THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA

Dr. Richard J. Henderson January 15, 2006

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Psalm 23
Romans 5: 1-11

Introduction

The film version of C. S. Lewis' book, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, was released last month. Many people who saw the movie and read the book didn't realize it has a Christian theme. Fortunately, the producers of the film have kept that theme in tact.

I encourage you to read the book - both parents and kids. In the dedication of the book, Lewis writes to Lucy Barfield:

"My Dear Lucy,

I wrote this story for you, but when I began it, I had not realized that girls grow quicker than books. As a result, you are already too old for fairy tales, and by the time it is printed and bound, you will be older still. But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it. I shall probably be too deaf to hear, and too old to understand a word you say, but I shall still be

Your affectionate Godfather,
C. S. Lewis."

Many of you are old enough now to read this story again (or for the first time). The story is about four children who are sent away during World War II to escape the air raids taking place in London. They go to stay with Digory Kirke, a professor who lives in a huge house in the country. While there, they step into a large wardrobe and find themselves in Narnia, a world where it is always winter, but never Christmas.

Narnia is under the control of the White Witch. Those who suffer under the White Witch long for the return of Aslan, a great lion, who can take control from the witch and return spring to Narnia. Aslan understands the three levels of magic: principles that govern the land. One of the children, Edmund, is infatuated with the witch and with what she promises him, so he betrays his siblings and sides with her.

As Aslan returns, spring begins to arrive and the witch attempts to capture the other three children. When she can't, she turns on Edmund and demands her right to take his life, because he has betrayed his family.

The Witch and Aslan meet and Aslan offers his life in the place of Edmunds. The witch humiliates and kills Aslan, but soon Aslan returns to help the children in their effort to conquer the witch.

When the children finally return thru the wardrobe, they find that no time has past since they left.

I

The most obvious Christian reference in the book is Aslan, the powerful lion. He is the Christ figure. Lewis does a nice job of making clear that he is good, but fearful. When the beavers first explain to the children who Aslan is, they say that he is "the King of the Wood and the son of the Great Emperor-by-the-Sea." The beaver says, "If there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without his knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."

"Then he isn't safe?" Lucy asks. The beaver answers, "'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the king I tell you." At the end of the book he says, "He's wild, you know, not like a tame lion."

Because Edmund has been a traitor, the deep magic says that he must be turned over to the Witch and she has the right to kill him. Aslan follows the laws, but he steps in to die in Edmund's place.

The place where the execution takes place is the great stone table, which represents death. When Aslan has been shorn and killed, the stone table is broken forever.

Another clear biblical reference is seen when Aslan suffers and dies and the girls stand at a distance observing. When he rises from death, the girls are the first to see him. This seems to be a clear representation of the women who wait at the death and resurrection of Jesus.

I was disappointed in both the book and the movie that Aslan's death is not traumatic and, more importantly, he's resurrection takes place so quickly. Death does not appear very painful in the story and he is resurrected so quickly that it hardly seems he was gone. Aslan dies and then he pops right back as if nothing happened. It seems to make his death and resurrection less significant than I think it should be.

On the other hand, we are dealing with a children's story, and you can't exactly do Mel Gibson's Passion of the Christ! Perhaps something in between those two approaches would be possible.

II

There are some significant differences between the movie and the book... I recommend the movie, but the book is far richer. In the book, Lewis spends a good deal of time describing the changes taking place as Narnia changes from winter to spring. Edmund begins to hear sounds that he recognizes, but he can't remember what they are... "A strange, sweet, rustling, chattering noise." Then he realizes... it is the sound of running water!

The lakes and ponds are melting and the streams are running. The witches sleigh is caught as it hits the bare spots in the snow. Lewis describes the bird's singing in the trees and the wonderful warm breeze that wafts across the children's faces. Little yellow, white, and purple flowers pop up through the snow.

We see the metaphor Lewis is describing, and he beautifully describes the change from oppression and death to freedom and life.

III

The biggest difference I noticed between the book and the movie is the battle scene. This is a major part of the movie - it goes on and on - but it is a minor part of the book. In fact, the book says, "The battle was all over a few minutes after their arrival."

I suppose Hollywood demands the battle scene with thousands of people lined up facing each other across the huge open field. In the movie there is a long drawn out clash between the two sides, but that isn't in the book.

IV

The movie left out a delightful character who would have been fun to picture in the movie - the friendly giant, Rumblebuffin! He is a kind giant that is unfrozen by Aslan and becomes a special friend to Lucy. He is so huge that he asks for a handkerchief and when Lucy offers him one, he picks her up with it, because she is so small and he can't tell he's holding her too. She is scared, and he is very apologetic. Then he takes the tiny cloth and dries himself off, just as if it were big enough to make a difference. He doesn't want to hurt her feelings.

As I read it, I thought what fun it would have been to picture that in the movie.

Later Rumblebuffin appears in the battle. He is so huge that he destroys some of the enemy by just stepping on them.

Conclusion

C. S. Lewis' story and the movie adaptation of it are wonderful ways to make the gospel story accessible to children. Through the adventures of children in a make believe land, it is possible to see and be touched by the good news of Jesus. We are thankful for this classic story by a master storyteller.

Amen.

©Richard J. Henderson 2006