Advent Series – Narnia
Message #1 Always Winter but Never Christmas
Introduction:
The Chronicles of Narnia will hit the big screen on Friday, December 9, and I can’t wait to see it. This series of books written by C. S. Lewis is an allegorical presentation of the story of Jesus. We have read the entire series to our children when they were younger and we have been fans of Narnia ever since. So, imagine our excitement when we saw the film trailer several months ago that this 150 million dollar production is being released just before Christmas.
Now, I’m aware that there are some here this morning who are completely unfamiliar with this particular work. I’m here to tell you that your in for a real treat as we observe this Narnia series over the next five weeks. I’d like to start with a brief introduction about Narnia and this Advent series.
The first book of the series is The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. In it, the land of Narnia is under the spell of the White Witch so it will always be winter; but never Christmas. The Narnians live in fear of the witch’s power. Their only hope is in the coming of the great lion, Aslan.
The main characters in the book are brothers and sisters and their names are; Lucy, Edmund, Susan, and Peter. While playing hide and seek in an old mansion in England they stumble upon the entrance to Narnia through and old wardrobe. The white witch manages to tempt young Edmund into betraying his brother and sisters and, ultimately, Aslan himself.
The presence of Father Chrismas, and then the first signs of spring, mean that the witch’s power is weakening and Aslan’s arrival is rumored to be soon. It is a race to see who will reach the Great Stone Table first. If the witch arrives first, with the traitor Edmund, then she might be able to prevent Aslan from defeating her and overthrowing her wintry rule.
When the witch witch confronts Aslan face-=top-face, she demands that Edmund be given to her: “You know that every traitor belongs to me as my lawful prey and that for every treachery I have a right to a kill…that human creature is mine. His life is forfeited to me. His blood is my property.”
Aslan speaks to the witch alone, and then, sadly tells the children that the matter has been settled. Unknown to the children, Aslan has agreed to give his own life in the place of Edmund. After the witch’s hags and guhls tie the great Lion down upon the Stone Table she whispers in his ears…”And now, who has won? Fool, did you think that by all this you would save the human traitor? Now I will kill you instead of him as our pact was, and so the Deep Magic will be appeased. But when you are dead what will prevent me from killing him as well? And who will take him out of my hand then? Understand that you have given me Narnia forever, you have lost your own life, and you have not saved his. In that knowledge, despair and die.” Then she plunges her knife into the Lion and kills him.
Little did the White Witch know of the deeper magic. That a perfect substitute would experience Resurrection power. After he returns to life in glory, Aslan with his forces goes on to defeat the White Witch and destroy her control over Narnia. The four children become kings and queens over the land and rule with the power of the great Lion, Aslan, the Son of the Emperor beyond the Sea.
This is a story about Christmas, the Cross and Resurrection power. It is a story about good overcoming evil and the triumphant reign of God restoring all things to their proper place.
So, this Advent season we will be covering the following messages from this great story written by C.S. Lewis.
This Sunday we will be focusing on “Always Winter but never Christmas”
Before Aslan comes, Narnia is in perpetual winter without hope. But Christmas brings hope.
Next week will be Encounter the Power. Aslan’s power frees Narnia from eternal winter and saves Edmund. Christ’s power frees the world and every individual from sin.
Week #3 Discover the Light of Christmas. The lamppost lights the way into Narnia. Christ lights the way into Heaven and eternal life.
Week #4 Discover the Wonder. Lucy had to step into the wardrobe to discover the wonderful world of Narnia. Each person must take a step of faith to discover a new life in Christ.
The final service in our advent series will be The Adventure Begins. Each child in Narnia must face their own fears. Each of us must face our issues and choose to follow Christ.
Transition:
Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the King. Mt. 2:1
These were dark days, bleak days-days devoid of hope for the justice-loving, God-fearing people of God. Herod the Great, ruler of the province of Judea from 37 B.C. to 4 B.C., was without doubt one of the most ruthless and tyrannical princes ever to hold sway over that bloodstained and sorrow-stricken little corner of the world. Herod, the master of cruelty and intrigue. Herod, king of envy and paranoia. Herod, a man who could slaughter infants and murder his own wife and sons without batting an eye. He was in control of the territory of Judea when God entered history as a tender, helpless babe, a trembling point of light on the edge of a vast, encircling darkness.
