Like Jesus

By Zou Da-hui

There is a popular saying in artistic circles: "It is easy to copy the shape but it is hard to copy the expression." Shape has to do with external appearance while expression concerns the spirit and the essence. Many painters have copied the Mona Lisa, the masterpiece by Da Vinci, the famous Italian artist, but none have succeeded in reproducing the enchantment of Da Vinci's work. Mona Lisa as a person has long been forgotten, but her spirit has become the synonym for a smile.

Myself an artist, I once had a strong desire to paint a portrait of myself. But I found it hard to do because it was hard to grasp my own expression. Expression is a revelation of one's inner spirit, and one's own spirit is the most difficult of all to grasp. An old saying has it: "Only the wise know themselves." Saying is always easier than doing.

A Christian must have faith as an integral part of his spiritual being. I had several discussions with other artists. One of them said to me sarcastically, "Just draw a cross and that will show you are a Christian." But I disagreed. I believed that would look superficial, funny and unreal. Christians should be characterised by peace and joy in the Lord, without needing to do some kind of artificial dressing-up. Another painter said: "Jesus was a foreigner with blond hair and blue eyes. You're not like him by birth, so how are you going to paint yourself like him?" Indeed I used to be skeptical about how a Chinese could be saved by a Jew and how a Chinese could act like Jesus. The painter further pointed out, "The only thing Chinese people like is to look rich and successful."

All through our lives we are struggling to understand ourselves and this is more than just a philosophical notion. We do not spend a lot of time struggling simply to simply survive; it is our fight for wealth and social status that takes up most of our time. This is because we are always wanting to come to a knowledge of ourselves by comparing ourselves with other people. But comparison only reveals difference; difference produces discontent; and discontent catches us up in an endless chase, as we struggle to become what we hope for.

Christians, however, seek to be like Jesus. Once you accept Jesus into your heart, Jesus begins to live in you and you will act in the spirit of Jesus. Every Christian has received this gift. A famous sculptor once said, "I think of the sculpture of Jesus I made as myself in fantasy." A famous German painter in the 15^th century said after he painted himself carrying a cross like Jesus, "I just want to be like this person carrying the cross." They all wanted to model themselves on Jesus.

I once visited an African American church in a little town in Louisiana. On the wall of the church hung a painting of Jesus in the person of Martin Luther King, the human rights leader. They simply saw Jesus in Martin Luther King, because it is Jesus who gives the dynamic to pursue after righteousness.

In an American Indian church in New Mexico, I once saw a painting of Jesus dressed like an American Indian. Also on the painting was a hymn written in the artist's own blood - "You shed blood for us; we now express our love to you with blood. Our bloods are mixed together..." On seeing this, I felt almost as if Jesus had been an American Indian.

What impressed me most deeply of all was a Bible published in China in the 19^th century. In this Bible there was a picture of Jesus and his disciples wearing Chinese clothes, with Jesus looking like Confucius. This is because the painter, coming from his Chinese background, tried to portay Jesus as the epitome of the noble character. That Bible has led countless Chinese people to hear the word in terms of their own lives and to come to know the true God. How could I not think of Jesus as a Chinese? God is omnipresent and omnipotent. His love is not limited by race and nationality. He who loves Him will look like Him.

In the Bible Jesus never allowed himself to be painted. He showed himself to people in the likeness of a servant. He wanted people to know Him as truly God, so that they could be saved, become like Him, be identified with Him. Regardless of color and race, all Christians can see the living Christ in themselves, in their outer and in their innermost selves.

I finally gave up the idea of painting a portrait of myself. I want to use my life and my faith to make myself more and more like Jesus. And that would be the truest and most lasting artwork of all..

The author has participated in many art exhibitions in North America as well as China. He now lives in Los Angeles.