Painting of Jesus adapted from the Shroud
Negative photographic image from the Shroud of Turin. Scientists are completely divided on the tests for age on the Shroud. There is unexplained radioactivity from the cloth and edges were sewn on the Middle ages repairs.
Volto Santo or Holy Face. The image is made of byssus, which is linen woven from a fine, yellowish flax referred to as sea silk; a silky filament by which certain mollusks attach themselves to hard surfaces. It is impossible to paint on the material, it may only be dyed one shade as it is woven. No one understands how this image came to be. The image is transparent, with an image on the reverse.
I've seen this with the Vatican treasures displayed in the Houston Museum of Science, the Dead Sea Scroll tour. It was explained as being the Cloth of Veronica; the image appeared when a woman gave Jesus a cloth to wipe his face, during Jesus' carrying His cross.
John 21:6-14
6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. 7 That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off.
9 When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. 10 Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. 12 Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and so with the fish. 14 This was now the third time that Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
People have interesting reactions. Put Morgan Freeman, or George Burns, in a movie as God in a white suit, people generally love it. "The Shack" had a parable of God as a black woman and there was controversy.
Stop judging by mere appearances, and make a right judgment.
Having a visual image is something people like to have. We live in this world by making decisions based upon our own judgment. Time Magazine ran a cover of an image of Jesus far from our usual image. The story of Adam & Eve was confirmed with evidence of Mitochondrial Eve DNA, the Human MRCA. All humans alive today share a surprisingly recent common ancestor, perhaps even within the last 5000 years, even for people born on different continents. This man was made in the image of God. No mention is made of color.
Moses asked God for the ability to be able to see Him. Moses was rewarded with a glimpse of God.
Exodus 33:20-23
20 But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."
21 Then the LORD said, "There is a place near me where you may stand on a rock. 22 When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. 23 Then I will remove my hand and you will see my back; but my face must not be seen."
What are we told about Jesus' appearance?
Isaiah 53:2
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.
and
Isaiah 52:14
Just as there were many who were appalled at him — his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness—
Luke 9:28-29
About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning
The Romans had taken over Judea at the time of Jesus. Time Magazine's image of Christ was of a similar to today haircut. Why is Jesus different, with "Jesus hair"? Jesus was from Nazareth and may have considered His appearance to be that of a Nazirite, one set apart in holiness from sin, no razor would have touched His hair. Numbers 6:1-27 Yet Jesus, did not follow the rules of the Nazirite in His life.
When we picture Father God in our minds in Love, we can do no wrong. Whatever we picture, we picture a parable. We have never been given the ability to see the vast attributes of God.
We know Jesus told us He did not have a possessions like a home, but He did have one fine garment, not the flowing Sheik robes we are shown all the time. And that garment was woven from top to bottom. I like to think it was made by someone loving Jesus.
We do not see Jesus' physical face, but we do know how people felt looking at Jesus.
Matthew 9:20-29
20 And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, 21 for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.”
Matthew 14:35-36
35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.
And how did Jesus react to the people who sought Him?
Matthew 9:22
22 Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.
Even if we do not have Jesus' face or Father God's face perfectly know to us, more importantly, Jesus, God, knows us.
Luke 19:1-6
He entered Jericho and was passing through. And there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich. And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small of stature. So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully.
Father God, we know and love You by Your actions of mercy. Help us each day to see You more clearly and for You to see Yourself in our love. In Jesus' mercy. Amen.
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Reprint Scripture for Today Blogspot July 15, 2010
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