Imagine what it would have been like if that light had never dawned-if that bleakness had gone on without interruption, without variation, without end, like a stone-hard, barren-faced desert stretching to the horizon and down the other side of the world. Christina Rosetti captures the mood in her famous Christmas poem, turned carol. Mid-Winter:
In the bleak mid-winter
Frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron,
Water like a stone.
And that so powerfully captures life in Narnia under the reign of the White Witch doesn’t it? It’s always Winter but never Christmas!
This phrase, always winter but never Christmas, describes so distinctly the spiritual condition of the world before the birth of Christ. Without Christ there could be no Christmas. And without Christmas, the icy blast of winter’s tyranny reigned in every language and in every culture of the world.
What is the spiritual significance of the “winter” in Narnia. It is the reign of sin and death isn’t it? Through the disobedience of Adam, sin and death reigned throughout the pages of human history. But, through the righteousness of Christ, grace dealt sin and death a mighty blow. Before, it was always winter but never Christmas. But because of Christmas, winter’s grip is shattered and the story of the Stone Table (the Cross), and Aslan’s death (the Substitutionary death of Christ), and of Aslan’s victory over death (Christ’s resurrection) turns the tables on all that was once known to be. No longer is “winter’s reign supreme”. Because of Christmas, the historical birth of Christ, the incarnation of the Son of God, the God/Man Jesus Christ has taken sin on Himself, been punished by the shedding of his own blood, experienced the reign of death over his own physical body but…was victorious over it all.
Oh Christmas, what a difference it makes!
1. Before the birth of Christ, when it was always winter but never Christmas, the world was indeed a bleak place to live. Before His miraculous conception and virgin birth, human life itself was a cheap thing.
Because Christianity was deeply rooted in the revelation of the Scriptures that boldly declared that we are created in the image of God, we all have benefited because the Christian message taught that human life was sacred and therefore, significant.
That is a vast change over what was historically the case.
Children – The cultures of the Greeks and Romans, the Aztecs and the nations of Palestine all practiced child sacrifice, child murder, child exploitation. Infanticide was a legal option for fathers in Roman and to such a world of winter’s grip was the Savior born. It was Jesus who countered this darkness with the words…Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the Kingdom of Heaven.
Women – In India, China, Rome and Greece, the rights of women were non-existent. Consider the nation of India, that through the 20th Century finally outlawed Suttee. Suttee was the practice of widows who voluntarily or involuntarily were burned alive on their husband’s funeral pyres at their death. It was the Christian missionaries with the message of the sanctity of all human life that finally banned this heinous practice. Why? Because the Bible painted a picture of a Savior who elevated the dignity of women by talking with them, ministering to them, including them, teaching them, educating them. It was to women that the first news of the resurrection came. Mary and Martha were some of Jesus’ closest friends and he enjoyed the hospitality of their home on several occasions.
Slavery – it was the influence of the Christian gospel which outlawed the evil slave trade of the British empire over two centuries ago. The conviction that all humanity are equal in God’s eyes and deserve equal treatment and opportunity and distinctly Christian notions.
Because of Christmas, winter has not reigned and held sway over a cheap human life. Because of Christmas, light has come to the world and Jesus has brought a thaw and restored dignity and sanctity to humanity.
2. Not only was human life drastically elevated because of the life of Christ but compassionate activism is also a direct result of the influence of His life.
One scholar, Dr. Martineau, exhaustively searched through historical documents and concluded that antiquity has left no trace of any organized charitable effort. Disinterested benevolence was unknown. When Christ and the Bible became known, charity and benevolence flourished. How did this thaw come to take place in human history? Because Christmas has come. You see, 2,000 years ago, Jesus gave us parables which contain expressions we still use today. The story of the Good Samaritan. The story of the Sheep and the Goats where Christ made this amazing statement. For as much as you did this for the least of these brothers of mine, you did unto me. So, when Jesus told his followers to “go and do likewise,” he was launching a worldwide crusade of compassionate charity which Christianity has been known for over 2,000 years.
