07 Feb Jesus Art Displays ready for viewing

There are two art displays currently in the lobby area of the Family Life Center and one in the glassed-in area of the main church building. Both of these displays offer artwork from around the world, depicting Jesus in many different ethnicities and cultures. Why collect artwork like this? Why display it? What’s the purpose? These questions have recently challenged me to articulate my passion for the vision behind this project.

Critiquing Jesus’s ethnicity in images has become a hot topic in our polarized world—ethnic images of Christ elicit an array of reactions. Why is this? Some people believe these depictions are fueled by ethnocentrism, racial arrogance, political agendas, cultural biases, racial supremacy, prejudices, eurocentrism in colonialism, ignorance, or even weaponizing Jesus to show disrespect. Some assume the depictions are ignorant of historically inaccuracy—driving others to correct them. At times these motives, accusations, and reactions are probably accurate and deserved, but maybe there’s also a higher vision we miss when bogged down in these arguments—modes of interpretation unworthy of the subject matter—the vision embodied. Perhaps, when we learn to recognize and attempt to put down our personal racial lenses, we find a glimpse of the divine. Art interpretation includes artist intention, context of presentation, viewer desires, and a consideration of the mode itself—art. How we look at art determines how we see it.

Is it ok for Jesus to be pictured in any culture? I think it’s important to consider the usage of the artwork—what is its purpose? If the image is in and for scientific and historical contexts and purposes, I would expect Jesus to be portrayed as the Middle Eastern Jew He was, or at least like descriptions from the Archko volume, the forensic renderings from the shroud of Turin, or the AI compilations of those descendant from Jesus’s specific lineage. Perhaps with these we can get closer to what Jesus really looked like, but the truth is no one really knows what He looked like. More importantly, we must remember the purpose of most art is to draw people away from superficial thinking—it calls us to something higher and deeper than what we can witness with mere eyes. Art communicates a message, inspires us, and draws us to a place of emotional connection.

Just as we must keep in mind the higher purpose of art, so we must be mindful of Christ’s mission. His transcendent nature is perhaps the epitome of cross-cultural examples: Leaving that which was His own, He humbled Himself and became flesh (Phil. 2:5-8)” to bring a message of love—love for us and for others—love for the whole world. Emmanuel—God with us! I often explain the incarnation to my kids like this: “I can communicate with our dog and goats some, but in order to really get them to understand me, I’d have to become a dog or a goat. God had a message of love than man was not understanding, so He became like us to be sure we understood the depths of His love.” Him enduring this human experience makes Him relatable and shows He cares about us and what we go through. If I went through all that trouble to become a dog, I sure hope people wouldn’t sit around arguing what breed I was—it would trivialize the sacrifice, effort, and epic nature of my actions!

Likewise, I often feel our arguments of what Jesus looked like demean the incarnation—often we can’t see the forest for the trees—we miss the point. He wants us to think like citizens of a kingdom of Love that’s higher than the trivial things we get distracted by in our human existence—it’s a calling to be transformed by this love: our minds, our hearts, our focus, our perspectives. “Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2). This transformation is a hallmark of a Christian’s relationship with Christ. We see this mental transformation of love and maturity in Christ also at the end of the Love Chapter, 1 Cor. 13, and in Col. 3:2: Let us “set our minds on things above, not on earthly things.” The lens of love and the mind of Christ must be what we embrace. When seeing a picture of Christ, we must SEE Christ—His mission, purpose, and love—love for us and love for everyone.

So, yes, I think it’s natural and beautiful for people to see Jesus like themselves; being relatable is part of His incarnate message of love—I think Jesus would love this. It’s a good thing for people to see Jesus like them, the image meets them halfway to inspire them the rest of the way (as Christ did for us): ethnic images of Jesus make us feel we can become like Jesus, empowered to follow Him.

Seeing Jesus like us is important, but as our faith matures, I think seeing Jesus as different than us becomes even more important. Just as an adult who still acts in the immaturity of a child is an odd and potentially dangerous thing, we too must grow spiritually to see that Jesus is not only for us but for the world. Viewing Christ in multicultural images is an important exercise for us—it’s a reminder that the kingdom is not about us; in doing this we practice Christ’s message to think on things higher than ourselves: we humble ourselves and are transformed by the renewing of our mind (Phil. 2). When we think of Jesus cross culturally, we are drawn into His cross cultural, incarnate example; we start imagining things from other people’s perspectives, wondering what it’s like to be them, feeling like we can relate, and IN THIS a beautiful thing happens: compassion and empathy grow within us—we care about others and want them to experience God’s Love. We are transformed into GOD’s agape love incarnate. It’s the basis of missions, the goal for every Christian, and evidence of a maturing relationship with Christ.

So the question comes to sit on our doorstep: what do we think, feel, and experience when we look at Jesus depicted in other cultures? Are we surprised? Offended? Angry? Inflated? Confused? Feeling shaken and unstable? Inspired? In awe of its beauty? Spending introspective time in contemplation, reflection, evaluation, meditation, and prayer is crucial to reaping the benefits of this cross-cultural practice.

Join us in this important exercise of our faith journeys. Located at our multicultural Jesus art displays is a printout of questions to take with you for reflection. It’s an art display in 3 phases: The artwork of Christmas (nativity, visitation of the wisemen, flight to Egypt, Madonna and child, etc.) will be displayed for only a week or so more before switching to images of Jesus’s life and ministry. Artwork of crucifixion, resurrection, Gethsemane, and Passover supper will begin shortly after Ash Wednesday; about a month before Easter–Amanda