The Earliest Image of Jesus

All around the world, there are many beautiful graphical representations of Jesus Christ—pictures, drawings, paintings, stained-glass, figures, and statues. Most of these images of Jesus were made by Christians.

What was the earliest graphical representation of Jesus? Many people might think that it is an old painting on a wall of an old church. However, it might be surprising that the earliest known image of Jesus was not even made by a Christian!

The Alexamenos Drawing is an ancient drawing that was found on a wall in the city of Rome. It was made during the first or second century CE. The drawing features a man worshipping another man who is hanging on a cross. The man on the cross has the head of a donkey. Below the donkey-headed man, there is a Greek writing which reads,

Alexamenos worships God.

Apparently, there was a Christian named Alexamenos, and his non-Christian associates found out that he believed in Jesus. Alexamenos might have shared the Gospel with them, and told them that Jesus died on a cross and rose again from the dead, and that Jesus himself was God, and that he worshipped Jesus.

Of course, Alexamenos’ associates thought that his religion was so foolish. They found it ridiculous that Alexamenos worshipped as God a man who was executed by the government authorities as a common criminal. So, they drew this drawing to mock Alexamenos and his faith. Indeed, as the Apostle Paul reported, the Gospel message that Christ was crucified was “foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Cor. 1:23)!