The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Series: God in the Movies
By Pastor Bruce
Well, we’re in the last week of our God in the Movies series and I can’t think of a better movie to end with than “The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe”. I am been a big C.S. Lewis fan and I am so glad that so many people are begin exposed to his ideas in and through this movie which has become a cultural event. In a world in which the “good news” of the Christian story is so often misrepresented and misinterpreted, he is a sane, thoughtful Christian voice.
Ok, show of hands, how many of you have read the book? How many of you have seen the movie? How many of you have had zero exposure to either the story or the movie. Don’t panic if you’re in that boat that morning as we’ll be going through the story and (I promise) you’ll get it as well. Hopefully, this message might even inspire you to see the film or read the book or both.
What’s great about this film and this story is that normally when I do one of these God in the Movie messages, I have to show you how whatever story we’re watching---like Finding Neverland or The Terminal (films which we’ve done in this series)---is hooked into the Christian story. No so today. Why? Because the story of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe IS the Christian story. That’s what C.S. Lewis intended.
Consequently, all I want to do this morning is walk through the story and just stop at certain points along the way and pay attention to some of the thrilling ideas that C.S. Lewis has embedded in the story.
All right, let’s dive in. The story start with 4 children—Peter, Edmund, Susan and Lucy—being shipped off to stay in the country during the WWII because of the bombing in London. They end up staying in the mansion of a professor who has a cranky old housekeeper named Mrs. McCready. “Don’t touch this” and “don’t do that” is all they hear from her and, as a result, the children are quite miserable. But there’s a war on and they know they have to make the best of it.
One rainy day, they’re playing hide and seek and Lucy decides to hide in an old wardrobe. Amazingly when she pushes herself to the back of the wardrobe she finds herself in a forest of an entirely different world called Narnia. It is a magical world in which trees are alive and animals talk and there are all sort of unique creatures running around like centaurs and fauns and dryads. It’s just a marvellous place.
Wouldn’t you like to find a wardrobe like that? I remember reading these stories as a child and secretly wishing that the crannies and crevices of my house would lead to Narnia and to adventure. I wanted to talk to horses and have lunch with beavers and most of all meet Aslan. I’ll bet I’m not the only one like that here this morning.
So Lucy finds herself in Narnia and she meets a faun named Mr. Tumnis. Over tea, she discovers that Narnia is ruled by a cruel white witch who has plunged Narnia into an everlasting winter. “Oh, I like winter” says Lucy, “because you can skate and sled and of course you get to celebrate Christmas”. “Oh no” says Mr. Tummis. “With this kind of winter, it’s always winter, but never Christmas”.
Always winter, but never Christmas--what an apt description of what a culture or a world or a life feels like when it’s in the grip of evil. Always hard, always dead, always hopeless. I think anyone who finds themselves in a difficult marriage or family situation, or struggling with an addiction or depression, or just without a sense of purpose in life--you can relate to this. Always winter, never Christmas. Is that you friends? If so, hang on, because there’s hope in this story. Spring is coming.
After tea, Lucy finds her way back to our world and to her brothers and sisters, but of course they don’t believe her. “Another world? Through the wardrobe? Lucy, you’re dreaming.” However, before long on a return trip to Narnia, Edmund follows Lucy through the wardrobe and he too finds himself in Narnia. While Lucy is off visiting Tumnis, he happens upon the evil white witch. Instantly, she recognizes the threat posed by Edmund as there is an ancient prophecy that when the four thrones of Narnia are occupied by “sons and daughters of Adam”, her rule will come to an end. So, instead of immediately disposing of him, craftily she sooths him some hot chocolate and Turkish delight and she promises him not only rooms full of it Turkish Delight if he brings his brothers and sisters to her ice palace, but the kingship of Narnia. But notice how she offers it to him. You’ll be king Edmund, she says, but not with your brothers and sisters as co-sovereigns, not for the benefit of Narnia, but by yourself and for yourself. You will rule all of Narnia, including your siblings who will be your slaves. Notice how she plays to his selfish pride.
