I always find the 'Euro-cized' picture of Jesus to be amusing since I probably look more like him (with my darker features and bushy black hair) than most Europeans. I think Discovery or National Geographic did something recently where they sought to get a more accurate pictures of what the man looked like.

JK, When it isn't engaged in endemic anti-Semitism and Israel-bashing, the BBC can come up with some ineresting programmes. Hosted by Jeremy Bowen, BBC Mid East correspondent - and not very predisposed towards Israel and Jews in general - the BBC aired a programme in which they reconstructed a bust of what Jesus supposedly might have looked like. Taking the skull shape and colouring indigenous to the area at the time, they had a criminologist reconstruct his face. Along with other clues and archeological evidence, the result was very far removed from the blue-eyed, long-haired, Victorian ideal of the sandaled "jesus Guru". He would have had shortish, wavy hair, very dark brown-black eyes, a prominent nose, a shortish beard and was of medium build at about 5' 6". The face staring out at us was very far removed, also, from early depictions of him. We know that the earliest mosaic is in fact based on the features of Alexander the Great, but other depictions in hte Catacombs and various early churches had fallen, very early, into a fantasy figure, which itself evidences a very early departure by the church from its roots and any sense of historically based fact. We'll never probably know exactly what he looked like and to some extent from a Jewish poiont of view, who cares - except, of course, it reinforces the fact that Jesus was Jewish which is something, even today, that some Christians do not take on board when it comes to their attitudes toward Jews.

I am so sorry that the Christian church has, since early times, dismissed the Jewish flavor of the faith. Because the faith has been Hellenized, we miss so much in our understanding of the scriptures.

As a Christian, I find this most interesting. But in regards to what Carolyn says about Christians "missing the Jewish flavor" I must say that not all Christians do. Jesus came here as a Jew and when He returns He will make Israel a mighty nation. Our Bible includes the Old Testament, which we read every week in our church. But, anyways, so many try to say that Christians have forgotten the Jewish people, and that is hardly the case. God hasn't forgotten them, and neither have we. God Bless Israel!

What a poor article. The city wasn't called Istanbul for another 450 years - until the Muslim conquest of Constantinope. In A.D. 1000, the population of that region was Christian and Jewish, with Muslim over-lords. Pilgrims to the Holy Land from Byzantium were hardly Crusaders.

Professor Hirshfield said Judaism and Christianity lived together in harmony. I believe that only Christianity and Judaism can ever live in harmony. Christianity came from the one who in His human form was a JEW!. Any who deny this are not Christians, period, end of story. And the earliest leaders or the Christian church of today were JEWS. Kind of makes it clear that Christianity is very much related to Judaism, eh? Those who say the Jews bear sole responsibility for the crucifixion of Jesus are thoughtless fools. Who actually put the nails in and put him up on the cross? Romans, who were Gentiles. Thus both Gentiles and Jews are guilty. This is the whole human race. The Jews were chosen by the Creator to bring knowledge of Him to the world. But like all humans, they didn't do what they should. The Creator had to step in and do it Himself. The Creator has not forgotten His first Chosen, but He has reached out to the other humans on the planet. And I am very glad this is so! As for my ancestry, some say that the 10 tribes of Israel (during the time of the divided kingdoms of Israel and Judah) who were dispersed formed the basis for some of my forefathers in the original inhabitants of Britain, the Cymri. Some say that the Scythians (Scotti) were from the 10 tribes who form another group of ancestors. And some of my ancestors were from that area close to where Spain and France meet and were forcible converts to Catholicism from Judaism, and it is said they were among those forcible converts. In any and all cases I will be delighted to someday know if I am partially Jewish in my ancestry, if any of these are true. Yet, because of my upbringing, I am a Gentile. Because of my decision at 19, I am a follower of the Jewish carpenter, Jesus. And I am not stupid, I know what our creator says about Israel, that He will bless those who bless Israel, and curse those who curse Israel. Not to say sometimes modern day Israel doesn't screw up! We should tell you when we think you do, just as you should tell us in the USA the same. Family does that. Those who follow Mohamed are deceived and deluded. And many are purely evil in their actions. Religion of peace? Sure, and I'm not fat! I don't know what you will make of this, but I hope it does make some sense to you and your readers. I just wish that rabbi's and temple members in the US really understood and did talk with Christians here. I've tried, but found such a huge barrier to discussions in their wariness and general attitude to goyim. By the way, Moses protege, Joshua, is my son's namesake because of his choice to serve the creator. Could I become a Jew with the rituals you have? No. Could I become a Catholic with their rituals? No. Rituals make me crazy! I worship the one whom I beleive to be the Messiah, and could never worship a 'queen of heaven' , sounds to much like asherah

SO WHERE IS TIBERIUS?

They lived together in hamony because they were the same. People of "The Way" as Rav Shaul says in Acts 24:14,22:4.,19:9,23,18:25,26,9:2etc.etc.There were people of the Pharisaical,Sadducee, Zealots,Essene,the Way etc. They were all sects in the same synagogues until the truly heretical leades in those synagogues forced them out as in the story of the man blind from birth in Acts 9:22. Ha Shem as always wants us to live in peace with All who will believe.Lev.18:26,19;:34,

Everyone tends to assume that their group's teaching is true while others are not - especially with religion. Robin wrote that those in synagogues (supposedly Jewish leaders) drove out Christians. Below is a quote from late 300s John Chrysostom, a famous Christian Bishop: "The festivals of the pitiful and miserable Jews are soon to march upon us one after the other and in quick succession: the feast of Trumpets, the feast of Tabernacles, the fasts. There are many in our ranks who say they think as we do. Yet some of these are going to watch the festivals and others will join the Jews in keeping their feasts and observing their fasts. I wish to drive this perverse custom from the Church right now." (Homily I, I, 5) Sounds like Christian leaders were driving the wedge, not the other way around.

