Wednesday 12 January 2011

Background

C S Lewis' novels The Chronicles of Narniaare currently being made into blockbuster movies. This has broughtthe stories of Aslan and the children back into the limelight. Inthe most famous, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Aslan theLion hands himself over to the Ice Queen and her minions so that hecan be killed to save the rest of creation from an unending winter.He is shorn and ridiculed, and eventually slain on an old tablealtar. But that is not the end. As dawn approaches a crash is heardand the children race to the table to find that Aslan is gone andthe table is cracked in two - the old magic has been broken. Aslaneventually appears resurrected.

It's a good analogy of the Christian faith in so far as it goes. Itexplains something of the sacrifice, and something of the hold ofour fallen nature over us. But the problem with Aslan is that heisn't human and that is the most important thing about Jesus. Herein Hebrews, the author makes that quite clear - he had to be likeus, fully human in every way. In the end, the death of a lion,though sad and cruel and horrific, is not the same as the death ofa human being. A lion cannot give its life for me. But when a humanbeing offers to die for me and lays down his life in obedience, itis truly awe inspiring.

The author also provides some rich teaching on why Jesus died. Hedies to make atonement - to restore our relationship with God - toput us right with God. But his life, suffering and death also meanshe can empathise with us. Whatever we go through, we know thatJesus has been through his own suffering, even to death. When we gothrough our Gethsemane (ie our deepest struggles and agonies -see Matthew 26:36-45), we can be assured that ourbrother has been through his own. And that means he can help us togo through our Gethsemanes too.

To Ponder

You might want to get hold of a copy of The Lion,the Witch and the Wardrobe and read of Aslan's death.

Reflect on what you know about Jesus - in whatways is he human like you? And in what ways is he different?

"Because he himself ... suffered, he is able tohelp ..." (v. 18) - reflect on the times when you have been in need- have you looked to Jesus to find help? What happened?