As Christianity has spread westward and become a predominantly Western religion, it has produced far more white images of Jesus than those of any other color. In looking at this compared to the historical Jesus, we have to ask ourselves the question: why? Was it simply out of ignorance of Christ's real color? Or was it, more likely, for some other, greater reason? I think it was the latter.
The reason for Christ's portrayal in glowing whiteness is, I think, because of the nature of whiteness as a color itself. White is the color of blinding light, of purity, and of holiness--and Heaven, a place many believe they will be welcomed into by Jesus when they die, embodies all of these traits. So would not a man from a white Heaven be white? The historical Jesus may not have been white, but in imagining Him at His maximum glory, people have tried to give Him the most glorious, most perfect form for a man in their minds. And in doing so, they have portrayed Him in a glorious, heavenly, shining whiteness.
As Christianity has spread westward and become a predominantly Western religion, it has produced far more white images of Jesus than those of any other color. In looking at this compared to the historical Jesus, we have to ask ourselves the question: why? Was it simply out of ignorance of Christ's real color? Or was it, more likely, for some other, greater reason? I think it was the latter.
The reason for Christ's portrayal in glowing whiteness is, I think, because of the nature of whiteness as a color itself. White is the color of blinding light, of purity, and of holiness--and Heaven, a place many believe they will be welcomed into by Jesus when they die, embodies all of these traits. So would not a man from a white Heaven be white? The historical Jesus may not have been white, but in imagining Him at His maximum glory, people have tried to give Him the most glorious, most perfect form for a man in their minds. And in doing so, they have portrayed Him in a glorious, heavenly, shining whiteness.
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