What Did Jesus Look Like?

I’m oftentimes puzzled when I hear someone say, “We don’t know what Jesus looked like.”

I want to say to them, “But I do know what He looked like! I can tell you right now!”

His eyes were large, and dark with expression. They crinkled at the corners when He smiled or laughed, which He did often. They darkened even more and welled with tears easily as He was filled with compassion for others. When you looked Him straight in the eye, you saw a peace so deep it was eternal.

You never saw His ears much, unless the breeze lifted His hair a little, but they were always “on”, always listening. They were attuned to everything and everyone around Him. He never misunderstood a single word or insinuation. He heard clearly, all the time.

His mouth was tender, yet determined, filled with good words and wisdom far beyond His years. The voice was clear, and when He spoke, His message was heard by the thousands who sat at His feet to listen. His ready smile lit up a room. People were drawn from a distance when they heard the laughter that came out of that mouth.

His shoulders were broad and strong. How could they not have been, when the world cried upon them and He held us upon them to comfort us? How could they not have been, carrying all my burdens and His cross?

His hands were big and expressive. They were rough from hard work, but their touch was as soft and gentle as a whisper in the night. Whether they were raised in praise to His Father or used to bless and cradle the head of a sleeping babe, they were tenderly filled with mercy. And when they were used to clean out the temple, the fist they made was fearsome and mighty.

His feet were always firmly planted on whatever ground they stood upon. They never were unsure or stepped where they did not belong.

And His heart? It is the biggest heart that has ever been. And for those who listen with their hearts, well, they can hear its beat and join its life and let it become their own.

So they can see how Jesus saw, and hear how Jesus heard, and say what Jesus said, and handle situations like Jesus handled them, and stand firmly like Jesus stood.

Then everyone will always know what Jesus looked like.