JOY! Magazine

The Image of Christ this Christmas

No one in the past 1900 years has known what Jesus looked like when He came to earth.

It’s not unusual to see nativity scenes this time of year. They’re often lovely scenes, complete with robed figures nestled among sheep, donkeys, and cows on beds of straw. But one thing frequently amiss in these scenes involves the portrayal of Mary, Joseph, Jesus, and other characters. Nativity scenes frequently depict ethnically incorrect details of Christ’s birth—blonde, blue-eyed characters in Middle Eastern robes. This practice dates back centuries to Renaissance artists and the Byzantine

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