January/February 2001
The Many Faces of Jesus
by Della Westerfield
The sound of Mozart's Symphony Number 40 in G Minor poured out of the radio speakers, filling the small room with its smooth, electrifying tones. The orchestra skillfully played their instruments, as the sound of the music seemed to dance in the air. The atmosphere was tranquil and the mood was set for a special project that was at hand. An artist stood before his canvas, visualizing his masterpiece. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, then with a slight satisfying smile he opened them again and reached for his palette before resuming his solitude. With his eyes closed, he let the music fill his soul.
Slowly he opened his eyes as though his eyelids were stage curtains being drawn upward, then gazing on the canvas with a renewed spirit he was ready to begin his creation of Jesus Christ. Gingerly he dipped the tip of his paintbrush into one of the rainbow of oil colors that looked like shiny, melted gumdrops lying in tiny bright swirls on his palette.
After long, tedious hours of painting, his masterpiece was complete. As the artist stood back observing his work, a broad grin beamed from his mouth with immense satisfaction. His image of Christ stood with long straight locks of golden hair the color of wheat, his face white with a slight tan, eyes a shade of turquoise, the color of the sea. Upon him was a robe whiter than the purest snow and above his head, pouring down, was a bright ray of light, giving the illusion that it was streaming from heaven.
Thousands of miles away in another town, another artist listened to classic tunes by Mahalia Jackson. Her powerful voice engulfed the brightly-lit room, ringing out with such dynamics that the artist felt a sweet serenity as though angels were gliding around him.
Take My Hand, Precious Lord and Move on Up a Little Higher filled the artist's soul as he swayed to the music.
This artist's painting of Jesus had ebony hair and a beard thick as sheep wool, with his face the color of rich mahogany and his eyes the color of warm chestnuts. He wore a snow-white robe also, with a ray of light flowing down as though it too was streaming out of heaven.
Two different artists with two different paintings of Jesus Christ. Neither one has captured the true face of Christ.
Jesus Christ is the color of the morning sun rising in the east, he is the color of the sunset behind the massive mountains, he is the color of spring flowers and the color of warm, autumn leaves.
Jesus Christ is the color of a rainbow after the rain, the starry, midnight sky and the snowflakes that fall upon the earth in winter. He is the color of emerald in the summer and the turquoise of the ocean and sea. He is the color of every man, woman, boy and girl of the universe.
Jesus Christ is every color that God has created. Each time you gaze upon this vast world of his majestic creations and see all of his miraculous works, within each creation, you will behold the true face of Jesus Christ.
Della Westerfield lives in Martinez, Georgia.