In an interview, Powell reported his astonishment at seeing the Jesus of his childhood appearing in the makeup mirror in front of him. He was not alone in having that image in his head. Countless children in the 20th Century knew images like these

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the 19th century...

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As far back as the middle ages, similar images of Jesus (with very blonde hair) were created.

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So what is happening here?

Why all these white European (and very unSemitic) Jesuses?

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And here we get theological as well as arty.

And even a bit psychological.

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History and experience show that when we encounter an object or an idea which we don't know, we project onto it what we do know. It is our best way of making sense of it. When it comes to the idea of God we do precisely that - we make God in our own image (reversing God's act in Genesis). 'Humanity writ large on the Heavens' is how many, including Karl Barth, have expressed the resulting image of God. This explains many of the disturbing descriptions of God in the Bible - where, for example, God calls for the annihilation of men, women and children. These are the words which people have projected onto God's lips; words which they wish God had uttered. It explains the 'bearded old man in the sky' idea of God.

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It happens too when we think of Jesus, but perhaps with more reason.

Jesus, the incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity, was God for all people. He was/is God-to-us. His whole life and death and Resurrection and Glorification were for and on behalf of us. In times when historical accuracy was not the aim, it would have been natural to imagine Jesus to be  'like us'.

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But whatever the intention might have been, all these images of a white Jesus (with blonde hair and blue eyes) is not without problems.

What if I am not white and European?

What if I am not a man?

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