Jesus Wasn't White

Jesus wasn’t white.
When I say that, I’m not talking about art, da Vinci can keep The Last Supper up on his wall.
Turns out it’s part of human nature to make our God look like us in our minds—you can find paintings of Jesus in all skin tones.
So when I say Jesus wasn’t white,
it’s not a critique of art,
it’s a critique of the church.

If a poor middle-eastern man came into the church would we welcome him?
Would we recognize Jesus in the homeless men on the street?
Would we treat Him like we would our white upper class evangelicals?
If this man told us to love our neighbor, that it was hard for the rich and greedy to get into heaven
would we turn our blind eyes and preach the prosperity gospel?
That in pushing a camel through the eye of a needle
white Jesus would give you a Ferrari and a mansion, the desires of your selfish heart?

Jesus wasn’t white.
He was Jewish, the King of the Jews, the King of all creation
and if you can’t accept that then renew your mind
because it is said that He came to shame the “wise.”

Now God Himself transcends race, He is light and life itself
but I think it’s important to remember the Savior of this world was not some opulent white man.
Our Savior got down on his knees and washed the feet of His disciples.
Our Savior came to serve.
So if we say we follow Him, are trying to live like Him,
yet use Him to serve ourselves and push our superiority
then who are we but hypocrites?

Jesus wasn’t white.
He was, is, and always will be the way, truth, and the life.
He will never be white supremacy.