Images of Jesus

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Mar 28, 2016
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#43
Gorgeous and timely.
It isn't an idol nor a graven image, that which is pictures or art depicting an artists rendering of the Spirit that is God in Jesus.

Such doesn't even fit the criteria of idol worship. Bibles have pictures of the patriarchs, and Jesus. Are those offending God? No. It comes down to a personal opinion. I don't think people are entitled to condemn anyone for favoring images of Jesus, the ark, Eden, or other historic depictions from the Bible. We're in a relationship. If we find peace and enjoy such images, so be it. Those that don't do not have them in their home or elsewhere. It is really as simple as that.

Its not so much idol worship that people have images of loved ones that have departed. But what they do with them?

What is the purpose?

Its like the teaching according to the parable. A tool for teaching the disicples to how walk by faith (hear God not seen) after the unseen eternal. . rather than what the eyes see the temporal

Its not what goes into a man that can defile them which includes the things we see. But what comes out.

Matthew 15:19-2o King James Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

As a object lesson using his own flesh as a a parable many time after teaching a parable he himself would disappear or hide so the unseen Spirit could do its work.

Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

In Mathew as a object lesson or parable He uses two blind men to emphasize the work of his ministry .In so much he came to give the spiritual blind eyes to see, and the spiritual deaf ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches (everyone who has ears to hear.) .

Matthew 9:26-28 King James Version (KJV)And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land. And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

One more example of using flesh to demonstrate the unseen as in now you see hIm ...now you do not.

But he is still there working in the hearts the disciples like that of Peter . Peter one of disciples who did not walk away because they had no faith .The gospel offended them as a hard saying. They stopped up the ears and refused to believe in a God not seen

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; (offensive) who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life But there are some of you that believe not. (no faith) For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked(beleived in him) no more with him.Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words (not flesh) of eternal life. John 6: 60-68
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
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#45
All images of Christ should come through the reading and studying of God’s word. Why would anyone desire pictures when we have the word of truth? Do you want to know what the Lord looks like? Read all about Him. He was full of grace and truth. That’s what He looked like, still does.
 
Oct 24, 2019
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#46

Romans 5:15
But not as the offence, so also the gift. For if by the offence of one, many died; much more the grace of God, and the gift, by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
 

1ofthem

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2016
3,729
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#47
Yeah we do need to learn who Jesus was and is through reading the scripture. God is a Spirit and those that worship him must worship him in Spirit and Truth. Still tho, I don't see anything wrong with the pictures.

First time I ever heard of Jesus was because of a picture of him on my grandmothers wall. And it wasn't one of those pictures that anyone would be thinking wow look at his blues eyes, long wavy hair, and flawless white skin...No this was a picture of him hanging on the cross, nails in his hands, crown of thorns and his blood being shed. Now I was only 4 years old at the time and had never heard of Jesus. So as I gazed at the picture with tears in my eyes, I asked my grandmother who he was and why he was on that tree and what was happening to him. She then told me that it was God's son and he laid down his life so that I and anyone who called upon him could be saved and go to heaven with him.

I'm 41 now and still remember the first time I truly heard about Jesus and understood about his sacrifice was at 4 years old because of a picture. I wonder how many others saw a Jesus picture and became curious and wanted to know more about him?
 

1ofthem

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2016
3,729
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#48
Yeah it's best to learn of him through the scriptures, but God can work through other things like pictures, songs, etc. and let the scriptures be known.

Here's a song that I think paints a good picture of Jesus using the scripture....
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
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#49
Its not so much idol worship that people have images of loved ones that have departed. But what they do with them?

What is the purpose?

Its like the teaching according to the parable. A tool for teaching the disicples to how walk by faith (hear God not seen) after the unseen eternal. . rather than what the eyes see the temporal

Its not what goes into a man that can defile them which includes the things we see. But what comes out.

Matthew 15:19-2o King James Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

As a object lesson using his own flesh as a a parable many time after teaching a parable he himself would disappear or hide so the unseen Spirit could do its work.

Matthew 15:21 Then Jesus went thence, and departed into the coasts of Tyre and Sidon.

In Mathew as a object lesson or parable He uses two blind men to emphasize the work of his ministry .In so much he came to give the spiritual blind eyes to see, and the spiritual deaf ears to hear what the Spirit says to the churches (everyone who has ears to hear.) .

Matthew 9:26-28 King James Version (KJV)And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land. And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

One more example of using flesh to demonstrate the unseen as in now you see hIm ...now you do not.

But he is still there working in the hearts the disciples like that of Peter . Peter one of disciples who did not walk away because they had no faith .The gospel offended them as a hard saying. They stopped up the ears and refused to believe in a God not seen

Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; (offensive) who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life But there are some of you that believe not. (no faith) For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked(beleived in him) no more with him.Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words (not flesh) of eternal life. John 6: 60-68
Personally, since you referenced images of departed family members, it's none of my business. I have a picture of a family member who passed away shortly after I took it. She's looking out over the ocean and for me it means a great deal given she was battling incurable cancer.
I have another picture of a family member who raised a certain kind of farm animal. He loved them as pets, not for food. I have a picture of him sitting under his favorite shade tree and feeding them. He too was battling liver cancer and is now with the Lord.

I think it is a personal matter. If one does not like to have pictures around, that's their right. For those that do, it isn't any of my business.
I think too often we can feel led to act as soul police over others. That's not our role.
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
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#52
I am surprised the spirit of lies Satan was typified by flesh and blood(the temporal things seen) at all. Simply a way adding drama. Mel Gibson style .

