a depth of grace, and a level of wisdom and understanding unmatched in all of the annals of history.
A servant of Christ,
Drew
God bless you Bro;
One day we will stand before Christ Jesus our Lord, and He clothed in the majesty of Glory. Like you said Bro. East, this is our Jesus today:
“His head and [his] hairs [were] white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes [were] as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.
And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead.”
Like it says in the Word, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. I cannot imagine what it would be like to see our Lord coming in power and glory, and have denied Him and followed after idols.
The Lord will return one day and He will not be the gentle Jesus meek and mild which so many would paint and teach, but He will be returning in awesome majesty as King of Kings and Lord of Lords:
Rev. 19:
11: And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
12: His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
13: And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
14: And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
15: And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
16: And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
A servant of Christ,
Drew
Drew - You have the eloquence of Spurgeon, as far as I am concerned. That’s some beautiful stuff, as always.
How wonderful will it be to meet our Creator and Savior firsthand? God only knows, but I am itchy to find out! Surely He comes quickly, AMEN! “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” Rev 22:20
I have been looking for an article like this. I’ve asked around about pictures and crucifixes. I had made a video for youtube using a bunch of pictures of Jesus when an elder told me they were graven images, I trashed the video.
But I have two crucifixes in my home. They kind of creep me out, lol. I’ve found myself a lot of the time avoiding looking at them.
I know what to do with them now. Thanks.
God bless you;
The Crucifix is the Roman Catholic symbol of Christ perpetually being offered as a daily sacrifice in the Mass. Dr. Joe Mizzi has a marvelous ministry for Catholics, and I reference his article on the Mass:
http://www.justforcatholics.org/a165.htm
The Mass: Re-Presenting Jesus’ Sacrifice
Question: With regard to the “once-for-all” sacrifice of Jesus, I believe it is a supernatural act that transcends the matter, space and time of the physical cosmos. There is more to time than I understand. Time warps. Could it be that the sacrifice of Our Lord Jesus also transcends time? This is speculation I am sharing with you.
Answer: The doctrine of the sacrifice of Christ is so important and so clearly set out in Scripture, that it would be dangerous and irreverent to the Holy Spirit who inspired the Bible, if we had to rely on our thoughts and speculations.
The Bible presents the sacrifice of Christ as an event accomplished in the sphere of space and time of the physical cosmos. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. He had a real physical body, and His disciples saw, heard, touched and ate with Him. Jesus experienced agony, pain and thirst whilst He hang on the cross. He was crucified in a specific place called Golgotha, in a specific city called Jerusalem, in a specific time, almost 2000 years ago when Pilate was governor of Judea and Caiphas was high priest. The wounds in His body were real and His blood was literally shed. After He died, He was buried in a tomb in the garden of Joseph from Arimathea. On the third day He rose from the grave, and was seen alive by many witnesses. Afterwards, He ascended into heaven and declared “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore” (Revelation 1:18).
God’s purpose for the sacrifice of the Lamb is eternal (cf. 1 Peter 1:20; Revelations 13:8). The benefits of His once-for-all sacrifice are also abiding and eternal (Hebrews 9:12). On the basis of His sacrifice, Christ continues to make intercessions for His own (Hebrews 7:25). But the sacrifice itself is an accomplished historical event (Hebrews 7:27; 9:12,26,28; 10:10).
Please take time to read the book of Hebrews, slowly and prayerfully, and notice how the author argues convincingly that Christ’s sacrifice was done; it is complete; it is finished! The One who once hang on the cross is now sitting down in heaven. Mission accomplished!
However, the Catholic Church teaches that the sacrifice of Christ is “daily renewed” and that the “the work of our redemption is carried on.” “He daily offers Himself upon our altars for our redemption.” “A Sacrifice which the Church is accordingly wont to offer daily.” (Catechism of the Council of Trent; Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church; Mediator Dei, Pius XII; Mirae Caritatis, Leo XIII).
The Bible refutes that doctrine: “Every (Levitical) priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God” (Hebrews 10:11,12). The daily offering of the Old Testament priests were not replaced by the daily offering of Christ on Catholic altars, but by the “one sacrifice for sins forever” offered by Jesus on the cross.
Copyright Dr Joe Mizzi. Permission to copy and distribute this article without textual changes.