A picture of Jesus Christ? How many times have you heard someone say: "We don't know what Jesus looked like." When you are looking at a picture of a blue-eyed, golden brown-haired  Jesus with a shepherd's rod in one hand and a lamb in the other, you know that Jesus didn't look like that--it is just an artists representation. It is, however,  possible that one of His contemporaries painted a portrait of our Savior. Eusebius of the latter second century claims to have seen color portraits of our Jesus. The following picture just might be genuine. It is purported to have been engraved by a contemporary of Jesus in the first century. When we first saw it, it was accompanied by the following text:

Some of us Christians made copies of the image, and cherished it as if it was an original, but inside there were doubts. If there was an emerald with Christ's likeness engraved on it, there would have to be historical documentation at the Vatican. So, in early 1986 a letter was written with a copy of the likeness to the Pontifical University of Rome. A couple months later I received this response:

2 June, 1986

     Mr. Clever, from my rector of the University Fr. Navarrate I received your letter of March 23 of this year. On your question I can answer as follows:
     The emerald with the portrait of Christ (similar to your foto) was given by the Sultan Bajazid II to the Pope Innocent VIII (+ 1492). The Emerald disappeared probably with the sack of Rome (1527). But the same profile-image of Christ appears on papal medals, as of the Pope Julius III. There exists also paintings of the flemish school. The illustration of such a painting and further information you will find in: Pauline Hinze, Deus Homo, Vol. I, Evangelische Verlagsanstalt Berlin (Eastern Germany), Berlin 1973, fig. 8, page 28 f.

Sincerely yours,

Fr. Heinrich Pfeiffer, S.J.
Pontifical Universita Gregoriana
00187 Roma - Piazza Della Pilotta, 4

So, this picture could very easily be that of Jesus. Undoubtedly, it was painted without the bruises and cuts that we know He received because Isaiah says: As many were astonished at You; His visage was so marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of Men (Isaiah 52:14).
    Is it really important for us to know what Jesus looks like? No! I do not believe it is. We do know that He was pierced for us, and He will bear scars on His hands, feet and side. Radiating light will be flashing from those scars when He returns to earth, as viewed by the prophet Habakkuk in vision: God came from Teman, The Holy One [Jesus] from Mount Paran. His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise. His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, And there His power was hidden (Ibib., 3:3,5).

We do not need an artist to depict radiating flashes coming from Jesus' hands--it will be obvious to all. And those pierced hands tell the more important story of His great sacrifice. It is essential that we know the merit of His sacrificial atonement, and the life-changing power of His resurrection in our lives. If Christ dwells in our hearts, then we will also recognize His voice as it nurtures and leads us on this earthly walk through the narrow gate to heaven. Jesus spoke these words to emphasize that very thought: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any [man] pluck them out of my hand (John 10:27,28).

What about these pierce marks? And what happens when Jesus returns? What are those mysterious numbers 1290 and 1335 that were to only be understood at the end of time? The mark of the beast--666? Who is the Antichrist? These questions and many more are answered at our web pages under the title, The Wise Shall Understand. You are invited to read this material which is linked to our homepage.
Please pay us a visit. Charles and Tish Clever.