What if Jesus had an afro with a chinstrap? Would He be worshipped differently? Of course. A couple of weeks ago I asked my girlfriend why it was so important to certain races that Jesus looked like them. Okay, this is not the time for me to beat around the bush. If you know me then you know one thing I cant stand is a bush beater. Blacks and Whites are the ones that tend to argue over what Jesus looked like. Does it really matter?
You can go to certain parts of the city and country and people will have a Black Jesus hanging up in their house. Most White homes will have the White, or traditional, Jesus. Latinos use the White Jesus. Its been the one we are all used to and some are more comfortable with. Why is that? A few years back Time magazine did this thing where they created what Jesus would have “really” looked like. People got pissed!
Gone was the “What you talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?!” afro. Gone were the beautiful blue eyes that you could get lost in with flowing Pantene soft hair. What you got was a rugged, dark Jesus. People didn’t like that. Here is what they woke up to.
They wanted Jesus to look like someone they might know. No one knew this guy. They may have given him change while walking down the street once, but this wasn’t the guy they had been praying to for all these centuries.
What I’m saying is that what he looked like doesn’t matter. Or at least it shouldn’t. Paying that much attention to what the son of God looked like is wrong for so many different reasons. They say that Jesus was love. Not once did they say, “He was White with baby soft skin.” People have for years tried to find things in the bible to back up their claim of what he looks like. “They say his skin was like copper!” Okay. I know one person alive that has skin like copper. Donatella Versace. I met her in person and it was a terrifying experience.
People need to stop figuring out what He looked like and what he stood for. Even if you think that Jesus wasn’t real and that God doesn’t exist take what good you can from what is taught in His name and not all the negative shit we read about in the papers and see on TV. Jesus never said to blow stuff up or touch children in harmful ass ways. People have perverted what should be a beautiful thing with over thinking. Life. You know what’s funny? Those that don’t believe in Jesus are the ones that seem to spend the most time talking and thinking about him.
Rockets.
ha ha!! so true...ppl do argue over what Jesus looks like. even me!! man, me and one of my besties were imagining Jesus with coco brown skin and long silky pantene pro-v black hair to his waist with a silky black g-tee...to us Jesus was F-I-N-E and we worship Him all day and night long with that picture in our heads!!! But its not what he looks like it what he did for us...Jesus got whipped and beaten for lil ol' me (the real nobody). It still is fun thinkin of Jesus in that sexy middle eastern dark skinned look :) Forget Mary!! I'LL wash your feet Jesus!! lol
ReplyDeleteAMEN!!! So many ridiculously amazing points in this post, dude. The physical doesn't matter, its all in the spiritual and the heart and soul of the matter that counts! Unfortunately, people are very one-dimensional, and to think that some would stop worshipping God over its 'looks' is incredamazing. Talk about selfishness. God can appear however He wishes!!! PREACH!!!
ReplyDeleteGood article and points! A quick note of interest on Art History: the “classical” image of Jesus we know today, and as you illustrated for the readers, originates in 6th Century France. It isn’t meant to simply depict a “white guy,” but rather a very specific type: a French Nobleman. From the facial features to the tone of the skin, and the long auburn hair, stylized facial hair and flowing velvet robes, it mirrors other period works completely.
ReplyDeleteAround this time, similar, and then identical images of him began appearing in art – and so the first ‘advertising campaign’ proved a success: people came to associate one image of him ‘with’ him as a Divinity.
I bet that if you were to spit on even a poorly drawn image of Jesus, in front of a Christian, they would be deeply personally offended – perhaps even violent. Consider: against everything that Jesus taught about self-discipline, some may turn to violence. And for what? Disrespect for a poorly rendered depiction of a 2000 year old Jew. (In the visual-Arts sense, please take no offense.)
Remember, 30 years old was considered well into middle-age back then – and that was in ideal circumstances. That brings us to the other point you touched on. That being, how can anyone capture the image of a Divine Spiritual Being? They can’t of course.
However, you must remember that the Divinity of Christ was never taught as fact. The Church had no official policy on the matter, and many people believed (as they still do) that Christ was a mortal man who was more like a Buddha figure. (Buddha, Shakyamuni Siddhārtha Gautama, achieved perfect universal harmony and transcended the circle of Life and Death, leaving a path for others to follow to Nirvana. By Buddhist teaching, what he did is attainable to anyone.)
Eventually the leaders of the Church all gathered and literally voted on what to teach. It ignited a heated and sometimes violent debate, but finally it was settled: Christ had been a Divine Being. The final vote was a hair over 50%. Of course, this changed everything ever taught about Jesus since. Including everything you know. There are entire books of the Holy Bible that the Church has not – and will never – release. (Although you can find copies online.) Some of the books include stories about His childhood.
This is important to note, because it played a direct role in WHY the Church, which was not filthy rich at the time, devoted so much time and money into portraying Christ in this same way, copied from the original artwork from so long ago: because it dated him outside the reach or reliability of anybody who looks at it, and you instantly feel a ‘disconnection,’ and his regal presence inspires awe.
And more importantly (to them): it is supernatural as heck! Seriously, most of the more ‘colourful’ depictions of Christ could rival a Hindu’s Shiva.
Some branches of Christianity take it to a greater extreme than others (Catholics seem to love to see Jesus ripping his own chest open to show his beating heart…), but it is all pretty much the same. (Again, from an Art point-of-view.) Everything has a reason, I guess.
Have a good day!