PHILADELPHIA -- A homeless man on the verge of tears has his face buried in his hands when "Philly Jesus" spots him. The cardboard sign says his backpack was stolen. Philly Jesus knows better, but they pray together anyway.

Not two seconds later, a couple with a wheelchair-bound daughter asks Philly Jesus to say a prayer for her -- and for a picture.

Michael Grant isn't Jesus, but try telling that to his disciples.

'These are just clothes'

"Salvation is a free gift," said the 29-year-old city resident, whose long hair, beard, robe and walking stick are used to create a visual ministry. "I don't do this to earn brownie points with God."

Grant is a former drug addict and rapper who was run over by a minivan driven by an ex-girlfriend. He got hooked on opiates and later heroin as a result of the 2005 accident. His musical career embraced the dark side and theft fueled the constant search to score dope.

After years of taking drugs, selling them and being arrested for misdemeanors, a judge ordered Grant to rehab. It's there where true salvation awaited.

"I just felt at peace," he said of the weekly bible study sessions that have kept him clean for nearly three years now. "He took my punishment for my wrongdoings. All my sins were nailed to him," Grant said of his idol -- who he merely dresses up as.

"These are just clothes," he said, adding that his appearance is just based off interpretations and paintings.

Grant, who attended Catholic grade school and was an altar server while growing up, said religion has always been instilled in him. But does he really need to wear the white robe or carry a cross for a three-hour hike up Broad Street, as he did on Saturday?

"I'm using the talent God gave me to show him in a non-denominational way," he said. "The last thing I ever thought I'd be doing in my life is this."

Good Friday

Grant was 15 minutes early to a 2 p.m. interview at LOVE Park last Friday. Out of nowhere, he appeared atop a 5-foot-tall wall, robe and hair whipping in the wind as mist from the park's iconic fountain showered him.

Just as sudden as his appearance were smiles that started to crack on the faces of those nearby. The visual ministry was under way.

"I tell them this whole life is temporary and all of us as human beings can get so caught up, we don't think about God," Grant said of the actual teaching and preaching he does.

Between citing scripture and the word of God during conversations with those who ask, Grant "baptized" three people in the fountain at LOVE Park and prayed with another man he knew.

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Not everyone is having his non-denominational ministry, though. Some walk by and spit in his general direction, convinced he's on an ego trip or just walking in Jesus' sandals for personal gain.

"I just try to bring awareness that there's an afterlife. I break it down to them," he said. "The truth hurts," he said when asked how people react. "I feel compelled to tell people the truth."

Grant was arrested on disorderly conduct charges late last year after argue with a police officer about accepting money for photos. The charges were later dropped. City police said Monday that he is involved in "pending litigation," however additional requests for comment from other city departments regarding the case were not returned.

Breaking Bread

In private, Philly Jesus does end and Grant is born again. He'll stay at friends' homes, de-robe, take a shower and try to relax. Grant said Jesus' public ministries went on for three years and, now two years into the gig, said all things must come to an end.

He's mulling a career as Philly Moses years down the line when his flowing brown locks age to a weathered gray.

With Pope Francis' arrival now less than a month away, Grant said he'd cherish the opportunity for insight on Francis' transformation into a pope "if it's God's will for us to meet."

Either way, "I'll be preaching the gospel in the streets."

Greg Adomaitis may be reached at gadomaitis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregAdomaitis. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.