Despite the fact that no one truly knows what Jesus Christ looked like, there are a number of portrayals of the son of God. These portrayals range from Christ hanging on a cross with its crown of thorns, and sweat and blood dripping down his face through, to the man blessing a young child.

When someone has a relationship with Christ, it is personal. Some keep it quiet, some make a statement. Christ is part of them and in him they find comfort, peace and solace. Each Christian has its own way of relating to their saviour. Some have pictures hanging on their wall or mantelpiece, some draw, others write and for a significant number they have a tattoo.

In almost every depiction of Christ he is shown as a man with a beard. A tattoo is a way for someone to carry Christ with them, and people will know who or what the tattoo is. The tattoo is not just a work of art, but to the wearer it is a statement through which they honor God. From a small tattoo on an arm or leg to a full portrait backpiece, for the wearer is an emotional object, it reminds them of Christ and how he suffered for them.

Many Jesus Christ tattoos do not carry an image, many are just the word “Jesus,” but again, the word has meaning and it contains sentiment. For a lot of people with just a single tattoo Jesus Christ is their choice.

Often depicted with a bible verse written above, below or even through the overall work, a Jesus Christ tattoo is very often a talking point, and for those who show their tattoo in public makes a very striking statement. For someone who looks a little rougher round the edges, a tattoo of Jesus Christ softens them and shows much more about the inside of the person than their outward appearance. Looking tough on the outside, but trusting, believing in and following Christ is who they really are, and a tattoo shows this.

There are many famous people who demonstrate their love of Christ through tattoos: David Beckham famously has a large image of Christ sat on the ground on, Justin Bieber has a tattoo and has told the world “I believe that Jesus died on a cross for my sins,” and Katy Perry has the name “Jesus” on her left wrist. This was Perry's first tattoo and has significance in her life about her upbringing.

For everyone with a Jesus Christ tattoo, the meaning is significant. Some praise for God, others are a humble thank you and some, like Katy Perry, have it as a reminder of who she really and truly is. For anyone who does have a Jesus Christ tattoo, when asked why and what it means, the story is always different and each story is filled with emotion.