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Isaiah 52:14 – Was Jesus Ugly?
Was Jesus Ugly?
Be honest, doesn’t that question make you cringe? We don’t want to call Jesus ugly. That would be an insult, wouldn’t it? Neither do we want an ugly Jesus…right? How many movies have an ugly Jesus? Even Hollywood prefers a good-looking Jesus, and we know how most on the left feel about Him who is on the right hand of God. Can you imagine the uproar if they made a movie with an ugly actor portraying Jesus? Jesus with sharp, clear, dark eyes; flowing, curly hair; tall and majestic looking; strong and healthy, is how I want my Jesus to look. How about you?
But…His appearance was marred more than any man, and His form more than the sons of men” (Isaiah 52:14). This verse occurs before Isaiah describes Jesus as having no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him, nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him (Isaiah 53:2). OK, scripturally speaking, I guess Jesus was not “Hollywood Handsome.” God didn’t want people attracted to Jesus for the wrong reasons. Jesus was at least just average looking. Unless Jesus was even worse.
But what about Isaiah 52:14? Is this verse saying Jesus’ was misshapen or diseased? Contextually, the verse most likely speaks of Jesus’ looks after the beating, the scourging, the humiliation, and during the crucifixion.
- But he didn’t begin that way. At first everyone was appalled. He didn’t even look human–a ruined face, disfigured past recognition. (The Message)
- Beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person. (New Living Translation)
Yes, that I can more easily accept. For some reason that is more palatable. OK, Jesus wasn’t ugly, just normal; until savaged by mockery, envy, hate, and fear.
But to be honest with you, I wonder why it bothers me to think of the possibility that Jesus might have been ugly? How about you? Does that question make you cringe? I wonder why…. Why should we even care what Jesus looked like?
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