Was Jesus Unrecognizable When Crucified?

[lisarn]

I have heard many say that the Bible states Jesus beyond recognition on the cross when they are talking about Passion of Christ and the brutality the movie showed. I was just wondering if anyone knew where I could find that in the Bible. I have scanned Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and I can't find where it specifically says this.
I thought the movie was well done by the way.

 

[KleinerApfel]

The prophet Isaiah tells us about the coming Suffering Servant of God:

Isaiah 52:
14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness—
15 so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Psalm 22 also speaks prophetically of the suffering of Jesus on the cross.

God bless, Susana

 

[KleinerApfel]

In answer to the question; Was Jesus Unrecognizable When Crucified?

I think those who knew Him would have recognised Him. There is more to recognition of a person we love than an unmarked face and body.

The Romans certainly knew who they were crucifying; the security was tight all the way through and after His burial.

Blessings, Susana

 

[lisarn]

Thanks all for your replies.

 

[jbarcher]

That Isaiah quote rings the "figure of speech" bell for me. If it was physically "marred beyond human likeness", er, I'm thinking anywhere between three to sixteen arms.

Ooh...if you think one crucifixion is horrible, the history surrounding Spartacus is going to be really nasty. "Decimation" of Roman ranks (for failure, every 10th soldier would be killed), and the Romans also stuck up a few thousand crosses (along the roads, mind you!) for each rebel captured alive.

 

[tndrwarrior]

Yes I'm sure there are many terrible ways to die even worse than crucifixion. But the suffering Christ went through was not purely physical.

 

[lisarn]

I don't think anyone has suffered anywhere close to what Jesus did. And that is so true tndrwarrior, he endured an incredible amount of emotional abuse. It makes my worst trials seem so small.

 

[bolinstephen]

Stop it. I'm about to puke even with out all of the graphic imagry. This is why im noy going to see the passion.

 

[Child of the Most High]

The passion was inaccurate historically. I would not base anything on that movie.

 

[lisarn]

I think it went right along with the scripture.

 

[pimorton]

The brutality of Jesus' crucifixion could not adequately be portrayed by Hollywood, because it would get an "X" rating for . It was a diabolical method of , which relied upon the instinct of the condemned to fight for life to induce more pain. The method of was suffocation, and it frequently took days for to come. The pain it inflicted required a new word to describe it - "excruciating" -meaning "out of the cross."
Considering the beatings Jesus took prior to His flogging, prior to the crucifixion itself, it is most likely He would have been unrecognizable.
And, yes, He suffered even more, knowing for the first time in all eternity, He would be separated from His loving Father. He suffered with all the sin and sickness of humanity laid upon Him. No wonder He died after only three hours on the cross, and no wonder Pilate, not knowing the depth of that suffering, wondered that Jesus had died so quickly.
And to think He knew before Gen. 3:15 what it meant that the serpent would strike His heel and yet He came and died willingly for me...WOW!

 

[lisarn]

I know. The love that he showed through his suffering is just uncomprehendable.

 

[Ave Maria]

Although His beatings were probably very brutal, I do not believe that He was unrecognizable. I believe He could still be recognized.