A new picture of Jesus Christ has been in the news lately, just before his most recent birthday a few days ago.  The new picture by artist Richard Neave effectively rescues him from European control.

The Europeans had painted him in their own image and held him hostage for two thousand years. His picture has been that of a white man, pale, with long blonde hair and a Scandinavian-type beard. He appears like some sort of aristocrat who has never done a day’s work in his life.

Yet the Jesus we know was certainly not like this. He was the son of a carpenter and must have helped a bit around the workshop. He must have lifted big planks of timber, and done his fair share of work with the saw, hammer and plane. That would have built his muscles but also left his hands calloused and fingernails chipped.

He walked a lot in the desert hills, first running errands for his carpenter father, perhaps delivering finished furniture, and later as a preacher. That must have made him a little stockier than the picture we are used to presents.

He was never plentifully supplied and often went hungry, despite his multiplication wizardry as he demonstrated with fish and bread. He couldn’t have had that smooth look of his images, but more likely a tired appearance.

Of course, being the son of God, all this was his choice.

The new picture is different and conforms more to what we know about the man. It is that of a typical Middle Eastern man living the sort of life Jesus led. The new Jesus has short black hair, a brown skin and brown eyes. His expression is that of a man who has suffered quite a bit, not the placid look of a man in meditation or who has had it all easy.

So we have a new realistic picture. The good Lord might finally have cut himself free from his captors and has used Mr Richard Neave as the vehicle of his rescue.

It is about the right time, too, since the same Europeans who claimed him for their own have turned their backs on him. The magnificent houses they built for his worship in times of spiritual fervour, or as exhibition of opulence, are increasingly being deserted. Some have even been turned into shrines of pleasure, such as night clubs.

It is, of course, not the first time that God’s house has been put to other uses. Jesus himself had to throw out of the temple a bunch of money changers who had taken it over for their trade. The only time he ever lost his cool.

In Rwanda, we went a step further and turned God’s sanctuary into mass slaughter houses. I am not aware that Jesus cracked his whip at the profaners as he did with the money changers. Perhaps even he was shocked beyond belief. More likely he exercised his legendary infinite capacity for forgiveness.

In Europe, the temples have become objects for the curious who marvel at the splendid monuments to a one-time world of believers and wonder what has caused them to abandon their faith and with it, the shrines to their God.

Scholars, interested in the rise and decline of civilisations or studying the cycles between faith and scepticism or unbelief, wander through them looking for answers. Somewhere within the shrines they might find them.

Meanwhile as the churches empty in Europe and turn into expensive ruins, in Africa they fill to bursting and new ones are built all the time.  Africa is more accepting of new things even as it sticks to its centuries old ways. We are also a very generous people.

It is not the first time that Jesus has found refuge here. When he fled Herod’s terror, it is to Africa he came. Even now, as Europe walks away from him, Africa is more welcoming.

We in Rwanda can claim him for our own, although that does not mean that we are exemplary Christians as our history has shown. We are not going to give him our own image, either. The new one suffices. But there are certain aspects that make this claim valid.

His immense capacity for sacrifice for others is something we understand. His incredible resilience in the face of suffering, abuse and rejection resonates with our experience. His standing up for truth and what he believes, and the willingness to pay the ultimate price for it is similar to what Rwandans go through every day. The message of forgiveness and reconciliation that he preached is our own national spirit.

Worthy thoughts for the New Year, I suppose.

I wish you all a happy and prosperous New Year.

jorwagatare@yahoo.co.uk