Recently, I was reading a Bible storybook to my 5-year-old son, Ryan, that was filled with realistic pictures of Jesus in various scenes from the Gospels. Jesus was portrayed talking to the crowds, holding a child in His arms, and walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

“Is that what Jesus looks like?” Ryan asked.

“Well, He probably looked something like that,” I replied. “But we don’t really know what He looked like.”

Several years ago, I remember talking with a lady at my church who told me she had a portrait of Jesus on her wall that she loved dearly and brought her closer to Him. I wasn’t sure how to respond to her at the time, but it did get me thinking. Why doesn’t the Bible give us a clear description of Jesus’ appearance? 

Naturally, many of us have wondered what Jesus really looked like while on earth. I’ve noticed that artists throughout the last 2,000 years have tended to portray Jesus looking, well, a lot like themselves.

Medieval Europeans depicted a very European-looking Jesus. Indians painted Jesus looking very Indian. Interestingly, the most robust description of Jesus’ appearance is found in Revelation 1 and is filled with apocalyptic imagery. For example, John describes Jesus with a two-edge sword coming out of His mouth (Revelation 1:16). 

In Isaiah’s prophecy, we learn that Jesus had a beard the soldiers tried to pull out and that He didn’t look particularly attractive or majestic while on earth (Isaiah 50:6; 53:2). But that’s about it.

Interestingly, Scripture acknowledges that we don’t know what He looks like and that’s okay.

Peter writes, 

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9, ESV)

When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, they needed Judas to help them pick Him out with a kiss of betrayal (Matthew 26:48-49). We can conclude from all this that during His days on earth, Jesus looked pretty much like any other first century Jewish man. There was nothing especially appealing about Him. It’s not as though He hovered six inches above the ground everywhere He went. If you were to glance at Jesus, you wouldn’t suspect there was anything special about Him.

After the risen Jesus appeared to Thomas, the previously skeptical disciple cried out, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus not only receives Thomas’s worship, but He pronounces a blessing on those of us who believe in Him without seeing Him.

Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:29, NLT)

If, like me, you have been tempted to think it’s unfair that you aren’t able to see Jesus in the flesh like His first disciples did, you should consider Jesus’ words. There is a unique blessing on us who believe and love Jesus while not seeing Him yet. One day, we will see Jesus face-to-face. And believe me, I look forward to that day! But until then, we can trust that God knew what He was doing in not telling us what Jesus looks like.

At one point in the Gospels, Jesus asked His own disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” There were lots of opinions going around. Just like today. But then Simon Peter stepped up and said, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” 

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 16:16-17, NIV)

Notice what Jesus says here. Peter was right about Jesus. He is the Son of the living God. He is totally unique and unlike anyone else who has ever walked the planet. But God the Father had to reveal this to Peter. It wasn’t obvious just by looking at Him. 

And that’s good news for us. We might think we are at a huge disadvantage here in the 21^st century. We don’t get to see the physical Jesus walking around like those first disciples. But think about it. If God had to supernaturally reveal Jesus’ identity to Peter even when Jesus was standing right next to him, then that means He can do that for us, too. But why did the Father need to reveal this to Peter? Because it’s always a spiritual encounter when you come to know who Jesus is.

Let this truth be emblazoned across your heart: Only God can reveal to us that Jesus truly is the eternal Son of God. 

“All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.” (Matthew 11:27, BSB)

No wonder there are more opinions on who Jesus was than anyone else in history. Because until the Father shows you His glory, He’ll just be another guy.

When I talk to others about Jesus, very often they are skeptical to believe He really is divine. And I know that I can’t convince anyone that Jesus truly is God. But as they read His Word, the Holy Spirit can open their eyes, and the Father will reveal Jesus to them. That’s what I pray for, because it’s a supernatural revelation. So, right now, if you believe that Jesus really is the eternal Son of God, you can thank God for opening your eyes.

Have thoughts on this post? I’d love to hear from you!