Something my in-person community knows about me that my online friends here at Uncommon Pursuit might not is that I am an avid crafter! I like to knit and crochet and dabble a little in sewing. Earlier this week, I was looking through one of my craft forums when I saw a particular photo that stopped me. Someone had crocheted a small Jesus doll complete with a robe, sash, and a tiny cross in his hand. The creator did a lovely job creating this figure and I was impressed by the craftsmanship. The comments were full of praise, with various people calling it cute, sweet, happy, and adorable.
I smiled — and then I paused and thought a little longer about it.
Not to say that I think the doll itself was offensive. The craft was beautiful. The heart behind it seemed quite sincere. The image lingered in my mind for another reason—it made me wonder how the physical and mental pictures we form of Jesus can shape the way we relate to and imagine Him.
I think most of us have some picture of Jesus in our imaginations. For some, He may be gentle and comforting, while for others, He appears stern and demanding. He may appear variously as a distant spiritual figure or as a close friend. Certainly, none of those concepts of Jesus can claim to fully depict the one that Albert Einstein called, “the luminous figure of the Nazarene.” Still, the way we envision Christ will, of course, shape our Christianity.
Scripture consistently calls us not to shape Jesus in our image, but to allow Him to reshape our image. The Bible never allows Jesus to be flattened into one dimension. Instead, we see him operate on a life-size level throughout the story of Scripture. He manages to be compassionate toward those who are hurting but also confronts the self-righteous religious leaders. The same one who heals lepers and unclean women also flips the tables of those who were exploiting them. He manages to be both the Lamb who is sacrificed (John 10:11) and the King who reigns over all (Matt 28:18).
Paul reminds the Christians in Rome that we are to be “conformed to the image of his Son” (Rom. 8:29). For this to happen, we must encounter the authentic Jesus revealed in the Bible through the power of the Holy Spirit. That little crocheted figure was a sweet craft, but it also served as a reminder for me. As we seek to depict Christ in our art and in our lives, we are grasping just a small piece of the Lord who moved into our world to heal what is broken.
The question, then, is not only “How do I picture Jesus?” but also “How are my pictures of Jesus shaping the way I live?”
Discussion & Reflection Questions
ASK:
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When you picture Jesus, what qualities or images come to mind first?
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Do you tend to emphasize His compassion more than His authority, or the other way around?
DISCUSS:
Read: John 1:14–18; Matthew 11:28–30; Revelation 1:12–18
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How do these passages show both the gentleness and majesty of Jesus?
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In what ways can an incomplete picture of Jesus affect how we respond to Him in our daily lives?
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How does Jesus’ humanity encourage you; how does His divinity challenge you?
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Where do you notice cultural portrayals of Jesus influencing your expectations of Him?
DO:
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Spend time this week reading a Gospel passage slowly and ask, “What is Jesus showing me about Himself here? Are there particular assumptions He is correcting?
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Share with a friend one way your understanding of Jesus has grown or changed.
