Philly Jesus gets court date

Philly Jesus’ struggle with the law continues.

Mike Grant, the bearded imitator of Christ who was locked up last month on charges of “disorderly conduct” and “failure to disperse,” was in the Criminal Justice Center today for a status hearing.

Philly Jesus pleaded not guilty on all charges and requested a court date.

He will return on Dec. 15 to face the charges.

“God’s gonna use this to further me into my destiny,” Philly Jesus said after the hearing. “My destiny is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ to all creation in a visual experience. This is why I do what I do. When people look at me, they don’t think about Michael. They automatically think about the name of Jesus.”

Charles M. Gibbs, Philly Jesus’ criminal defense attorney, declined to discuss the charges, which he called “ridiculous.”

“I’m not gonna talk about my trial strategy on the sidewalk, I’m talk about my trial strategy in the courtroom,” Gibbs said.

Philly Jesus went viral, first nationally and then internationally last month as news of his arrest crossed the globe.

But his routine hasn’t changed — he is still posing for pictures and preaching in LOVE Park, and planning an Dec. 20 Christmas cross-walk.