Jesus was an Outgoing, Strong Man

by Letters Editor · January 17, 2017

People admired this rather handsome and powerful young man when he entered his missionary work.

From Henri L du Plessis, Cape Town – I am happy to lend support to Heather Withers of Johannesburg (January 23) in her plea for exultation rather than sadness.

In early and even contemporary art, Jesus is often incorrectly depicted as a rather sad, often underfed or effete teenager. Even the beautiful sculpture the Piete, where the Holy Cadaver is lying on the lap of Mary, is totally off the mark.

Jesus was actually an outgoing character, liked to work hard from a young age by helping his temporal father Joseph making furniture, carts and many things wooden.

With the primitive tools then on hand, they worked very hard all with muscle power. Jesus, who liked to eat well, consequently developed a large, very well-built body.

People admired this rather handsome and powerful young man when he entered his missionary work.

Remember the moneylenders in the yard of the temple?

Even towards the end of his mission, the soldiers who came to arrest him fainted with fright when he was pointed out to them.

The Roman soldiers tried to break him in with beatings, hunger and thirst, and by making him carry the cross to sap his energy so that he would not cause mayhem at the crucifixion.

So then his last act was to place his soul into the hands of his Father. This set Christ free to take the young saved robber by the hand into paradise and to return to his friends on the third day as he had promised.

Yes, it is true, Jesus was a man among men and what is more, he lived his life with enthusiasm and joy for, after all, he was the Prince of Life!