“Don’t do it Edmund”, we’re saying, as we read the book or as we watch the movie, “She’ll never make good on her promise! It’s a sham! It’s a lie!” But he’s sucked in and committed to his betrayal.
This friends is the heart of sin. You know, sometimes people will ask me, “Pastor Bruce, why is it that God is so angry over a few rules being broken, a few boundaries being crossed? How is it that the Bible talks about eternal exclusion from the presence of God for those who sin?” The problem is that most people don’t really understand what sin is? They tend to think of it as a little indulgence, a little excess, a little Turkish delight? What’s one little lie? What’s a bit of selfishness? What’s one morsel of greed? God should just lighten up a bit. But you see these are only the symptoms of a deeper problem. The heart of sin is this: I don’t want to submit to God’s good order. I want to rule. I want to determine for myself what is good and what is not. I want to master and commander of my life and I want to live it not for the benefit of others, but for me. So I can have whatever I want and do whatever I want--rooms full of Turkish delight, others to do my bidding. Bottom line, I want power. And if a little betrayal or lying is required so I can get what I want, so be it. The ends justify the means.
Do you see why sin is so serious? It’s not just error, it’s rebellion. It’s not just weakness, it’s insurgency. It’s not just a mistake, it’s a mutiny. That’s why the road back to God, always starts with this (kneel). The bending of the knee. The humility to say to God, “I’m not the king, you are.” And here’s the twist friends. Do that, and you’ll discover that God’s heart has always been for you to rule. God’s heart has always been for you to be a king or to be a queen, just the right sort of king and the right sort of queen. God wants to share his power with you—to rule this universe WITH you. It’s your destiny.
After departing the white witch, Edmund and Lucy meet up in Narnia and Lucy is overjoyed that now someone will finally believe her. But when they return home, Edmund cruelly denies ever having been to Narnia which sends Lucy off the deep end. Apparently, his betrayal has already taken root. Before long, all four children are drawn into Narnia where they discover that Mr. Tumnis has been arrested by the white witch for high treason. You see, in Narnia, not turning in a son or daughter of Adam was a crime. Lucy of course is devastated and the children stand there wondering what to do.
It’s at this point that a lovable character named Mr. Beaver shows up. He befriends them and brings them home for supper where he and his wife (Mrs. Beaver) fill them in on what’s really going on. It’s here that the children learn about the danger of the white witch. But, it’s also when they first hear about Aslan. I love how Lewis describes how the children felt when the heard his name for the very first time. Listen to this:
"Peter felt suddenly brave and adventurous. Susan felt as if some delicious smell or some delightful strain of music has just floated by her. And Lucy got the feeling you have when you wake up in the morning and realize that it is the beginning of the holidays or the beginning of summer."
Is that marvellous? Of course they don’t know him yet, so they ask “Who’s Aslan?” “Aslan?” Mr Beaver replies. “Why don’t you know? He’s the King. He’s the Lord of the whole wood…he’s a lion, the lion, the great lion.” Now listen to what Lucy says, “Is he safe?” “Safe?” says Beaver. “Who said anything about safe. Of course, he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the king I tell you.”
Of course Aslan in this story represents Jesus. He is a portrait of what Jesus, the incarnate God, looks like, who he is, how he speaks and acts. What’s fantastic about Lewis’ description is that you feel it deep inside. As Thomas William writes, “When the great Lion Aslan comes bounding into Narnia, we don’t get a breakdown of God’s components; we experience a vivid presence glowing with personality, power, tenderness, compassion, and grandeur. In Aslan we are not told about the nature of God; we are shown it so vividly that we almost feel we are experiencing him firsthand.”
Here’s what so striking about all this. You see, a lot of us don’t really want the real God in our life, we prefer a safer model. We say, “I want a God that makes me happy”. “I want a God that will do my bidding---ring in a little prayer and out comes my happily ever after.” “I want a God that’s controllable—that’s well—tame”. But no such God exists friends. God is not safe. He is the King. He is Lord of all I tell you. What’s more, he doesn’t owe me happiness—in fact in a world marred by sin and evil, there are no guarantees. Is he safe? Not at all. As the Bible says, He is the Lion of Judah. But…but…he’s good. He’s good beyond measure. He’s motivated by love. He has our best interests at heart.
