If you were an artist, how would you paint Jesus? In our minds we all have a picture of Him. For some, He looks like a strict schoolmaster. It may be that some see him as a peeping Tom, always watching us, ready to jump up to punish us.
Some people have a picture of a grey, old man who speaks softly, always acts gently. He turns a blind eye to all our wrongs. Grace and forgiveness is his character.
The picture you have was partly created by your family and your church. Influenced by your children’s Bible pictures.
2000 years later and I wonder what He was really like. The real Jesus. Did He ever laugh? Did He have a sense of humour? Religious people will, by now, be offended, but this column may not be for them. I wonder if Jesus ever told a joke as a child?
Your picture may be built on a verse like, “Jesus wept”.
Then you build your picture almost like an archaeologist builds an entire dinosaur based on a single tooth. You have a picture of Jesus in your mind but if you passed Him in a busy mall, would you recognise Him? I believe Jesus did laugh and cry. He was sad at times but experienced joy many times. Proverbs 17:22, “Laughter is good medicine”.
