Should Christians Have Pictures of Jesus?
The question of whether Christians should use or display pictures of Jesus is one that continues to surface, especially in a visual age where art, film, and digital media often shape our thoughts about the Lord. Yet this is not merely an aesthetic matter. It is a deeply theological and spiritual concern. At its core, it touches the holiness of God, the nature of Christ, and the authority of Scripture.
The Second Commandment: A Clear Prohibition
The Word of God is not silent on the use of images in worship or devotion:
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above… Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them” (Exodus 20:4–5).
This is the second of the Ten Commandments, and it is not limited to pagan idols of wood and stone. It includes any likeness of God. The commandment makes clear that God is not to be represented visually. Any attempt to depict the divine inevitably diminishes His glory.
Jesus Is God
Some argue that pictures of Jesus are permissible because He became a man and walked the earth. Yet Scripture affirms that Jesus Christ is more than a man. He is God manifest in the flesh:
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us… full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).
To depict Christ is to attempt to portray God Himself. But how can finite hands or imaginations rightly represent the Infinite? Even in His incarnation, Christ veiled His glory. No one today knows what He looked like, and all images are ultimately guesswork or invention.
Faith Comes by Hearing, Not Seeing
The New Testament emphasizes the sufficiency of the Word, not images, in knowing and worshiping God:
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
God has chosen to reveal Himself through the written and preached Word. He did not give us pictures. He gave us Scripture. Jesus Himself is called the Word, not the image. And He is known through the Spirit, not through visual representations.
No Physical Description in Scripture
It is striking that the Bible gives no physical description of Jesus’ earthly appearance. The Holy Spirit did not inspire the Gospel writers to describe His height, skin tone, hair, or facial features. Why? Because God did not want us to focus on His form, but on His truth and work.
Attempts to create images of Jesus, whether European, Middle Eastern, or otherwise, fall into speculation and often reflect cultural bias rather than biblical accuracy. Worse, they risk replacing the living Christ with a false image created in man’s likeness.
The Danger of Idolatry
While many who display pictures of Jesus do so with sincere intentions, the danger of idolatry remains. God does not judge only outward worship but also the affections of the heart:
“Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen” (1 John 5:21).
Even if no literal bowing occurs, the repeated use of visual images in prayer, teaching, or devotion can lead the heart to depend on a false representation of Christ. The danger is subtle but real. We begin to shape God in our image, rather than allowing Him to shape us by His Word.
Christ Is Spiritually Present, Not Visually Represented
Jesus promised to be with His church spiritually, not through icons or imagery, but through His Word and Spirit:
“Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20).
True worship is not tied to a location, shrine, or image. It is rooted in spirit and truth:
“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).
To insist on visual aids is to undermine the sufficiency of the Spirit. We are called to walk by faith, not by sight.
The Glory of the Invisible God
The Bible repeatedly reminds us that God is invisible, not because He is less real, but because He is infinitely holy and beyond human comprehension:
“No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (John 1:18).
“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature” (Colossians 1:15).
Jesus Christ is the image of God, but not an image made with hands. He is the living revelation of the Father, not a portrait or painting. To attempt to reduce Him to a picture is to obscure His divine nature and insult His glory.
God’s Pattern in the Tabernacle
In the Old Testament, God gave Israel specific instructions for worship through the tabernacle. Every detail was prescribed, from the materials to the measurements. But never was an image of God allowed. The ark of the covenant represented His throne, and the mercy seat His presence, but no figure or face was ever shown.
“And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat” (Exodus 25:22).
This pattern speaks volumes. God desires to be known through His Word, not through man-made forms. Even the cherubim atop the ark covered their faces, a testimony to the reverent mystery of God’s presence.
Church History and the Reformation
The early church and many faithful Christians throughout history have opposed the use of images of Christ. The Protestant Reformers, including Martin Luther and John Calvin, denounced religious imagery as unbiblical and misleading. They emphasized the preaching of the Word as central to worship, not paintings or statues.
Their concern was not cultural but biblical. Images of Jesus often distort His character, reduce His majesty, and confuse the minds of worshipers. The Reformers believed that the living Christ is better known through Scripture than through any canvas or sculpture.
Teaching Children with Truth, Not Art
Some may argue that pictures of Jesus help children understand the Gospel. But the Bible is sufficient for teaching even the youngest heart:
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation” (2 Timothy 3:15).
We must trust that the Spirit of God is able to work through the Word of God, even in young minds. Rather than showing them pictures of Jesus, let us fill their minds with the truths of who He is: holy, loving, powerful, and risen.
He Shall Appear
One day we shall see Him, not a painted image, but the living, glorified Christ:
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2).
Until then, we walk by faith. And that faith is anchored in the Word, not in the imagination. Our longing to see Jesus should not be satisfied with artistic interpretations but with anticipation of the day when faith becomes sight.
Final Thoughts
The issue of images of Christ is not merely about preference or artistic expression. It is about the purity of worship, the authority of Scripture, and the glory of God. Let us honor the Lord not by making Him visible through art, but by magnifying Him through truth.
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).
Let us worship the risen Christ as He has commanded, with reverence, in spirit and in truth, and with our eyes fixed not on pictures, but on the Word that reveals Him.