Have you ever seen a picture of Jesus? Some people have a framed picture that is supposed to be of Him. Many of these depict Jesus as pale-skinned and frail-looking, neither of which would be accurate. We have no Bible record of specifically how He looked, except that physically “he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him” (Isaiah 53:3).
However, it is as if God commissioned four portraits to be painted of His Son. The artist was the Holy Spirit, and words paint the picture. The first four books of the New Testament each give a picture of the life of Jesus.
Matthew wrote initially to a Jewish readership. His picture paints Jesus as King. In Chapter 2, the earthly king Herod felt threatened by the birth of this King, and he ordered the infant males in Bethlehem to be slaughtered. In Chapter 13, a series of parables tell about Jesus’ kingdom. In Chapter 16, we learn that the terms “church” and “kingdom” are used interchangeably (vv.18-19). Chapter 21 tells of the King Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem on the back of a lowly beast of burden. In Chapter 27, we see Him humiliated and mockingly called “King of the Jews!” (v. 29).
Mark’s portrait was intended to impress upon Romans that Jesus was a Servant. His followers had questions about greatness (9:33-35), so He emphasized servitude. This portrait shows Jesus serving others. “For the Son of man also came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (10:45).
Luke skillfully depicts Jesus as a Man of compassion, which the Greeks appreciated. On one occasion, Jesus had been invited into the home of a Pharisee. A sinful woman came before Jesus and wet His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. The host was incensed and wished for the woman to be expelled, yet the Savoir showed compassion (7:36-50). “For the Son of man came to seek and to save that which was lost” (19:10).
John’s portrayal appeals to a general audience. This portrait radiantly displays Jesus as God (1:1-3). Before Abraham even came into existence, Jesus existed (8:58). If Jesus had had a beginning, the sentence would have read: “Before Abraham came into existence, I came into existence.” It does not so read. Jesus had no beginning. Thomas rightly exclaimed about the risen Jesus: “My Lord and my God” (20:28)!
Whenever we read the Gospel records, we see the true portrait of Jesus. Manmade pictures of Jesus cannot portray accurately Jesus Christ.
