Jesus’s appearance on Earth is not described, but His appearance now is well documented.
What does Jesus look like? If you have you ever seen a picture of Jesus while He was on earth, it is wrong.
The best description of Jesus’s looks on earth is found in Isaiah 53, “…He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.” Isaiah 53:2b. He is so poorly described in the Bible, that I believe it must have been an intentional omission.
We don’t know the color of His hair, skin or eyes. We only know that He had a beard because Isaiah’s prophecy in chapter 50:6 says that it was pulled out during His trial. He most likely looked like a typical Jewish man of the time, but I believe the detailed description was left intentionally out to keep us from idolizing specific physical attributes of people. If Jesus was described as having brown eyes for example, it would be very easy for us to say that blue eyed people are less godly. God will have none of that. “…For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Sam 16:7b.
However, Jesus’s glorified appearance today and for all eternity is described in great detail. It is hard to see Jesus spiritually now, but we will see Him clearly soon.
Why is it Hard to See Jesus Today?
When driving at night, you see headlights and taillights around you, but you can’t actually see the cars themselves. The light is so bright in the darkness that if you look directly at them it will be blinding.
On the other hand, have you ever seen your headlights on a sunny day? Instead of seeing a bright shining light, you can clearly see the car and the source of each light bulb.
Light is not blinding, when you are surrounded by light.
Jesus is the same way spiritually. While He did not have a special physical appearance on earth, spiritually He shined as a light in the dark earth (John 1:5).
Jesus’s Appearance Now
“And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.” Matthew 17:2
“The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire.” Revelation 1:14
When we see Jesus in Heaven, He will be shining brightly and we will be able to see Him clearly. On earth though, we will only see Him spiritually as clearly as we surround ourselves with spiritual light in a dark world. Paul described it well in 1 Cor. 13:12. “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.”
Saul, who was renamed Paul, experienced the light of Jesus for the first time on the road to Damascus. “Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him… And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.’” Acts 9:3,5
Jesus appeared like a bright light to Saul. This is not surprising given that Jesus’s face “shines like the sun” and His eyes are like “flames of fire” as we saw during the Transfiguration and at the beginning of Revelation.
Remember today that Jesus is the source of our spiritual light. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105
Surround yourself with spiritual light and you will begin to see Jesus more and more clearly. Then when you get to Heaven, you will be fully ready to see Him face to face.
