DESCRIPTION OF THE SAVIOUR

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Thursday, May 13, 1880

FromAdvent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 20

DESCRIPTION OF THE SAVIOUR.

The following, purporting to be a description of Jesus as he appeared upon the earth, is said to have been discovered among ancient manuscripts, by Thurlow Weed, when traveling in Palestine, and by him contributed to a New York paper. The same document has been sent a number of times to this office; but we have never been sufficiently satisfied of its genuineness to give it. We now lay it before the reader, leaving him to judge for himself respecting it; not that there is anything improbable in the narrative in itself considered; for we may well suppose our Saviour was even more perfect than this, in his physical developments; the only question being whether the document is genuine or not:—

DESCRIPTION OF JESUS BY PUBLIUS LENTULUS, PRESIDENT OF JUDEA IN THE REIGN OF TIBERIUS CÆSAR.

There lives, at this time, in Judea, a man of singular virtue, whose name is Jesus Christ, whom the barbarians esteem as a prophet, but his followers love and adore him as the offspring of the immortal God. He calls back the dead from their graves, and heals all sorts of diseases with a word or a touch. He is a tall man, and well-shaped; of an amiable and reverend aspect; his hair of a color that can hardly be matched, falling into graceful curls, waving about, and parted on the crown of the head, running as a stream to the front after the fashion of the Nazarites; his forehead high, large, and imposing; his cheeks without spot or wrinkle, beautiful with a lovely red; his nose and mouth formed with exquisite symmetry; his beard thick, and of a color suitable to his hair, reaching below his chin, and parting in the middle like a fork; his eyes bright blue, clear, and serene; looks innocent, dignified, manly, and mature; in proportion of body, most perfect and captivating; his hands and arms most delectable to behold. He rebukes with majesty, counsels with mildness, his whole address, whether in word or deed, being eloquent and grave. No man has ever seen him laugh, yet his manners are exceedingly pleasant; but he has wept frequently in the presence of men. He is temperate, modest, and wise; a man, for his extraordinary beauty and divine perfections, surpassing the children of men in every sense.