The Lord of the Rings, I love for the imagery and the intricacy of the plot. Even before I saw the movies, I could see the tall majestic trees of Lothlorien, hear Aragorn's soft humming, and taste the lembas gifted to the Fellowship. I study Tolkien's devices, spending long hours pondering how I can apply the same techniques to give my own story-world the same depth.
But right now I want to focus on its sister series, written by Tolkien's friend and fellow Oxfordian, C.S. Lewis. With the arrival of Prince Caspian swiftly drawing near, the magical realm of Narnia has again been beckoned to my thoughts; I've watched The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe twice in the past two weeks.
When I was younger, The Chronicles of Narnia won, hands down. Four kids, one of them my age at the time (Lucy, if you're wondering), whisked off to another world of fauns and dryads, centaurs, haunting songs and parties lasting long into the early hours. Where four children are crowned kings and queens. King Peter, the Majestic. Queen Susan, the Gentle. King Edmund, the Just. Queen Lucy, the Valiant.
What kid doesn't want to kneel before their liege lord and find themselves ruler of such a glorious kingdom?
Even now, the thought brings a beaming smile to my face and causes my pulse to quicken. I'll admit it here: I want to go to Narnia. I want to meet Tumnus, and journey with Caspian to Aslan's Country. To see the great Lion, O, how wonderful!
Of course, I already know the King of the Wood. Aslan does not only exist in Narnia; no, as he told the Pevensies to do as they left Narnia after the battle
against Miraz and the Telemarines, we can find him in our world as well.The similarities between Aslan and my King continue to steal my breath. And that's no exaggeration. Especially when I remember that the director and producers of the blockbuster film version aren't Christian.
Let's review some of the parallels we see in just the movie version. I'll start with the more obvious ones.
King of the Wood, the True King of Narnia: Christ is the King of Kings, as we know from Isaiah. And like I said, I'm starting with the obvious ones.
His omniscience. In Tumnus' cave, in the movie, after Tumnus has lured Lucy to sleep out of the flames Aslan appears. Even then, he knew, and was watching out for Lucy; Tumnus stops playing and is hammered with guilt.
His Sacrifice.
This one I still love. I can't count the number of times I've read the books, and I've seen the newest Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe about ten times, but I still love it. Edmund is the most despicable of traitors. His family he has left behind, and even when the Witch's true self is revealed, he continues to feed her information. When he returns to his brother and sisters, a dark truth is revealed: Edmund must die. Or all of Narnia will perish.
We all know where the story goes after this. The Witch comes, claims him as is her right, and Aslan takes her aside and makes a deal. That night, Susan and Lucy accompany him to the Stone Table, where they witness the brutal killing of the one who was supposed to save them.
The Witch leaves to battle their brothers, and the sisters approach the cooling body that was once Aslan. Not a bone of his was broken, but he was pierced for Edmund's transgressions.
Dawn comes. The girls go to leave, and suddenly a tremendous cracking is hear; they turn to find the Stone Table upon which Aslan was killed broken in half, and Aslan missing. Then they see it; the rising of the sun, and the Lion appears, hale and very much alive. He tells of the Deeper Magic, which goes beyond the Deep Magic of Justice that the Witch knew.
Here I'll pause and just draw a few parallels that most of you have probably already grasped. The Stone Table and the Deep Magic represent the Law and the old covenant of blood and sacrifice. Without sacrifice, there was only death. Then, taking the place of all, Jesus came and died.
"When an innocent dies in place of one who is guilty, the Stone Table will crack, and death itself will be undone."
So it was with Christ. (I'm starting to think I should have posted this on Easter. Oh well.)
The story continues. Aslan sets free those previously turned to stone by the Witch, included the much beloved Tumnus. Then they hurry to the battle, where things have just taken a drastic turn for the worse. Already vastly outnumbered, Peter is locked in a battle with the Witch herself, and Edmund has been mortally wounded. Oreius has been turned to stone, the gryphons killed, and all around the True Narnians are falling.
Then Aslan arrives. All are stunned; "Impossible," the Witch breathes. As the army the Lion has brought with him engages the forces of Jadis, he throws the Witch the ground. With Peter looking on, he finishes her, and turns to the boy who will be High King. Makes eye contact. And tells him,
"It is finished."
For some reason, it took me watching the movie ten times to realize what he says here.
It is finished.
The same words Christ used on the cross, when he defeated the Predator (Gotta love dragon-boy) once and for all. Aslan has just killed the Witch.
I got chills.
C.S. Lewis had done a masterful job of portraying the Lion. And Andrew Adamson, with his staying true to both the books, and by adding little pieces that merely enhance Aslan's character, has done just as well.
As the years pass, my reasons for things change. Yes, I am still in love with the idea of journeying to another world. But more and more, I appreciate and stand in awe of how God works his hand, even in something like a fantasy novel.
"Remember, he's not a tame lion."
"No. But he is good."
God cannot be tamed. But he, and He alone, is good. His grace goes beyond my every failing, my ever mistake and moment of clumsiness. When I stumble, his grace and love are there to pick me up.
Yet his justice is swift, and his Truth the only truth.
Deus paxque vobiscum.
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