What do you see when you look at the image above? Before reading on, take a moment and examine the picture. Most people see either a rabbit or a duck. And then after a moment or so they see both.
It’s amazing that something can be right in front of our eyes and yet we don’t see it. I mention this because there’s a well-known story about Jesus and Peter which you’ve likely read. I had read it dozens of times before I noticed something that was there all along. I had seen the duck. And then I saw the rabbit.
In Matthew 8:31-32 we read, “He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter plainly.”
Upon hearing this Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to you” (Matthew 16:21).
When Peter said, “This” what was he referring to? The answer is obvious. I suspect once Peter heard the Lord say he would be killed, he didn’t hear what followed.
I think I’m often like Peter. I see death, not resurrection. I see loss, not resurrection. I see setbacks, not resurrection. I see despair, not resurrection.
And yet, I think we who follow Jesus should look past death, loss, setbacks and despair. We should look past it all and focus our eyes on resurrection.
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