The Lion of Judah

Posted On April 17, 2022

“Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.”

John 12:31 NKJV

“He was oppressed and treated harshly,
    yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.”

Isaiah 53:7 NLT

Last week in “The Lion of Narnia” we began our journey into C. S. Lewis’s fantasy The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe to experience the Gospel story told in a different way. This week we celebrate Easter by seeing the conclusion of this tale. I hope viewing the love and sacrifice of Christ with fresh eyes is a blessing for you as it has been for me.

The Christ figure in The Chronicles of Narnia stories is a powerful lion named Aslan. As we saw last week, the mighty lion has chosen to sacrifice himself to save a boy doomed to die at the hand of an evil witch. According to the laws of the “deep magic” which rule Narnia — laws which must be obeyed or the world and everything in it will be destroyed — the blood of a traitor belongs to the witch. Edmund, the boy tempted and tricked by the witch into betraying his brother and sisters, should be the one to die on the stone table. But he will be saved from the fate he deserves by one who is innocent of any treachery. Aslan, the magnificent, loving, all-powerful creator and ruler of Narnia, has willingly humbled himself and offered his life to the witch in Edmund’s place. When we left Aslan last week, he had been humiliated, bound, shaved, and dragged up onto the stone table. Like a lamb led to the slaughter, here he lies waiting to die…

“All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect.
But the Creator gave no command.
‘It must be done . . .’ he said, and withdrew.
The angel spoke again. ‘It would be less painful . . .’
The Creator interrupted softly. ‘But it wouldn’t be love.'”

Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment

The evil witch, preparing to slaughter all of Aslan’s followers and take over Narnia, thinks she has finally removed the only obstacle standing in her way: “The great cat is dead!” she cries as she readies her troops for battle. Edmund’s sisters Susan and Lucy watch the scene in horror, wondering why Aslan would not fight back. None of them understand the truth: Aslan had a plan.

“When we face chaotic circumstances, we may lose our sense of hope. We may feel that as our earthly security crumbles beneath us, we are likewise on the brink of perishing. . . . But with the crucifixion, God had an awesome, eternal plan that He was bringing to full fruition.”

Charles F. Stanley, God’s Purpose for Your Life

What Susan, Lucy, and the evil witch do not yet know is that Aslan’s plan reaches far beyond what any of them can perceive in the present moment. The witch thinks Aslan’s sacrifice is in vain. The girls looking on think all is hopeless. How often have we felt the same way? How must Christ’s disciples have felt watching Him die on the cross? How useless His death must have seemed. How hopeless the situation must have appeared. But Christ had a plan…

“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through him.”

John 3:17 NIV

“Weep no more;
behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered . . . .”

Revelation 5:5 ESV

By willingly choosing to go to the stone table in a traitor’s place, the innocent Aslan turned back death itself. The witch thought his death meant her victory, but she didn’t understand the truth. Her evil actions against Aslan will bring about her destruction instead. Aslan knew this. This was his plan all along. Offering his life on the stone table will save all of Narnia.

Like the evil witch, I imagine Satan thought he would win, too. While humans are capable of evil on their own, I’m sure Satan — through his lies and temptations — played a part in the events that led to Christ’s crucifixion: As the Jewish leaders turned against Jesus, as Judas betrayed Jesus, as the Roman soldiers mocked and tortured Jesus, I picture Satan standing there with an eager, victorious look on his face. When Christ breathed His last breath, I imagine Satan shouting in triumph, “The great Son is dead!” But little did he know that his evil actions would backfire. Did he really think he had the power to defeat the Creator of the universe? Maybe. But he was wrong.

“God was in control and victorious in all that happened at the cross, just as He is in what you experience now. The Father is with you in your chaos. Trust that the One who defeated the grave never leaves you and is able to show you His resurrection power.”

Charles F. Stanley, God’s Purpose for Your Life

Christ always had a plan, and He still does. We can trust Him to fulfill His plan in our lives no matter what our present circumstances may be. By willingly offering Himself as an innocent Lamb to die in our place, He conquered evil, sin, and death. He saved the world. Satan can’t win no matter what he does. Oh, he still tries with his lies and his temptations to turn us away from our Savior. That’s why we still have battles to fight. But when Christ returns, He will defeat Satan once and for all. Let’s make sure we’re on the winning side. If you have not already done so, accept what Christ has done for you and make Him the Lord of your life. When you do, death itself is turned back. His resurrection power lives inside of you, and you gain eternal life with Him forever in paradise!