Friends listen, this is really important. God wants you to be happy. He really does. But not on your terms. You see, the only way that God can make you happy is by giving you himself. There IS no happiness, there is no life apart from him. And this you must know, to come to Him, to be WITH Him, is to turn away from all your fearful and self centered ways. To look into his eyes, is know a severe kind of love, but also a transforming and freeing kind of love.
This is what the children discover when later they meet him. At first they are fearful, because he is clearly both terrible and good, but when they finally come to him, when they submit to him, suddenly they no longer feel awkward, but glad and quiet as there is safety in his love like no other.
Can I turn up the heat on you a little this morning? Some of you friends, some of you need to come to Jesus this morning. Not to some safe version of God, but the real God. You need to look into his eyes, you need to bow your heart and your life, you need to say, “my life belongs to you”. And if you do you will know a transforming and secure kind of love and mercy like no other.
Well, it’s about this time in the story that the Beavers and the children notice that Edmund has left them. That he is, in fact, on his way to the witch to betray them and that as a result they must flee to the Stone Table to where Aslan is. Meanwhile, Edmund finds his way to witch’s palace, but instead of rooms full of Turkish Delight, he finds nothing but heartache as the witch turns on him. How many here have been down that road---pursuing some thing that promises happiness only to discover that once we have it it’s nothing like we imagined and doesn’t really satisfy.
The witch dispatches her wolf soldiers to dispose of the beavers and the rest of the children, but they are too late as they have already fled. So she jumps in her sleigh and races to catch them before they reach Aslan. On the way to the Stone Table, for both the witch and the children, the 100 year winter begins to fade. The children are met by Father Christmas who gives them important presents (tools really) for the struggle they are about to face. And soon Spring begins to blossom in Narnia as the witch’s hold over the land fades away.
Here is the hope that I talked about earlier. Just think about this metaphor of winter turning to spring. It’s possible friends. That’s what happens when the power of Jesus floods your life. Some of you here in this room could testify to this this morning. You could stand up here this morning and say, “It was winter in my life, it was barrenness, it was hopelessness. But because of Jesus, Spring has come. I thought it never would, but praise God, Spring has come.” And let me just say as a word of encouragement this morning, that if you find your life in the grip of winter this morning, there is hope in Jesus. There is Spring in Jesus.
In time, Edmund is rescued and all four children find themselves in Aslan’s camp. Hurray! All is well. But this is where the story takes a dark turn. The witch shows up at the camp and makes a claim. “You have a traitor in your midst Aslan. You know the law, the deep magic of Narnia,” she says, “every traitor belongs to me as my lawful prey and that for every treachery I have a right to a kill.” All eyes turn to Aslan. Say it isn’t so Aslan. Surely, you won’t release Edmund to the witch.
The good animals rise up to defend Edmund, but Aslan calms them. She is right, he says. The children are horrified. Isn’t there something we can do, says Susan to Aslan. Can’t we work against the Deep Magic? “Work against the Emperor’s magic,” said Aslan, turning to her with something like a frown on his face. And, then Lewis writes, nobody ever made that suggestion to him again.
The witch is right, says Aslan, but instead of relinquishing Edmund to the witch, he makes a private deal with her. After some discussion, the witch releases her claim on Edmund. The whole camp celebrates—“Edmund is free”-- but you’re left wondering, “At what price? What deal did Aslan strike with the witch? What would cause her to give up her claim on Edmund?”
We soon find out as Aslan becomes sad and withdrawn. That evening he slowly makes his way out of camp with his head and tail hanging low. Sensing something is wrong, both Lucy and Susan follow him and subsequently witness the unthinkable. It becomes clear the price of Edmund betrayal. Aslan has offered his life in place of Edmunds. And so at the Stone Table, every dark creature imaginable including the witch, await him, awaits his sacrifice.
