Painting: Teenage Jesus
22 February 2007 2 Comments
Jesus is commonly depicted in our modern Christian culture as, well, as different than this:
In fact, the above depiction called “Jesus, the Teenage Years,” is probably “offensive” to many Christians. Tom Trujillo, a father, created the painting for his son (the present iteration of the website may not talk about this) and now sells prints of the work for $19.95.
This work is probably not historically or Biblically accurate. Trujillo points out there are no recorded details of Jesus’ life from age 13 to 28, saying “There is nothing but speculation about his activities during these years until his ministry began when he was about twenty-eight years of age.” The artist is not a theologian, nor does he try to be a theologian.
This painting is refreshing. In light of the inordinate amount of Christian kitsch hanging on church and living room walls, Trujillo’s painting is an honest perspective. It avoids the usual and speculative references to a long-haired, blue-eyed “meek” Christ as portrayed in recent decades. And the work’s symbolism is well-considered, even if it may not be entirely accurate.
You don’t have to like this painting — I’m not all that fond of it personally. But, fellow Christians, please avoid common, ignorant knee-jerk reactions to this sincere and fairly well-crafted painting. The artist is a brother in Christ, and Jesus told us our witness to the world will be by our love for one another. Right?
my thinking on this only goes back to scripture talking about the fact that Jesus had “nothing that would make him attractive” and this teen version is “pretty” I see the befriending of outcasts as true in this painting, but I really don’t think Jesus was a “Hottie” of course, I also don’t agree with the handsome “older” Jesus paintings… still thinking about these lines…
“he had no form or comeliness that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men;
a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isaiah 53:1-3 RSV
I recently found this commentary and find it very informative. I have also discovered blog sites that have pretty much scared the Hell out of me – what happened to tolorence and love? I only wanted folks to think interesting the same parallel Jesus’ life took as many of ours did – including mine and my own son. The teenage years – those years when you were more interested in friends than family, and your crappy attitudes about almost everything parents were trying to offer in good faith. Then the return to the fold around 28-30. I found it fascinating. I did purposely try to use symbolism in the art – if I have missed or been wrong on a point, please advise and I will remove it from the site.
Whether Jesus was good-looking or not is irrelevant. He must have had some powerful qualities to have created such a stir and such a following. Most charismatic leaders are not “wallflowers” – handsome? who knows? But if so, why would that make him any less Jesus?
Sincerely,
Tom Trujillo