Have you seen Jesus? Some folks are convinced that they have at least caught a glimpse. For example:
- A woman in Clermont, FL claimed that an image of Jesus appeared on her electric meter.
- A Tampa Bay area man insisted that he saw Jesus on a bathroom door.
- In Port St. Lucie, FL, a woman believed that Jesus appeared on her TV screen.
- In Sullivan’s Island, SC, a woman stated that Jesus’ face materialized on a stingray.
- A family in McLean, VA allegedly saw Jesus in a tree in their yard.
- A couple in Anderson County, SC noticed Jesus’ exact likeness on a Wal-Mart receipt.
- A woman near Houston, TX spotted Jesus’ face on the mold above her bathtub.
When I hear of such claims, my first question is, “Do these folks honestly know what Jesus looks like?” Most of us have seen famous paintings depicting the face of Jesus Christ. He is typically portrayed as singularly handsome, with deep blue eyes and long, auburn hair. The Scriptures, however, paint a different picture.
“He has no form or comeliness; and when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him” (ISA 53:2).
The wording suggests that there was no physical attractiveness about Jesus. At best, He likely appeared no different than the average person. If we saw Him today (as he looked when He walked the earth) we would probably NOT recognize Him.
Although we do not know what Jesus looked like during His earthly stay, He at least indicated what we should look for if we are determined to see Him today. “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for ME’ " (MT 25:35-41).
That said, it should not be hard to spot Jesus today – just look in the faces of those in need. Remember, however, that recognizing Jesus is not as important as serving Him.
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis