Do you believe in the God of surprises?
Now, let’s be clear, just in case anyone’s not sure. Although The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is one of my favourite books, and one of my favourite films, I know that it’s only make-believe; but just like the parables that Jesus told – the stories he used to teach people about God – it can help us to think about the mystery, and the joy of the resurrection of Jesus.
If you know the story you will remember that Edmund was sucked in by the White Witch. She tempted him with delicious Turkish delight and he agreed to hand over his brother and sisters. He chose to do the wrong thing. He betrayed them; and later in the story his failure and betrayal means that he is guilty of breaking the laws of Narnia – and his life is forfeit. Thankfully his brother and sisters forgive him, but his life is forfeit, and the evil Queen wants to kill Edmund.
There is nothing anyone can to do stop the Queen from taking Edmund’s life; but then Aslan the Lion offers himself in place of Edmund. In the dead of night Aslan himself over to the evil Queen and Edmund is now not only forgiven; but he is also free!
Aslan is killed by the Witch – the Evil Queen - watched by Susan and Lucy, and they cannot believe what they are seeing. Their beloved Aslan is dead and they must feel as if all hope is lost. Their beloved King Aslan is no more.
(Show the Stone table and Resurrection Film clip)
I believe in the God of surprises. In the Narnia series there is a lovely moment when Aslan says to the children and to the readers of the story: “In your world I am known by another name”; and a bit Jesus with his stories, Aslan leaves it for the children and us to work out who he is in our world – Jesus.
It’s a great story, but not as great as the Jesus-story, the Jesus-event, where Jesus offered himself not just for one person like Edmund, but for every single man, women and child in the history of the world – past, present and future.