A man who claims he encountered Jesus during a near-death experience has revealed the details of the moment, including what he says Jesus looked like — and he says the figure was completely different from the image he grew up seeing.
Mike McKinsey, a construction superintendent from Chattanooga, Tennessee, says his life changed forever after an unexpected medical emergency led to what he describes as a supernatural encounter.
The experience happened while McKinsey was away from home attending his son’s wedding. What began as a family celebration quickly turned into a life-threatening situation that left him fighting for his health.
McKinsey had arrived early for the wedding with his family and spent time with his children at a nearby park. After playing with them, however, he began feeling unusually sick.
“At first I thought I was just coming down with the flu,” he recalled.
But his condition continued to worsen. By the time the rehearsal dinner ended, he had developed a high fever and was unable to sleep.
Wanting to avoid taking attention away from his son’s wedding weekend, McKinsey decided to wait before seeking medical help.
After the wedding celebrations were over, he finally went to the hospital, where doctors quickly became concerned.
A nurse examining him suspected appendicitis, and one test immediately confirmed something was seriously wrong.
“When she tapped the bottom of my other foot, it sent pain in my abdomen so bad that I screamed,” McKinsey said.
Doctors quickly contacted a surgeon, and within around 30 minutes, he was taken into the operating room.
Before surgery, McKinsey said he said goodbye to his wife before being taken away.
It was during those moments, before he received medication or met with the anesthesiologist, that he claims something extraordinary happened.
The moment McKinsey says he saw Jesus
According to McKinsey, he suddenly saw Jesus enter the operating room.
“I looked to my right and Jesus walked through the surgical room doors,” he said.
“He walked in as a physical person.”
McKinsey described the figure he saw in detail, saying Jesus appeared wearing a white robe with darker skin, short dark brown hair, a beard, and unusual “dark greenish blue” eyes.
The description differed from the traditional image of Jesus that McKinsey had grown up seeing, which often portrays him with lighter skin, long brown hair, and blue eyes.
However, McKinsey says he immediately recognized who he believed was standing before him.
“I knew immediately that it was Jesus,” he explained.
He claims Jesus approached him, reached out his hand, and spoke directly to him.
“He said, ‘I want to answer your prayer’.”
At first, McKinsey says he was confused and believed he may have already died.
“I was very confused, but I took his hand,” he said.
He described the encounter as feeling like only a short period of time had passed, but when he regained consciousness, he realized much longer had gone by.
McKinsey woke up with a doctor leaning over him in the operating room.
Although he felt like he had only spent about 10 minutes with Jesus, he later learned that several hours had passed.
“I woke up in recovery, so at least three hours had gone by. Maybe four,” he said.
His medical recovery was far from simple.
McKinsey spent four days in intensive care and remained hospitalized for 12 days in total.
However, he claims his experience continued even after the first encounter.
A second experience during his recovery
The day after surgery, McKinsey says he struggled to breathe and was diagnosed with pneumonia.
His temperature reportedly climbed above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, and medical staff treated him with oxygen and cooling blankets.
After nurses left his room, McKinsey claims he felt the presence of Jesus again.
“I knew Jesus was back and I figured he was coming to take me back to heaven for good this time,” he said.
But according to McKinsey, that was not what happened.
He says Jesus appeared at the end of his hospital bed and spoke to him.
“He said, ‘I had to get you flat on your back away from all the distractions so you could hear me’.”
McKinsey claims the conversation lasted around three hours and that Jesus told him he would recover and that he had a purpose to fulfill.
Following the experience, McKinsey says his outlook on life completely changed.
“Since meeting Jesus, my life has changed in a radical way,” he said.
He now shares his story with others and says he no longer fears death because of what he believes he experienced.
The childhood prayer McKinsey believes was answered
McKinsey believes his encounter was connected to a prayer he began saying as a child after the death of his grandfather.
He says he repeatedly asked God to show him heaven so he could know it was real.
“I started asking God to show me heaven so I would know it was real,” he recalled.
“It became a nightly prayer for about 10 years.”
McKinsey believes that nearly four decades later, that childhood prayer was answered.
“I never believed in near-death experiences until it happened to me,” he said.
He later documented his experience in a book titled I Held the Hand of Jesus in Heaven, where he describes the encounter and the message he says he received.
McKinsey continues to speak publicly about his experience, sharing his belief that his near-death experience changed the way he views life, faith, and what he believes comes after death.
He says his message to others is simple: to consider their beliefs, seek faith, and prepare for what he believes is the reality of heaven.