When I was a kid, my parents had a big white family bible that was placed in the center of the coffee table in the living room. On the front of the bible was a picture of Jesus. Long flowing blonde hair, nice tan, and baby blue eyes. He looked like a GQ model. I wondered for a long time if that is what Jesus really looked like.

See http://bit.ly/hU1mUm for related story to this depiction of Jesus' face.

For centuries, scholars and artists have tried to concoct some type of picture of Jesus. Long hair. Short hair. Blue eyes. Brown eyes. Green eyes. Tall. Tan. Light skinned. Muscular. Skinny. Beard. Mustache.

So, what does Jesus really look like?

Is it the appearance of Jesus that really matters or is it the heart? God said to Samuel:

The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7 NIV).

Commercials and infomercials are constantly trying to sell us products that will keep us looking younger, getting rid of wrinkles and removing unwanted facial hairs or blemishes and make-up that will change the way you look. We rush to buy these products because we think the outward looks are far too important to play around with.

For millions in our world, the first glimpse of Jesus' face is our own.
But, God looks at the heart!

So, what does Jesus really look like?

  • To Zacchaeus, Jesus looks like salvation (Luke 19:9).

  • To the adulterous lady, Jesus looks like mercy (John 8:11).

  • To the 5,000 people, Jesus looks like generosity (John 6:1-13).

  • To the woman who was living with a guy who wouldn't marry her, Jesus looks like hope (John 4:7-26).

  • To the murdering thugs, Jesus looks like forgiveness (Luke 23:34).

For millions in our world, the first glimpse of Jesus' face is ours. What do they see? Hope? Mercy? Generosity? Love? Acceptance? Kindness?

(Go to http://abcn.ws/gze1pi to see related side story on this topic!)

Putting on the face of Jesus isn't a morning ritual that we mask on and then in the evening, take off. Wearing the face of Jesus means a spiritual face-lift that will dramatically change the scope of what we look like.

Being the face of Jesus is no easy task. It may mean rejection and disappointment. However, the permanent change will give eternal hope to those who become the face of Jesus.