Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”
CM suggested that one of the reasons the disciples did not recognize Jesus after the resurrection was because his beard was pulled out during the horrific beating inflicted upon Him. This was in fulfillment of Isaiah 50:6, "I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: I hid not my face from shame and spitting."
Psalm 22 provides a description of the horrors of the crucifixion. Isaiah 52:14, “As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men:”
So was the reason the disciples didn't recognize Jesus after the resurrection because he had no beard and/ or because he was so severely beaten that he hardly resembled a human being? No, I think it was simpler than that.
Even after spending 3 1/2 years with Jesus during His earthly ministry the disciple still hadn't internalize what Jesus said, Matthew 12:39-40, "39 But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: 40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." The disciples didn't expect to see Jesus in the flesh and therefore they didn't see Him.
In writing about the seven mile Bible study on the road to Emmaus, Luke never mentioned a less than human appearance of Jesus. His fellow travelers didn't recognize him until he was breaking bread. I don't think it was necessarily the scars from the crucifixion, rather the breaking of bread took the blinders off.
Paul saw Jesus in his glory and was blinded by the sight. Again, nothing about Jesus looking like he had been beaten past recognition as a man.
As for what is Jesus’ appearance today, go to the source. Before the crucifixion, Matthews 17:2, “And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.” Very similar to Revelation 1:13-15, “13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.” John saw the glorified Jesus, the Lion of Judah.
No scars for Jesus in my opinion. And this is what we have to look forward to, 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”
And a favorite, Job 19:25-26, "25 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:"
Scripture from KJV
No comments:
Post a Comment