When Christ came into the world, the direct result of the influence of his life was the dignity and elevation of value for all human life; children, women, as well as abolitionism. Also, compassionate activism came as a result of Christmas because He was born.
Let me give you just one more of many examples of the end of the reign of winter in world history because of the birth of Christ.
3. Public education.
A little known historical fact is that public education was mandated by a court of law in the colonies in 1642. The Puritans passed a law that required education for all children. And in 1647, the Old Deluder Satan Act established public schools. Listen to these words…
It being one chief project of that old deluder, Satan, to keep man from the knowledge of the Scriptures, as in former times, keeping them in an unknown tongue…It is therefore ordered by this Court and authority thereof, that every township within this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath increased them to the number of 50 householders, shall then forthwith appoint one within their town to teach all such children as shall resort to him, to write and read…
Public education was the invention of Christians wanting to dispel the moral ignorance of the masses through the teaching of God’s Word to people. Indeed, our oldest and best known universities founded in the east coast was established by Christians and almost every one of the first 123 colleges and universities founded in the U.S. had Christian origins.
Dartmouth was founded to train missionaries to the Indians.
William and Mary was created “that the Christian faith might be propagated.”
Princeton Universities first president, Dr. John Witherspoon, said, “Cursed be all learning that is contrary to the cross of Christ.
One of the holiday movies most of us will watch on Television this Christmas season is “It’s a Wonderful Life”. One of the best lines of the entire film is when the Clarence, George Bailey’s guardian angel says to him these words;
Strange isn’t it, each man’s life touches so many other lives, when he isn’t around, it leaves an awful hole doesn’t it?
Friend, it is difficult to imagine the bleakness of our lives if it wasn’t for His Life and Influence which has been passed down to us for generations. The awful hole which would be left if Jesus had never been born cannot be fully imagined.
Thanks be to God for His Indescribable Gift!
Conclusion:
In Narnia, winter’s grip is loosened because Aslan is on the move and Father Christmas gets into the bleakness of the Narnian countryside to bring Christmas tidings to its inhabitants.
The reign of the White Witch, or of sin and death, is defeated by the Incarnation of the Son of God.
As Paul wrote to the Corinthians…death has been swallowed up in victory.
We’ve talked briefly about how Christ has impacted human history in macro but I want to conclude my comments this morning with has Christ can impact our personal human history…micro.
Because of Jesus you and I can know what it is like to be forgiven.
Because of Jesus you and I can experience, in a very real way, a vital, living relationship with Almighty God.
Because of Jesus, we don’t have to live in wondering or fear at death and the grave, we can have hope of everlasting life.
Because of Jesus, we have hope in the midst of our heartaches and peace with God.
Friend, if you have never invited Christ into your life to disarm the sin which reigns in your life and to deliver you from your death (separation from God) you can do that today.
12You know the story of how Adam landed us in the dilemma we’re in--first sin, then death, and no one exempt from either sin or death. 13That sin disturbed relations with God in everything and everyone, but the extent of the disturbance was not clear until God spelled it out in detail to Moses. So death, this huge abyss separating us from God, dominated the landscape from Adam to Moses. 14Even those who didn’t sin precisely as Adam did by disobeying a specific command of God still had to experience this termination of life, this separation from God. But Adam, who got us into this, also points ahead to the One who will get us out of it.
15Yet the rescuing gift is not exactly parallel to the death-dealing sin. If one man’s sin put crowds of people at the dead-end abyss of separation from God, just think what God’s gift poured through one man, Jesus Christ, will do! 16There’s no comparison between that death-dealing sin and this generous, life-giving gift. The verdict on that one sin was the death sentence; the verdict on the many sins that followed was this wonderful life sentence. 17If death got the upper hand through one man’s wrongdoing, can you imagine the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?
18Here it is in a nutshell: Just as one person did it wrong and got us in all this trouble with sin and death, another person did it right and got us out of it. But more than just getting us out of trouble, he got us into life! 19One man said no to God and put many people in the wrong; one man said yes to God and put many in the right.
20All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. 21All sin can do is threaten us with death, and that’s the end of it. Grace, because God is putting everything together again through the Messiah, invites us into life--a life that goes on and on and on, world without end.
Lead in a prayer of invitation
