In our culture, physical beauty is a matter of great importance. There are many who climb high on the ladder of social status because of the way they look, and there are those who struggle to fit in because their appearance falls short of society’s standards. As Christians how should we think of physical beauty?
We should start by remembering that the Captain of our faith came to us in a lowly and humble appearance: “He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him” (Isa. 53.2). The Lord Jesus Christ was not physically attractive in the flesh. “He had no form or majesty…no beauty.” Jesus was no head-turner!
Outside of Isaiah 53, the Bible does not tell us anything about Jesus’s appearance. The Bible talks about the physical appearance of others: King Saul was the tallest among his people, David was a handsome man, the patriarchs’ wives were very attractive. Why, then, does the Bible not say more about Jesus’ appearance? Why doesn’t the Lord give the church a portrait of his physical appearance? Could it be that there is a type of beauty that is more precious to him?
We hear every now and then that a person might be “out of league” for another because he or she is simply more attractive, but the only league a Christian should be concerned about is God’s league. Why must we lose sleep over that beauty which will fade in 20 years or less, when God has called us to cultivate the beauty within that grows unto everlasting life?
The invisible God created a visible world for us to behold and enjoy. It is not wrong to appreciate and be attracted to someone’s outward appearance, but Christians must take heed lest we fail to see a greater type of beauty. Peter says to women, “Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious” (1 Pet. 3:4). The woman described in Proverbs 31 should be admired because she greatly fears the Lord. Men, pray for better eyes to see the greater beauty of inward godliness!
None of Jesus’s disciples were following him because he was good looking. Rather, they followed him because he spoke with authority, performed miracles, was a friend to the unattractive, despised, and forgotten, and because he loved them in their unloveliness. This made Jesus very beautiful in their eyes.
Even in death, Jesus was beautiful. On the cross there were two kinds of imputation: the imputation of our sin to Christ, and the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to us. We give him our dirty rags and he gives us his majestic robe of righteousness: “He has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isa. 61:10).
God has given us his very own hidden beauty: the righteousness of Christ. He has adorned us with the most beautiful jewel. The church and Jesus, Bride and Bridegroom, are the most beautiful couple in the universe. In this life, we have already attained great beauty in union with Christ. In the next, we will possess both the greatest physical and spiritual beauty in our glorification. In the end, we get the most handsome King in the universe.
So, how should we think of physical beauty? Will we spend hours before the mirror and minutes before Jesus, or will we adorn the beauty within with more of Jesus’ truth and grace?
Damian Mai