NOW, hold on let me explain my thought here before throwing bible verses and pictures at me!
I know the part of the Bible that says blessed are you for believing and not seeing but I think sometimes I still want to!
I have seen the images of Jesus we humans make - like the Jesus who is a white guy with blue eyes and flowing hair. I have seen the African American Jesus in pictures and statues at friends houses, I have seen the several different races of Jesus and even the Jesus that is still on the cross!
I
like this image of Jesus! - but is it Jesus? NO! It is an idea of him
- the way she saw him in her mind that she put into this picture -
she has other ideas of him in other pictures...
Just
Google search Jesus images - you get every culture of Jesus
pictures... We have to admit that we believe in the idea of Jesus!
Okay - maybe I should say we believe in the idea that the real
personage of Jesus existed and still exists!
There is strong historical data showing that Jesus existed about 2000 years ago, give or take a few 100 years. There’s a strong case for the existence of Jesus as a real person. Beyond the Bible, ancient sources like the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus and the Roman historian Tacitus mention Jesus in their writings. Archaeological finds, such as inscriptions and burial artifacts, also support the context in which Jesus lived. These don’t prove divinity, of course, but they do affirm that Jesus of Nazareth is more than just a myth
.Faith
comes in when we say HE STILL EXIST but I don't have a picture of him
and no I have never seen him! I have no doubt in my mind that my
faith in Jesus is found on a real being that I can interact with via
prayer and on several levels with by reading the Bible. I am honest
enough to say that I have never seen, nor touched Jesus.
I have felt a LOVE in the painful darkness of sickness as a child and then as an adult with cancer!
I have felt a LOVE that comforted in times of sorrow when my dad passed away or I had to put my mom in a care home!
Could that perceived LOVE just been my mind appeasing me in a hard time? As I have not seen Jesus nor can I prove He is interacting with my life – the answer is maybe! However, I BELIEVE that I know (faith) that he is always aware of my life and that LOVE was way more then my limited mind can create in times of deep pain!
This is all because I choose to have a relationship with Jesus in my mind, body and soul that is based on the idea of Jesus! LOVE in an broken world. Love that says no one is beyond redemption. That war, hunger, pain, violence, and meanness is a human problem that HE can solve if we can grasp LOVE.
In all honesty, most of the time I am not sure I want to see Jesus in this life anymore. I like the image of the ever-present being that is able to comfort anyone and everyone, no matter their race, gender or behaviors. I like the Idea of Jesus being able to love on and bring peace to the world without a face so no human can claim there are better than other humans.
I
guess I don't really want to see Jesus after all - at least not in
this plane. It might just complicate things for me.
No, I
think I will hold on to the idea of Jesus, for it is the only thing
that has ever brought me peace on the inside.
Whatever he looks like, I BELIEVE we will all find out in time, so no need to rush that.
I hope you will find faith in Jesus's existence without an actual picture or a vision of Jesus. I can tell you from personal experience that the idea of Jesus can fill the gaps created by this life.
The main reason I believe and have faith in Jesus is because he can fill all of the voids we experience in this trauma filled life with the love we need and hope that helps humans keep on going.
