Can someone please paint an authentic portrait of Jesus?
Can we bring to life the image of Jesus that is lost in the pious, bored, cold and distant man staring blandly at human life as if it disgusts him?
Cause I am very tired of seeing Jesus gently tiptoeing around the trashy humans. I am tired of seeing his blue eyes gazing off into the distance as humanity wails and anguishes all around him. I am tired of seeing the one clean hand extended while his body posture suggests he is completely disinterested.
How about the burly carpenter with dirt under his nails and tangles in his beard; with deep chocolate eyes and dark skin; with a broad, engaging smile on his face; down in the dirt with the blind man making mud out of earth and spit to smear on his damaged eyes?
THIS Jesus has children pouring into his lap, women laughing at his stories, men lounging next to him and hanging onto his every word. He sits in the dirt with the poor. He rubs elbows with the whores and cheats. He bends down to look into the eyes of the adulteress and speaks to her soul in a way no one else would. He wraps his arms around the contagious and stops a pulsing crowd to connect with one faith-filled, hungry, desolate woman.
Where is this Jesus in our holy paintings? Where did he go? Why do we paint him as something he isn't? And does that reflect the way that we paint him into our lives?
Distant.
Segregated.
Pious.
Uninterested.
British.
Can someone courageously throw some paint over this towering image? Can someone start over again? Can this whole Body of Christ paint just ONE piece of him at a time?
A dark, rough hand.
A heavy, weathered brow.
Thick, smiling lips.
A strong, dusty back.
A long, crooked nose.
Can we picture him roaring with laughter, celebrating with his beautiful creation?
Can we see him reaching down to sweep a little girl onto his shoulders, whispering to her that she is the crown of all of creation?
Can we allow him to be real? Flesh and blood. Divine, yet filled with breath?
Can we never set eyes on a distorted image of our Jesus again? Can we set them aside....
Can we start over?
2 comments:
Oh how beautiful this Jesus is!
What you wrote reminds me of my search for a Nativity scene where Mary looks like a worn out, sweaty Jewish girl who just gave birth in a barn. And, of course, thanks to Joe, I now have a picture like that. :)
"Distant.
Segregated.
Pious.
Uninterested.
British."
Best word association ever, btw.
I wanna try but I don't know how good it will turn out. lol.
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