My daughter has asked me the same question many times in the last couple months, “Mom, since I will be 18 soon, can I get a tattoo?”. We have discussed all aspects of getting a tattoo. I don’t have one myself, but I am not opposed to her getting one. We have talked about how a tattoo might “define” you to some people. Some people may make judgments about you because of what your tattoo says or how it looks. I certainly have not changed her mind about her desire to get a tattoo, so we shall see in about 3 months what she decides to do with her body.
Today we will look at a verse that some say might suggest that Jesus had a tattoo.
On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Revelation 19:16
So? If Jesus had a name written on his thigh, does that mean he had a tattoo? Some people conclude from reading the verse above that Jesus must have had a tattoo on his thigh. But, because Jesus was a Jew and Jewish Law warned not to put tattoo marks on yourself (Leviticus 19:28), Jesus probably did not put a mark on himself.
So, what does it mean that on Jesus’ robe and on His thigh He has “King of Kings and Lord of Lords” written? The book of Revelation is filled with symbolism, and this description is most likely symbolic. The mention of the name being written on Jesus’ thigh is probably figurative. The mention of the name being written on His robe and His thigh could very well mean that the words were not on His skin at all, rather, they were written on the part of His robe that covered His thigh.
In any case, it does not seem that Jesus had an actual tattoo. The best way to find out and confirm the truth of the matter is to declare Jesus as Lord of your life and be with Jesus when He returns to earth.
But if the title Lord of lords is so important, what does it mean? The idea of Jesus being King of kings and Lord of lords means that there is no higher authority. His reign over all things is absolute. God raised Him from the dead and placed Him over all things.
21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
Ephesians 1:21-23
In the end, all other rulers will be conquered or abolished, and He alone will reign supreme as King of kings and Lord of lords of all the earth. There is no power, no king, and no lord who can oppose Him and win.
We have the choice to follow Him and make Him our Lord of lords. If we make the choice we will indeed be a witness one day to see first-hand the answer of Jesus and His tattoo.