Jesus is the Image of an Invisible God
The portrait of Jesus stirred [something] within me, similar to an eerie spiritual encounter and an inspiration. I use AI in the images that illustrate the stories I write.
This portrayal is [created] using advanced X-ray technology, artificial intelligence (AI), and one of the most enigmatic relics in human history: the Shroud of Turin.
Paul reminds us that Jesus Christ is “the image of the invisible God. Colossians 1:15.
Fifteen years ago, that verse set a theme for my work in motion.
The shroud, a piece of linen cloth, has long been believed by many to be the burial shroud of Jesus Christ, bearing the faint yet haunting image of a crucified man.
What makes this AI-generated portrait genuinely unique is the fusion of ancient history and state-of-the-art technology. The Shroud of Turin has been the subject of intense scientific investigation.
Somehow, the technology creating images [supports] my faith in Jesus Christ. At the same time, the doubting Thomas in me harbors skepticism for the scientific and religious claims. The man behind Thomas feels like me in this painting by the Italian Baroque artists-Caravaggio
“The Incredulity of Saint Thomas”
John 20:29
Caravaggio 1602
Back to the the technology. The recent dating release adds a layer of authenticity to the shroud’s mystery; it also intensifies the fascination surrounding the image it bears.
This process involved analyzing the shroud’s faint markings, enhancing previously indistinguishable features, and reconstructing the facial structure to create the portrait.
The AI-generated image invites viewers to contemplate Jesus’s physical likeness. But it is not to venerate the object but to contemplate “Jesus.”
While debates about the shroud’s authenticity continue, the AI-generated portrait bridges ancient belief and contemporary innovation, offering a new lens to explore the mystery of the Shroud of Turin and the face of Jesus Christ.
