A Lion’s Tale
He was the most unlikely person to write a children’s novel.
He was a 50 year old professor who had not married and had no children. He determined he would write a kind of fairy tale. Yet he had never even read a fairy tale until he was an adult. It was really unlikely he knew how to communicate to children; after all he was accustom to teaching college students about philosophy, medieval literature and high thinking theological concepts.
He did not even have much contact with children or the kind of personality that would attract them. But what he did have seemed to be enough, a childlike imagination, memories of his own childhood and a desire to write a child’s fairy tale. He knew this had to be a story of interest to more than just children.
He once said, “A children’s story which is enjoyed only by children is a bad children’s story. The good ones last.”
His first book did not start off with a plot or any intense character portrayals. Instead he began with some visual thoughts from when he was a kid and had drawn some “part human, part animal” characters. One was a half goat, half man creature walking through the snow with an umbrella and some packages. He also had the thought of a queen riding in a sleigh. So his story began.
After his writing had started, he began having dreams of lions. Then a lion seemed to charge into his story. Being a student of languages and cultures, he came up with the Turkish word for lion and that word became a name and a wonderful character; you might say the main character of his fairy tale- the name was Aslan. Aslan was a lion with all the same virtues as another hero in the authors mind. The author was C.S. Lewis and his hero was Jesus of Nazareth.
Lewis had some friends he wanted to try his story out on. One was a professor who had also written some fairy tale adventures with the encouragement of Lewis. The professor was JRR Tolkien and he had written a story called Lord of the Rings. These stories would have probably never been published if not for the continued support of Lewis. Yet when Lewis shared his 1st children’s book with Tolkien, the support was NOT there. Lewis’ book was called, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and his friend Tolkien thought it stunk.
According to Tolkien the story lacked consistency. It was just a mingled collection of ancient myths thrown together in haphazard fashion with a lack of proper details. Of course Tolkien was a perfectionist, who had even invented his own language for his fairy tale characters and he had not the likings for Lewis’ sloppiness.
Lewis was discouraged by Tolkien’s views and was about to stop the project until he received encouragement from a kid. So kids never think your opinions do not matter, one of the most endearing children’s series in the last part of the 20th century was saved by the supportive words of a little girl.
Lewis had also read his book to a Doctor friend and his daughter. The girl’s name was Mary Clare. So thanks to friends like the good Doctor and his daughter Mary Clare, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe went to press.
The book was published in time for the Christmas season in 1950. Fifty five years later in time for the Christmas season, the book has shot to number one on the best sellers list for children’s books and it to be released in one of the most expensive movies to ever be made. The story of Aslan is about to roar into theaters across American and England. Years in the making, it contains some of the most sophisticated computer technology ever used. Thank God, Mary Clare believed in Professor Lewis’ story; for now millions of children and adults of another generation will be mesmerized by the classic stories of the make believe land of Narnia.
Lewis who had lost faith as a child, later in life wrote a book of faith that could very well bring faith to the minds of millions of children.
The heros in the book are children; Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie. They live in London, England during World War 2 and are sent into the country side for safety sake. They are taken to a friend’s home to live with an old professor named Digory Kirke.
While playing in the house of the professor the youngest of the children, Lucy, discovers an enchanting piece of furniture, a huge wardrobe, that would become a wonderful hiding place but instead becomes a magical portal into another world – the world of Narnia.
Although this is a made up world there was an ancient Roman colony, called Narni which was on a hilltop in central Italy. This town was considered the geographical center of Italy.
The center of Lewis’ Narnia was the Lion, Aslan. Although Aslan is not an exact allegory for everything in the life of Christ there are enough connections to know that Aslan is a Christ like figure.
In the complete Chronicles of Narnia, the seven books that make up the series, we find many connections between Aslan and Jesus.
For instance, Aslan is the creator of Narnia just as the Bible describes Jesus. Col. 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.
In the The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, young Lucy is in conversation to talking beavers. When she asks if Aslan is a man, the answer is: “Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond the Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion – the lion, the great Lion.”
When asked if Aslan is safe the answer is, “Safe?..Who said anything about safe? Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
In Revelation 5:5 Jesus is called the Lion of Judah.
In Lewis’ Narnia series Aslan is described as, “not a tame lion,” and “ferocious,” and even, “terrible.”
You see Lewis knew that people’s view of Jesus was far too tame. We package Jesus in terms that make us comfortable, and we form Him to our own will and desire. We like a Jesus we can maneuver, mold and manipulate. We paint pictures of him that are near feminine. Softly carrying a lamb, tenderly holding a child, and looking like he had gone to a salon to get his flowing hair done.
But we can not tame Jesus anymore than Aslan could be tamed. Aslan is the King of the beasts and Jesus is the King of Kings.
Jesus did not allow people to manipulate Him, use Him and get Him off track. He never settled for the easiest way but instead went the right way for he described Himself as The Way.
Listen to the Apostle John’s description of Jesus from the Book of Revelation. Rev. 1:14-15
His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. [15] His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.
Rev. 1:16-18
In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength. [17] When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, [18] and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
Does this sound like a tame description? If you think so then you are not listening or understanding. When John saw the King of Kings, he fell at His feet like a dead man. This is the Lord we worship. We may tell kids about the Jesus who came in human flesh but we now worship the risen Lord of Lords.
He came as the Lamb but He is coming again as a Lion. The lion in the Bible is a symbol of strength. Both Jesus and the devil are described as lions.
THE DEVIL: 1 Peter 5:8
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
JESUS: Rev. 5:5
and one of the elders said to me, "Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome so as to open the book and its seven seals."
One Lion will kill you; one lion will fill you
One lion will devour and divide ;
One lion will inspire and come to your side
One lion will make you hate; one lion will make you great
One lion will leave you torn; one lion will make you reborn
One lion will only bring strife; one lion will bring eternal life
One lion will mislead in what he might say;
The other Lion is the Life, The Truth, The Way
Both Lions will roar, which lion will you be for?
Richard Vartenisian
Sr.Minister, 1st Christian Church of Mableton, GA
RVarten@aol.com preached Dec.4, 2005
