One of the first things many will say to Jesus when they see him for the first time in heaven is, "Jesus, you just don't look anything like your pictures!" Most pictures circulating on Earth depict a white Jesus with blue eyes, but Jesus was Jewish. Because of this, He was most likely brown-eyed and darker-skinned. Jesus' appearance is more than likely nothing like His most famous renderings, due to Anglo-Saxon influence and bias in depicting what Jesus looked like when He walked the earth over two thousand years ago.
To get an accurate understanding of what Jesus looked like, it is necessary to ignore the popular pictures and art depicting His appearance and return to the Ancient Text, the Holy Bible, to get a sense of what Jesus looked like physically. Unfortunately, there is not much description of what Jesus looked like as a physical man, but there is some indication in the Bible, long before He was even physically born, through the prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah 53 is probably the most popular passage of Scripture that depicts what Jesus looked like as a physical human man walking on the face of the earth. This is how the prophet Isaiah described Jesus, the Suffering Servant: "For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him" (Isaiah 53:2).
Most Christian scholars agree that Isaiah 53 refers to the "Suffer Servant" who is later identified as the Messiah, the Savior, Jesus Himself. Isaiah the prophet, under the guise and direction of Almighty God, recorded a description of Jesus' physical features. This description was not overly specific, but the general description gives us an idea of what He looked like as he walked the face of the earth.
The prophet Isaiah said, "He had no form or majesty that we should look at him." What does that mean? It means he lacked the physical beauty, royal clothing, or status to attract people. Today, he would not be put on the cover of GQ to sell merchandise.
Isaiah compared Him to a young plant like a root out of dry ground. What does that mean? A young plant implies a fragile, weak, and vulnerable beginning rather than a mighty tree or ruler. The root out of dry ground suggests he grew up in a hostile, barren environment where life should be impossible. The overarching point to Isaiah's description here is that his physical appearance and upbringing were not things that would cause Him to stand out positively or attractively to others. Isaiah was shattering the expectation of a political or military conqueror. He implied that God's servant would come in absolute humility, making him easy for the world to ignore, despise, and reject.
The prophet Isaiah also said, "he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him." What did that mean? The lack of form or majesty made him look like neither a powerful king, politician, nor celebrity. He lacked the imposing physical presence or expensive clothing that commands instant respect. The lack of "beauty" meant his physical appearance was average and unremarkable. People were not drawn to him because of his looks, charm, or superficial appeal. In short, the phrase means he was intentionally plain, forcing people to judge him by his message and actions rather than his face or social media page and platform.
Another passage that indicates Jesus' appearance is Revelation 1. John the Revelator said this about Jesus' appearance, "I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest. The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. In his right hand, he held seven stars; from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades" (Revelation 1:12 - 18).
It appears Isaiah 53 is the "Clark Kent suffering servant" version of Jesus, and Revelation 1 is the "Superman Second Coming of Jesus" version, making "the church" the Lois Lane of this analogy. It is very clear from this passage that when Jesus returns to claim His bride, the Church, his appeal will have greatly gone up both in accomplishment and appearance. This returning Jesus will stand amid the seven golden lampstands, meaning he will be the constant figure among the churches, and he will shine bright among them. His majesty will not be hidden; it will be obvious at this time. Everything about him, from his hair to his eyes to his feet and his voice, will be massively attractive, just like when Superman throws on the cape and takes off the Clark Kent glasses. He will be seen not just for who He is, but what He has done and can do. Jesus is the ultimate Superman, and when He returns, His physical features will express who He is and what He can do for us, and honestly, to us. His appeal will be massive and undeniable.
Listen to how John describes it: "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead." This is the same reaction Lois Lane had when she discovered Clark Kent was Superman. It overwhelmed her to the point of passing out. The same will be true when people see Jesus at His return. His first trip to earth was to present Himself as the "Clark Kent" of Christianity, but upon His second return, He will come on the clouds like Superman to claim His "Lois Lane", His bride, the Church.
Come, Lord Jesus, display your majesty, your attractiveness, and your glory as you receive your bride, the Church!
ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man" will have nothing on Jesus on that day, and neither will Superman!