“Christ the Lamb won the greatest battle of all. He defeated all the forces of evil by dying on the cross. The role of Christ the Lion will be to lead the battle where Satan is finally defeated . . . . We will participate in his victory, not because of our effort or goodness, but because he has promised eternal life to all who believe in him.”

Chronological Life Application Bible

Here’s the final battle in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe…

“Jesus said, ‘It is finished.'”

John 19:30 NIV

Edmund’s brother Peter fought bravely against the witch, but he was no match for her. Her evil was too powerful to be defeated by human strength. When Peter’s situation seemed hopeless, Aslan came down and saved him. Christ did the same for us. Aslan’s words after destroying the witch echo Christ’s last words on the cross: “It is finished.”

“What was finished? The history-long plan of redeeming man was finished. The message of God to man was finished. The works done by Jesus as a man on earth were finished. . . . The sting of death had been removed. It was over.”

Max Lucado, Grace for the Moment

When we feel like we’re facing more than we can bear alone, Christ reminds us that He is always there with us. He will fight for us when we don’t have any strength left. And the best news of all? Christ’s resurrection is a sneak peek of our own. When we become His followers, the power that defeated sin and death lives inside each one of us.

“Christ the Lion is victorious because of what Christ the Lamb has already done.”

Chronological Life Application Bible

This week’s Scripture passages tell the story of Christ’s death and resurrection: The Lion became the Lamb that saved us all. That’s the Good News that we celebrate at Easter! I have also included a final clip from the Chronicles of Narnia. This one is from the end of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Edmund and Lucy, now a few years older, have returned to Narnia, along with their cousin Eustace, for one last adventure with Caspian, the new king of Narnia. But now it’s time for them to return home. As they say tearful goodbyes, Aslan reminds them that he will always be watching over them, and someday they will see him again…

“Live your life to the fullest and set your eyes and heart firmly on the promise of Christ’s return. He’s prepared a great reward and a wonderful home for you in heaven. Therefore be strong — diligently working and expectantly watching — because one day, probably sooner than you expect, you are going to see Him face to face.”

Charles F. Stanley, 30 Life Principles

Easter blessings to you, my friends!

https://youtu.be/aZvqKbInmzo

“In your world I have another Name.”

Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia

References:

• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Dir. Andrew Adamson. Buena Vista Pictures, 2005.
• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader. Dir. Michael Apted. 20th Century Fox, 2010.
• “The Chronicles of Narnia – The Voyage of the Dawn Treader Final Goodbyes.” YouTube, uploaded by MongrelNevada08, 15 April 2018, https://youtu.be/aZvqKbInmzo.
• Chronological Life Application Study Bible, New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. 2012.
• “Flashback – The Death of Aslan | The Chronicles of Narnia | The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.” YouTube, uploaded by Blessings, 14 March 2021, https://youtu.be/4tt5xJh23FE.
• “Flashback – Peter Vs Jadis – Aslan Kills Jadis | Chronicles of Narnia | Lion, the Witch & Wardrobe.” uploaded by Blessings, 14 March 2021, https://youtu.be/3-SBa_zmLN0.
• “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – Aslan’s Resurrection.” YouTube, uploaded by Lucy Pevensie, 15 July 2013, https://youtu.be/WsOBsj8g6Dw.
• Lucado, Max. Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of the Year. J. Countryman, 2000.
• Stanley, Charles F. 30 Life Principles Study Guide: A Study for Growing in Knowledge and Understanding of God. Thomas Nelson, 2008.
• Stanley, Charles F. God’s Purpose for Your Life: 365 Devotions. Thomas Nelson, 2020.

Images:

• Lion and Cross featured image by Jeff Jacobs from Pixabay (edited)
• Lion and Lamb image by Jeff Jacobs from Pixabay
• Christ and Aslan image by Blessings on YouTube (screen shot taken from “Flashback – The Death of Aslan | The Chronicles of Narnia | The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” https://youtu.be/4tt5xJh23FE)