What Does Jesus Look Like? (Does He look like…me?)

Scripture teaches that Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God. 2 Cor. 4:4, Col. 1:15

But, what did Jesus look like? Here is an answer from the field of forensic anthropology. – The Real Face of Jesus – Popular Mechanics, Dec. 2002 “Using methods similar to those police have developed to solve crimes, British scientists, assisted by Israeli archeologists, have re-created what they believe is the most accurate image of the most famous face in human history.”

But, Jesus is also supposed to look like us. (Or better stated, we are supposed to resemble Jesus.) I have always been both inspired and humbled by 2 Cor 3:18
“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

I love the story about the child drawing a picture and her mother asks her what she is drawing. The child answers: “I’m drawing a picture of God.” Her mother informs her: “But dear, we don’t know what God looks like!” To which the child replies: “They will when I’m finished.”

From a Christian perspective…I think that the child was actually correct! The more that we allow God to transform us by His Spirit, the more we should resemble what Jesus looked like. (I better keep drawing…)

Are YOU Getting Enough REST?

Some creatures can sleep just about anytime and anywhere. Koala Bears spend18-20 hrs / day: “sleeping & resting”. (only active about 2%)
God designed HUMANS to spend 1/3 of day sleeping. (national average <7) National Institute of Mental Health (study) Participants allowed to “sleep as much as they could”, averaged 8.5 hrs. They “felt happier, less fatigued, more creative, energetic and productive.” (Wow. Wish more people had participated in THAT program!)

National Sleep Foundation says: “49% of American adults have sleep-related problems” Houston Chronicle (8.31.09) 1/3 of Americans having trouble sleeping because of the economy. (And, this year Houston ranked as #32 most stressful American city.)

My daughter said yesterday: “If I am ever president, I will institute a national afternoon siesta. We would all be much more productive.” (Sounds good to me!)

Now, you cannot MAKE yourself sleep. It is an act of surrender. (Maybe that is why we sometimes fight it.)
I usually get 7 hours a night (about the national average for working adults).
So this Labor Day weekend, I turned off the alarm for 3 days, and tried to sleep as long as I could… (I averaged 8.5 hours).

In the book: Good & Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows, author James Bryan Smith says: “#1 enemy of Christian spiritual formation today is exhaustion. We are living beyond our means, both financially and physically.” (p. 34)


Jesus said: "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29

Now THAT sounds REALLY good to me!