I have to admit that as I watch the movie this week, I had tears in my eyes during this part. Why? Because I am Edmund. I am a traitor. In a hundred different ways I’ve betrayed my Lord. With every unholy thought, with every lie, with every stupid, selfish sin. There goes Aslan to the Stone Table. There goes Jesus to the cross. To pay my debt. To travel a horrible road of suffering and death so I wouldn’t have to. Oh, what wondrous love is this? It wrecks me. It breaks me. It makes me want to give every part of myself to this love.
Aslan is bound and tortured and dragged up onto the Stone Table. And as the witches knife is raised over Aslan, you’re thinking, “there must be some intervention; there must be some last second rescue.” But there is none. And the witches knife is plunged into the heart of Aslan and dies. And she screams, “So much for love, Aslan. Come, all you dark creatures, let us destroy what’s left of Aslan’s army.”
It’s at this point in the story that if you are reading it to children and its their first time hearing the story, the tears will begin to flow. I know one mother who told me her child look at her accusingly at this point and said, “You are not reading the story right. Aslan can’t die.”
But you see this is the wonder of the story. Because we feel it don’t we. It’s not here (point to head)…It’s here (point to heart). The enormity of death. The enormity what Jesus did for us. Oh friends, this is where sin and betrayal leads. To pain. To hopelessness. To death. To a Stone Table, to a cross spattered in blood. To a world in which so many human stories are not the right stories.
And we must stop here for a moment. We are so tempted just to jump ahead to the end of the story, but we must linger here for a moment. For this is the place. This is the place of pain. This is the place where all that is good, and rightesous and holy meets all that is darkness. This is the place where the price is paid. This is the place friends without which we’re lost.
Well, morning comes. Like it did on Easter morning so many years ago. And a most amazing miracle happens. You see the witch thinks she has won. The witch thinks that Aslan is dead. But she doesn’t know the deeper magic. You see, there a magic that dates back before the dawn of time; a magic that the witch does not know. A magic, a power that says when a willing victim who has committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack and death itself would begin to work backwards.
And so.. and so...when morning comes, death dark bands are released and suddenly, miracles of miracles, the stone table cracks and the stone is rolled away and Aslan is alive again. He is, in the words of C.S. Lewis, more alive, more real, bigger and more glorious than before. What follows is joy. Joy for the children and joy for Aslan. Aslan celebrates his life and the lives of those he has redeemed. This friends is the joy of resurrection, the joy of Jesus.
You need to see this friends because one of the things that distresses me most about Christians is their lack of joy. So many people who apparently are in touch with this resurrection power, this resurrection joy are just so downright miserable. Friends, sometimes this world can be a difficult place. It can be dark and our lives can be hard. But Aslan/Jesus is alive. And because he is alive, everything has changed. As Paul puts it in Romans chapter 8, “If God is for us, who can be against us”. You see, the white witched is doomed. She just doesn’t know it yet. Because of what Jesus has done, now nothing can separate us from the love of God. Not even death. Now if that’s not something to celebrate, nothing is. So dance and romp and celebrate friends---maybe even a little this morning.
Here’s where I want to end this morning. One of the most stirring scenes in both the book and the movie is the coronation scene. The battle is won. All four children have fought the good fight. All of them have conquered. They find themselves in the castle keep of Cair Paravel—ruling see of Narnia. There they receive their crowns. There they receive their new names. Lucy is called Lucy the Valiant. Edmund is called Edmund the Just. Susan is called Susan the Gentle. Peter the High King is called Peter the Magnificent. What’s striking when you watch this scene in the movie is the expressions on the children’s faces. The wonder and joy and anticipation.
I wonder what your face will look like. When you’ve come through the struggles and battles of this world and find yourself in the presence of the Father. When, if you know and love Him, he looks deep into your eyes and he says before all the world, “Come my child. Kneel before me. You have triumphed and so I lay on your head an everlasting crown. Rise king….rise queen…” And he gives you a new name. A magnificent name. (I wonder what your name will be). And then begins the great adventure. The time beyond time, when we will rule with the Father and with Jesus forever….I wonder what your face will look like.
