Isaiah 53:2 predicted Christ “…Has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him.”  Some think this teaches Jesus in the flesh was ugly. Isaiah instead foresees he would not be so irresistibly handsome that others would follow and admire him because of the way he looked. 

 It is human nature to view the dazzlingly attractive favorably just because they are pleasing to the eyes. A  December 7, 2014  Psychology Today online article, “The Surprising Power of a Beautiful Face,” said:

[Participants] received…envelopes [with] photographs of [three people]… [one], highly attractive, [one] average, and [one] unattractive.  Subjects…determined which person…possessed traits like altruism, stability…and happiness…Participants [concluded]…highly attractive people … were… happier…more successful…better parents [with] better jobs. 

Even the Bible takes note of …rare attractiveness. Solomon was “dazzling and ruddy.” (Cant. 5:10).  1 Samuel 16 says David was “ruddy, with beautiful eyes and… [a] handsome appearance.” Esther was “…beautiful of form and face” (Esther 2:7).” God did not want our Savior to draw crowds by good looks, but by his message, good deeds, example and crucifixion. He was likely handsome. After all, he is God’s son, and God gave his best for the intended purpose. He was not one in a million  handsome.

Genevieve Carlton in “What Did Jesus Look Like”? uploaded April 20, 2023 wrote: 

.…after…[AD] 400…artists …began depicting Jesus in their own image.  …Ethiopia[n], depictions…had African features… Indian Christians drew Jesus with South Asian [traits]. Europeans…portrayed him as…fair-skinned…” (I add and sometimes with blue eyes-WL)

Now that we understand most depictions of the most painted face in history do not accurately portray Jesus, what did he look like? 

First, Luke 19:4-6 may indicate his height was not above average. “Zacchaeus…was trying to see…Jesus…and…was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature… He…climbed up…a sycamore tree…to see Him… Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” If Jesus had been tall,  Zacchaeus could have seen him without climbing a tree.  According to Matthew 26, Judas betrayed Christ with a kiss while he was among his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane—presumably because he was the same height or a little shorter than they were. Others counter since the arrest was at night, darkness influenced  Judas’ need to identify him. The height of men in Palestine in Jesus’s day was between 5″ 1″ and 5′ 5″. Some estimate his height at 5’ 3”—to 5” 5’  or about 1.6 to 1.65 to meters. He was possibly lean yet muscular from a high protein diet that included a lot of fish.

Second, Jesus had short hair like others in Palestine then because of head lice, and he probably trimmed his with a knife. Knives were one of the few tools then and ancients. were very handy with them. Isaiah 50:6 says: “I offered … my cheeks to those who tore out My beard.” Jesus had beard, too, also…trimmed short. 

Third, while growing up, Jesus worked with his hands like most men at that time. Peter, James and John, for example, were fishermen, throwing out heavy nets and pulling them in even heavier with fish. Maneuvering small boats, sometimes on rough water. Christ probably weighed about 130 lbs. or 59 kilograms.

Fourth, Jesus was olive-to  dark-complected, brown eyed with brown curly hair like his contemporaries in the region. He looked young because he was young. Luke 3:23  says, “…His ministry began when “he was about thirty years of age…” When crucified 3 ½ years later, Jesus was still in his early 30s. 

Fifth, Jesus wore sandals, common footwear of the time and like sandals today. and  may have at times worn a head covering, not unusual with frequent winds and sometimes chilly Palestine weather. 

Sixth, Christ had no blemishes or deformities. He was the ultimate sacrifice, and sacrifices could not have imperfections. Isaiah 46 says, “…Provide a lamb… without blemish for a burnt offering to the LORD daily.” John the Baptist, seeing Jesus, proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29).

Seventh, Christ embodied charisma. Who could exude more personal magnetism than God in the flesh? Officers sent to arrest Jesus came back empty handed, explaining “Never did a man speak the way this man speaks.” (John 7:46). Jesus radiated masculinity. Many women followed him. Luke 8:2 says,  some women….Mary…Magdalene…Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others…were contributing…their private means.” Even today, glance around your church. You’ll probably see more women than men.

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