Who Is The Real Jesus ?
THE REAL HISTORY AND PAST OF THE REAL JESUS IS VERY SURPRISING
Many do not know that the Bible is quite clear about Jesus Christ's real past. Jesus is in sync with Moses and the Law of God because He gave it to Moses. Jesus and Moses worked hand in hand in the development of the Old Testament. All this will come as a shock to most nominal Christians. But, note what the scriptures reveal in the New Testament.
1 Corinthians 10:1-4 NKJV 1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ.
The Israelites who left Egypt under Moses leadership were also protected by the God who followed them and later became flesh and blood and was named Jesus Christ. This would surprise most Christians today. Christ punished their pagan actions and is still against paganism.
1 Corinthians 10:7-9 NKJV 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play." 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents;
Jesus and Moses are very much in sync, they worked together in the development of Israel in the past. A true believer in Christ should be very much in agreement with the basic spiritual Laws of God as written in the Old Testament. Note the words of Christ before the New Testament was even written or canonized.
Matthew 7:22-23 NKJV 22 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!'
Remember the Apostle John reveals that Jesus is the God of the Old Testament and the One who is dealing with us.
John 1:1-2 NKJV 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
John tells us that God the Son was with God the Father from the beginning. Then He became flesh and blood and our Savior.
John 1:14 NKJV 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus does not need to change because He is and always has been right and spiritually perfect.
Hebrews 13:8 NKJV 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
BASED ON AVAILABLE EVIDENCE WHAT DID JESUS LOOK LIKE ?
Obviously we do not have any portraits and the person we see on all the stained glass windows is from the middle or dark ages of Europe. The model used then in no way, is inspired or accurate. Jesus worked as a carpenter/builder in Israel therefore he would have been tanned from outdoor work and muscular. Jesus would have spent his growing years lifting and pulling heavy objects. He was not especially handsome or ugly because he was able to blend into the general population when necessary. Judas had to identify him from the others with a kiss. He must have looked similar to other working Jews. Possibly he looked somewhat like his ancestor David a handsome but not too tall, brave, charismatic, leader of men. Jesus had a pleasant face but it did not call too much attention to Him.
Isaiah 53:2 NKJV 2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant, And as a root out of dry ground. He has no form or comeliness; And when we see Him, There is no beauty that we should desire Him.
Jesus came in the flesh but not so handsome that he would stand out in a crowd. He also suffered a lot which adds to this sorrowful description of the Messiah. He was strong and masculine, note how he twice frightened and routed the money changers at the Temple of God.
Matthew 21:12-13 NKJV 12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 13 And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.'"
A number of money changers would not have left the opportunity to make a lot of money easily. The man who came and turned over their tables and routed them had to be strong, masculine and determined; Someone the money changers were afraid of and did not want to defy when He was angry. They were afraid to fight with Jesus. Further Jesus dressed well. He is pictured in most Bible movies as wearing a dirty,burlap sack as are most of the disciples. This flies in the face of the fact that Jesus's outer garment was so nice that the Roman soldiers did not tear it apart. Just as prophesied, they found His garment too valuable to tear, and they all wanted it.
John 19:24 NKJV 24 They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots." Therefore the soldiers did these things.
The real Jesus epitomized what God would look like as a man. GTA said he would be well groomed but not affected, well dressed but not too clothes conscious, clean but not antiseptic, dignified but not too distinguished. Remember Christ often got lost in the crowds when being pursued. If most men did not have long stringy hair in those days neither did Jesus.
1 Corinthians 11:14 NKJV 14 Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?
JESUS HAD A JOYFUL, POSITIVE, PERSONA
Christ was the kind of person that people enjoyed being with. He was fun to be around. Let us look at the evidence to support this view of Jesus' persona.
Matthew 9:11-12 NKJV 11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, "Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?" 12 When Jesus heard that, He said to them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.
Jesus was in the world to help people. He made average, sinful people feel better about themselves while encouraging them to overcome sins. Furthermore, people felt joyful around Christ.
Mathew 9:14-15 NKJV 14 Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?" 15 And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.
The presence of Jesus gave the disciples an irrepressible joy that was inconsistent with fasting. The word gospel means good news and it was good news and joyful to be around Christ. Further the Jewish people loved Jesus. Huge crowds followed him so much that it made the religious leaders insanely jealous.
JESUS WAS A MAN OF STRONG FAITH AND CONFIDENCE
People tend to follow leaders that are very confident in themselves and their goals. Jesus was such a man. He demonstrated this faith when He confidently brought back Lazarus from the dead.
John 11:39-44 NKJV 39 Jesus said, "Take away the stone." Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, "Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days." 40 Jesus said to her, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?"... And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, "Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 "And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me." 43 ... a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!" 44 And he who had died came out..."
Christ worked hard to show the people how to have faith in God as He often did in many ways. He was a man of faith and confidence.