I am not saying there was no blood as part of the demonstration of the unseen work . But Catholicism would seem as what you support. . . looking to the things seen the temporal, as if they were the eternal unseen . And the kingdom of God does come by observation. Which it clearly does not

God the one good master or Lord, is the Spirit of truth .No such thing as flesh of truth. . God is not man as us .

He refuses to be recognized as if he was a man and therefore would not stand in the holy unseen place of the Father as a abomination of desolation .

For instance, Jesus said his flesh as to what the eyes see profits for nothing, zero . But rather it is the unseen Spirit of Christ through the incorruptible seed of His living word that works in us. The unseen work alone can profit.

Those who appose the unseen work say flesh profited for everything and was not simply a demonstration of the unseen lamb of God who was slain as a Lamb form the foundation of the world .

Taking a opposite stance.. . .More blood and flesh . . .takes away the spiritual unseen understanding.

Blood guts and gore does make good Hollywood stuff that does appeal to the lust of the flesh.
There are a great many Catholic haters on the Net. I'm not Catholic.
Anyone who thinks Jesus didn't suffer and bleed on the cross and suffer torture prior, hasn't read their Bible.
The sins of the world were put under the blood of Christ on the cross.
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
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#54
Read scripture, you’ll know.
I have. Which is why I asked you the question since you stated Jesus was not a Nazarite.
Numbers 6.
Part of the vow includes abstinence from wine, strong drink, or that which is of the grape, even its skin. No razor shall touch the head nor the face. All disciplines in the Nazarite system was to set ones self apart and to the service of God.
How do we know Jesus wasn't Nazarite? The vow would last typically 30 days, sometimes 60 at most.

Jesus did not drink wine. There is no scripture that reports he did. Jesus consecrated the wine during the last supper, but we are not told He drank any of it. He told his Disciples to drink in remembrance of Him.
The wedding in Canaan, Jesus turned casks of water into wine because a Jewish wedding feast without wine was unheard of. We are not told Jesus partook.

And then there's the Book of Revelation 1 where John describes Him as having white hair like pure wool. The book of Daniel shares this as well.
But in all the scriptures there is no other description of Christ. All we know is what we're told about how he comported himself during his brief ministry among us.
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,186
3,703
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#55
I have. Which is why I asked you the question since you stated Jesus was not a Nazarite.
Numbers 6.
Part of the vow includes abstinence from wine, strong drink, or that which is of the grape, even its skin. No razor shall touch the head nor the face. All disciplines in the Nazarite system was to set ones self apart and to the service of God.
How do we know Jesus wasn't Nazarite? The vow would last typically 30 days, sometimes 60 at most.

Jesus did not drink wine. There is no scripture that reports he did. Jesus consecrated the wine during the last supper, but we are not told He drank any of it. He told his Disciples to drink in remembrance of Him.
The wedding in Canaan, Jesus turned casks of water into wine because a Jewish wedding feast without wine was unheard of. We are not told Jesus partook.

And then there's the Book of Revelation 1 where John describes Him as having white hair like pure wool. The book of Daniel shares this as well.
But in all the scriptures there is no other description of Christ. All we know is what we're told about how he comported himself during his brief ministry among us.
Did Jesus raise the dead?

6 All the days that he separateth himself unto the Lord he shall come at no dead body.
 
L

Locoponydirtman

Guest
#56
I don't for a couple of reasons, one is that we really don't know what Jesus actually looked like. Handsome white Jesus with blonde flowing hair probably isn't accurate, but then again. Who knows.
And second people do tend to get caught up in venerating pictures, statues and other such images.
I do however put up a nativity at Christmas which is the exception to my general rule. However they are just reflecting a scene in history not actual individuals. I think there were likely more than three wise guys.
 

Whispered

Well-known member
Aug 17, 2019
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#59
I did not remember a specific length, but a few was under it for life.
..."According to the Mishnah [Naz. vi], the oral tradition of the Old Covenant people, if a Nazirite took an oath of service for an indefinite period of time the vow lasted for 30 days, which was the shortest possible period of time for a Nazirite vow. There were also perpetual Nazarites, like Samson and Samuel. The Mishnah distinguishes between lifetime or perpetual Nazirites who were ordinary perpetual Nazirites and Samson-Nazirites. Both classes of Nazirites were for life, but the ordinary perpetual Nazirite could be defiled by coming in contact with the death and was allowed to occasionally shorten his hair provided he made the necessary sacrifices. But the Samson-Nazirite, like the hero Samson in the Book of Judges, can not trim his hair and is allowed to come into contact with the dead without incurring ritual defilement, thus allowing a Samson-Nazirite to serve as a warrior [Judges 15:15]. " Article:THE VOW OF THE NAZIRITE
 

John146

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2016
17,186
3,703
113
#60
..."According to the Mishnah [Naz. vi], the oral tradition of the Old Covenant people, if a Nazirite took an oath of service for an indefinite period of time the vow lasted for 30 days, which was the shortest possible period of time for a Nazirite vow. There were also perpetual Nazarites, like Samson and Samuel. The Mishnah distinguishes between lifetime or perpetual Nazirites who were ordinary perpetual Nazirites and Samson-Nazirites. Both classes of Nazirites were for life, but the ordinary perpetual Nazirite could be defiled by coming in contact with the death and was allowed to occasionally shorten his hair provided he made the necessary sacrifices. But the Samson-Nazirite, like the hero Samson in the Book of Judges, can not trim his hair and is allowed to come into contact with the dead without incurring ritual defilement, thus allowing a Samson-Nazirite to serve as a warrior [Judges 15:15]. " Article:THE VOW OF THE NAZIRITE
And the point?