Jesus is the only one with scars in heaven. When He comes in the clouds, we will not desire Him because of His handsome visage but we will rejoice to see HIm because He is the one who bears those scars on His face as well as His hands and feet as a reminder of the price paid for our souls. His face was so badly beaten, even Mary and His disciples did not recognize Him. He is the 'Lamb that was slain that sits on the throne .'....not like the hallowed paintings.

The flavor that is lost is that people are being taught that the 4th Commandment is no longer valid. This is where today's Christians drop the ball. All 10 Commandments are to be kept, even the 4th. Ever wonder what the truth is, like Pilate? Psalm 119 v 151 that is truth. Good Day

The believers/ God fearers in the time I was writing about ,not 300yrs. later, were all believers in the God of Abraham ,Isaac and Jacob. The believers in Jesus ,as The Way, the Truth and the Life had come to the revelation that He(Jesus) was the same God who was there from the begining.As Jesus said "Before Abraham was, I Am".They all worshipped and studied together in the same places /buildings/ synogogues/ TheTemple.They were working out their salvation with fear and trembling as every true believer in our Awesome Sovereign Lord has done since the begining.The leaders who were afraid of Him/them put those who believed Jesus was The waited for Messiah out of the Temple and synogogues.As it is written in John 9:13-41. In verse 22 is written,These words spake his parents, because they feared the Jews: for the Jews had agreed already, that IF ANY MAN DID CONFESS THAT HE WAS CHRIST, he should be PUT OUT of the SYNOGOGUE.Then in verse 34sure enough, they ,"CAST HIM OUT". These things were written AND happened long before the late 300s as the bishop wrote about.By 300 years after Christ , as with most things, the people had paganized what God had told them to do. By 300yrs. after Christ many had turned to a form of mithraism(look up "mithraism" on the web, it doesn't look like the "Christianity" of Christ's day,) that Constantine put in place as if it were "Christianity". This religion was far from,300 yrs., the original.It didn't take the Israelites even close that long to go for idol worship while Moses was on the Mountain of God receiving the Commandments that would be broken so often in the history of the world.There is no surprise that it had been going on long before the bishop you wrote about Herman.The scriptures I put down in the previous talkback describe it in detail. Those were written in the proper time to be giving a history lesson to us.I didn't write them just quoted them.

I know I will see my Lord Jesus face to face. What a day that will be! However I do agree with you. We have made Him look too blonde and blue eyed and fair skinned. I happen to also think he had some muscle to Him because of His work!! Now as far as height, I have read 5'6"-5'10" but who cares really? Thanks Lior, for your views. Cindy, Merriimack

.. and how truly so. In these times Yisrael is re-sounding hard into us Christians, today and the Bible truly is all about Yisrael from the Bereshit to the Revelation. An open heart and a trip to the Holy Land and Jesus & the Bible comes so real! There truly are many of us who love our Jewish bretheren and the land. God bless Yisrael and the people! Let us forever remember the keys of Abraham (Zech 2:8) and Genesis 12: 3) when we come to Him.

Hi! I was interested in what was stated concerning the BBC program and how they tried to figure out how Jesus looked. As said, neither do I care, but I am very excited to know that He was, is, and forever will be a Jew. I have read and heard testimonies of Jesus looking alot different than what these crazy people attempted to make Him look like with their foolishness. According to Josepheus and testimonies of many, Jesus had light brown hair, and piercing blue eyes, olive skin, and standing around 6 ft. tall, plus very strong physically. Afterall, He did work as a carpenter, walked almost everywhere He went, and obeyed the dietary laws which kept Him healthy. I do disagree that we will never know what Jesus "looked" like, though, because if you plan to spend eternity with Jesus, you will find out exactly what He looks like! God bless and shalom!!

Only a few years ago, I had a vision of Jesus' face. His face was very close, so I looked at Him piece by piece. His hair was brown, medium to dark in color, parted in the middle as many pictures display. The background was black so I didn't notice much else. As his eyes opened, they were large beautiful brown eyes that looked at me full of grace. He looked very young to me, maybe around 20. I remember I thought He looked cute, then I realized He knew my thoughts!

I have studied the Turin Shroud for 24 years and have no doubt it bears the photo-negative of Jesus the moment He rose from the dead. The positive image can be seen on the negative. It's a slam dunk. Chuck, Dallas 12-5-05

Marsha, Could you tell me where you find in Flavius Josephus' writings what Jesus looked like? I haven't seen that and would be interested. Thank you

Rhonda, I am not sure where it tells the description of Jesus according to Josephus' writings, but I do remember my pastors reading excerpts from his book about Jesus. Perhaps you can do an internet search on this. Now that I think aobut it, I'm going to, too! God bless!

You are accurate in what you say. I recently learned of the lost 10 tribes of Israel, and I also may be of Jewish descent due to being Scot/Irish. I would like to know more about this subject.I believe that GOD is really making himself known today.