It is the face known around the world. Though it sometimes appears with different shades of skin, the general characteristics are consistent: long hair, a beard, and a slender and somber face. This face is portrayed through paintings, sculptures, crucifixes and movies. It is the face immediately recognized as Jesus Christ. But, as we show in our article “What Did and Didn’t Jesus Look Like?” the Bible reveals very little about the physical appearance of Jesus. And what it does reveal contradicts the popular image you may have in your mind—an image that has been planted there by artists and filmmakers. Instead of having long hair, Jesus would have had short hair. Instead of having pale skin, He would have had a tanned complexion. Instead of being thin and fragile, He would have been masculine and strong. But if the popular image was not derived from Scripture, where did it come from? Why do artists, sculptors and film producers consistently portray Jesus with these features? What history shows may surprise you!