Often there is more to the situation than what meets the eye. Isn't that true?

The Austrian philosopher Ludvig Wittgenstein used a "duck – rabbit" image to illustrate what philosophers call "aspect perception." The image can be seen in two ways – either as a duck or as a rabbit. If you see a duck, those big long pointy things out front are a beak. If you see a rabbit, those same big long pointy things are ears. And for both rabbit and duck the same round form in the middle of the image is the eye. If you saw one, and now see another you have experienced what he called a "Gestalt shift." "Now it's a duck, and now it's a rabbit." But you can't see them both at the same time. You have to have a "Gestalt switch" when your perception suddenly changes and you see things differently.

Wikimedia Commons [Licensed under CC BY Public Domain Mark 1.0]

When the gospel of Matthew records for us Jesus being sent by Pontius Pilate to the Roman soldiers, they stripped him, put a scarlet robe on him, and twisted together a crown of thorns, and they put it on his head. Then they put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they finished their mockery of him, they led him away to crucify him.

What do you see? A gang of sadistic bullies torturing a helpless person? Yes. And his suffering and humiliation is physically and emotionally real, painful and devastating. They mock him, that he or anyone would ever consider Jesus to be a king.

And yet, do they, and we, see the true and full picture? Is there another perspective? Could their cruel words and their diabolical actions, ironically, signify a deeper reality?

In Isaiah 50:6 we read: I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting….

Certainly that is what we see of this "Messiah." But how does it continue in verses 7 – 9?

“But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. Behold, the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them up.”

The words of Isaiah point forward to the vindication of this One who receives disgrace and spitting, but who is lifted up from his shame. Could this possibly be true for Jesus?

I hope you know the answer. I hope you have the "Gestalt switch" and the change in your "aspect perception." In our passage he is a humble King and a suffering servant of the Lord and the Lord's people. And yet there is veiled glory to be revealed, signified in their mockery.

Philippians 2:8-11 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

So. Look and appreciate his humiliation, suffering and death which accomplishes our salvation. But little do these sadistic soldiers know what else we see –that their words, "Hail! King!" Speak of the greater reality that he is "King of kings and Lord of lords."

Musing’s from Pastor John, June 6, Click to Email Pastor John

Pastor John’s June 6 message is at 10:00 AM on YouTube.

Things are not always what they seem.

Often there is more to the situation than what meets the eye. Isn't that true?

One of the worst aspects of the pandemic is that the church has lost its momentum in one of its most beautiful ministries: hospitality.

When we think, rightly, about how Jesus suffered in our place ON the cross, we also need to appreciate how he suffered for us ALL THE WAY to the cross.