Article
What Mickey Mouse Saw
December 17, 2019
In recent weeks many have been exuberant about the launch of Disney+. The streamer promises more family-friendly, clean offerings than the other filth-laden streamers. Some may want to debate that, but all the hoopla buzz about "Disney" made me think of a Charles Boyer painting of Mickey Mouse that was inspired by Norman Rockwell's Triple-Self Portrait. Mickey is sitting in front of a mirror an easel between him and the mirror. The scene is that of an artist sketching a self-portrait. Mickey is sketching himself as he sees himself in the mirror. Now, as we look at Boyer's work, we see both Mickey before the mirror and the reflected Mickey in the mirror. But, Mickey, sketching what he sees in the mirror, has sketched Walt Disney, whose likeness we see on the canvas on the easel. Mickey is a creation of Walt Disney. Thus, in the mirror image of himself, Mickey sees his creator.
I see some remarkable truths in his painting. (I am not suggesting Boyer intended these.) First, take a good look at humanity. Despite its many flaws, foibles, and fallenness, the depraved, distorted, disfigured humanity yet bears the image of its Creator. God's image is yet there. Second, this is truly God's predestined purpose for believers and should be the yearning of our hearts—that we should grow in the likeness and image of our Creator/Redeemer, Jesus. Looking in the mirror of the Word, we often see reflected back our sinfulness, ugliness, marred-ness. But, through salvation, sanctification, transformation, and growth, we can begin to see in our lives the likeness of Jesus. Third, whether it is Mickey or us, it is a wondrous illumination to look in a mirror and see our Creator, to know we are not the product of matter plus time plus chance.
But, there is something more remarkable: What if the Creator were to look in the mirror at Himself and see His creation? Though mirrors of Jesus' time were polished brass and not the superior glass ones of today, it is possible there was an occasion when He encountered one—though not in his poor carpenter's hovel. Did Jesus ever see Himself in a mirror? If so, what did He see? The Creator would have looked in the mirror and have seen His creation. Jesus, the Creator, became, flesh, humanity, us, His creation. Herein is the wonder of the virgin birth, the incarnation. The Creator, looking into a mirror would have seen us, His creation. He became us; he was born, lived, and died like we — all to save us. You might want to Google Boyer's painting of Mickey's self-portrait and take a look. For sure, you should take another look at Apostle Paul's Philippians 2:5-8 "…Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." What a portrait those verses paint!
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