This is how I see JESUS

It has been said that Yeshua (nobody was called 'Jesus') would not have been welcomed by most of today's Christians, if he sat next to them on a bus...

Actually, I don't think there is an "of course" about Jesus being a carpenter. Following his encounter with John the Baptist, all the Synoptic Gospels record Jesus preaching in the synagogue in Nazareth (to no good effect) and give an account of his itinerant preaching (more effective).

Saint Joseph (Jesus' earthly father) is described as a tektonbut only St Mark describes Jesus in the same way. While tekton is traditionally translated as a carpenter and Jesus, I think, is described as making ploughs, it can mean an artisan who works with other materials, an intinerant worker or even some sort of master craftsman. I don't think the other gospels ascribe a profession to Jesus.

Or in parts of Spain and South America, Mary is almost swarthy! Jesus wasn't a shepherd but a carpenter of course - the shepherd pertains to the fact that man is his flock. Like a lot of things Christians pinched a lot of customs from other religions - the Easter Egg was used by pre-Christian Britons to denote the arrival of Spring, the bunny is a fairly new custom not known in earlier times. Xmas was pinched from the winter festival of early Brition too - he wasn't born in December there is still discussion regarding that. Easter is celebrated at the same time as Passover.
In order to persuade the Britons to convert to made it more attractive if their customs were adapted into Christianity.

Not in Africa they don't Greatnan.

Funny how most portraits and statues of Mary show her as a blue-eyed European!

The picture looks pretty good to me. If Jesus existed he might well have looked like that - a bit. But with a carpenter for a father, he would most likely have been one himself - with a bit of fishing on the side!!

Just had en e-mail from DD telling me that the 3 year old asked today who 'Cheeses' was. They tried to explain it was nothing to do with the Easter Bunny and when they got to the bit about him sacrificing himself for us, decided that, possibly, it was easier at this stage to go down the Bunny route. We obviously, young and old, have our own view of how we see Jesus

From the few contemporary records it seems that Jesus must have been an extremely charismatic personality and a wonderful speaker. Of course some religions are much older than Christianity but the message of love and kindness which Jesus appears to have preached must have been revolutionary at the time. I don't know whether he believed he was divine, or whether he simply allowed the masses to believe it, as it was a very good way to get his message across. If the records are correct, he was a very brave man too.

I too find it amazing how the gospel spread out over so much of the world. And how the Christian religion has stood the test of time.

Those disciples did a grand job.

Thank you york Happy Easter to you too so glad you liked it

Audreyab - thank you for putting the link on here. It was beautiful. Happy Easter.

Gjust a traveling preacher, is that how you see Jesus, I think he was a bit more than that, he lived quite a long time ago and yet we still speak of him and many follow him and his teachings, I dont think anyone will be still discussing me for too long after I have died .

A metaphorical shepherd?

I don't remember Jesus being a shepherd - in fact, after he is 12 and Mary and Joseph find him teaching in the temple, we don't hear of him again until he is 30 when he appears to be just an itinerant preacher.

Are you looking at the wrong pic Nanaej? The first in the row. Not the third.

I can understand your thoughts j08 really I can, but just want to say that Jesus took it on he did not have to do this.

j08 who thinks that?

There was no Silvikrin when Jesus was alive!

For our crimes I suppose we do, if the cops catch us. Not sure about our sins.

Re the original post the first picture is thought to be the most realistic

And exactly how has he let us off? Don't most of us suffer for our sins anyway, somehow?

It seems a cruel bargain for a father to make with his son. "You die a cruel and ignominious death and I will let them off of taking punishment for their sins".

Is he a cruel and totally over-demanding God?

Hi Mishap to answer your question ...why saviour...Christians believe that Jesus died for us on the cross to save us from a bad fate due to our sins.

So he suffered and died for us = took a bullet for us.

Now you know why Christianity has gone on for so long, can there be a better love than being willing to give up your own life to save others.

I'm not sure how helpful it is in trying to imagine a likeness to Jesus actual earthly features.

The dreamy floating blue eyed white skinned & fair haired Jesus is an image deep in many of our minds from Sunday school.

The truth is indiscernible and unimportant,
but what do I know ?

Yes johanna Palestinain Arabs & Jews ..cousins really as all semites as you say!

Sorry,"
Forgot to say : "like the image on the link you sent."