America 250 Semiquincentennial Bible Celebration

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Hello, everyone. This is Francis Douglas for Celebrate the Bible. For today, we have an artist’s rendition of the face of Jesus Christ called the Transfiguration. The artist is Paul Kleiben, formerly of Knott’s Berry Farm in Buena Park, California.

This original pamphlet is from the year 1942.

First, I’ve taken a few photographs, and included a short video, to show what happens when I turn the lights off (below). You’ll see that the illustration glows brightly in the dark, and the reason behind this piece can be found in the Holy Bible.

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Let’s turn to Matthew 17, verse 2. It states, “and He was transfigured before them. and His face did shine as the sun, and His raiment was white as the light.”

On the reverse of this piece of Christian ephemera, we see that it was a souvenir takeaway from a place called the Little Chapel by the Lake. Visitors to the Knott’s Berry Farm amusement park would visit the chapel and watch a presentation on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Visitors would sit in pews inside the chapel, while a recorded spokesperson would give a complete description of the physical appearance of Jesus.

This description would be played over speakers as two large doors would open to reveal a life-sized painting of Jesus, which would glow with adorning lights.

I am now going to recite and recreate that description for you, just as it was presented year after year, decade after decade at Knott’s Berry. The amusement park is still there, but the little chapel by the lake is no more. I will have the words on my web page so you can read along with me.

And, as always, if you would like to view the photos, short video, and text, please visit my wordpress web page at celebratethebible.com.

Many versions as to the true description of Christ have been given to the world. Among the most authentic is this one, written by Publius Lentulus, president of Judea, to Tiberius Caesar. The first appeared in the writings of St. Anselm of Canterbury in the 11th century AD.

As follows:

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 the graves and heals all sorts of diseases with a word of touch.

He is a tall man, well shaped, and of an amiable and reverent aspect. His hair of a color that can hardly be matched, falling into graceful curls, waving about and very agreeably couched upon his shoulders, parted on the crown of his 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 of a color suitable to his hair, reaching below his chin and parted in the middle like a fork, His eyes, bright and blue, clear and serene, look innocent, dignified, manly, and mature. Oftentimes, however, just before He reveals His divine powers, His eyelids are gently closed in reverential silence, in proportion of body most perfect and captivating. his arms and hands are 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 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 perfection, surpassing the children of men in every sense.

To contact Francis Douglas use this email address: fd316@celebratethebible250.com