Lessons from Narnia

As we look at Narnia you don't have to be too familiar with the main Bible stories to recognise some of the key characters and themes. Without doubt, Aslan represents Jesus Christ, and also God Himself, and perhaps the White Witch represents Satan. Narnia, then, where the adventure happens, might also represent the Kingdom of God, as well as the Kingdom of Aslan.



Clearly, there is no direct retelling of any of the Bible stories, but if you look, you will find elements taken and retold for readers, in that special C S Lewis way. Do you remember how Edmund arrives in Narnia alone, disgruntled with his brother and sisters, and immediately meets with the White Witch in the forest? He is tempted with the enchanted Turkish Delight, and the promise of becoming a prince of Narnia:


'I think I would like to make you the Prince - some day, when you bring the others to visit me.'


Succumbing to temptation is a very powerful theme in the Bible. Jesus is tempted by Satan in the wilderness with promises of great power. Also Judas betrays Jesus, much as Edmund betrays his brother and sisters later in the story.


Of course, Edmund is rescued from the White Witch by Aslan, and although she later claims the life of Edmund as rightfully belonging to her, Aslan offers his own life in exchange for Edmund's. This action exactly follows that of Jesus Christ who died on the cross to save mankind.


We can also recognise the resurrection of Jesus Christ in the resurrection of Aslan, after his humiliation and execution by the Witch and her rabble of followers.


Even without reference to any of the religious symbolism, the characters in Narnia set high standards of personal behavior that each of us can follow.






O LORD, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes; Make Your way straight before me.


-Psalm 5:8 (New American Standard)






Dear Lord we thank you for those that can help bring lessons to live in stories they write. In Jesus’ name, Amen

Narnia - Reepicheeps Final Voyage

Reepicheep told Peter, “My life is ever at your command, but my honor is my own.” The valiant mouse has now come to a point where he no longer reserves his honor as something which must be his own, something which must be kept back and not offered up in service and sacrifice. In Prince Caspian, Reepicheep held that a tail was “the honor and glory” of a mouse. Now he has a higher honor and a greater glory.



After losing his tail near the end of Prince Caspian, Reepicheep was “confounded” because of his appearance and confessed to Aslan: “I am completely out of countenance. I must crave your indulgence for appearing in this unseemly fashion.” In restoring the mouse’s tail, Aslan made it clear that he did not do this for the sake of Reepicheep’s “dignity.” Here in a final indication that along with his sword Reepicheep has flung away any last concerns about his dignity and about maintaining an honorable appearance, Reepicheep allows Lucy to do “what she had always wanted to do.” She takes him in her arms and caresses him—an action which back in the beginning would have offended him deeply.


We are not told what happens to Reepicheep on the other side of the great wave. The narrator simply reports: “The coracle went more and more quickly, and beautifully it rushed up the wave’s side. For one split second they saw its shape and Reepicheep’s on the very top. Then it vanished, and since that moment no one can truly claim to have seen Reepicheep the Mouse. But my belief is that he came safe to Aslan’s country and is alive there to this day.” Jonathan Rogers has described Reepicheep’s final voyage in these words: “Forgetting himself, forgetting the world, forgetting everything that lies behind, he goes up, up, up, to be welcomed into the heart of things.”






20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.


- Philippians 3:20-21 (New International Version)






Dear Lord we thank you for heaven, we pray that we will live our live that will prepare us for meeting you and worshipping you for all times. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Narnia - Edmund the Just

After Eustace recounts his undragoning to Edmund, he apologizes for his behavior. Edmund then says something interesting:



"That's alright," said Edmund. "Between ourselves, you haven't been as bad as I was on my first trip to Narnia. You were a dragon, but I was a traitor."


Edmund was referring to his behavior in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe where he betrayed his sisters and brother in hopes of becoming prince underneath the White Witch. Quite frankly, dear Ed's behavior was ghastly--some would say beyond forgivable. Yet Aslan gave his life in return for Edmund's freedom. Though Edmund's character doesn't necessarily talk about the incident much, we know through his actions that Aslan's sacrifice affected him greatly:


• It is Edmund who turns the tables during the war against the White Witch by severing her wand.


• While King of Narnia, Lewis tells us, "Edmund was graver and quieter man than Peter, and great in council and judgement. He was called King Edmund the Just."


• It is Edmund who first believes Lucy sees Aslan in Prince Caspian.


Edmund, in a sense, owed Aslan a greater debt than the others. He never forgets it.


It reminds us when Jesus was anointed by a "sinful woman" while eating dinner in a Pharisee's house. The Pharisee scoffs at the woman, who is pouring perfume on Jesus' feet as a sign of deep respect, and Jesus tells him a little story:


"Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denari, and the other fifteen. Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?"


The Pharisee answers, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled."


We can learn 2 things from this:


• Nothing we have done in our life is unforgivable.Aslan died for a traitor; Jesus died for all of us--no matter what we have done. You may be struggling with something you have done in the past that you can't seem to forgive yourself for. This may drag you down or weigh on your mind consistently. Instead of constant blame of yourself, look at the example given to us by Edmund. He used his past history for good. He became "Edmund the Just." He reacted with mercy and forgiveness with Eustace. God can use our past, no matter how bad we think it is, for good.


• On the other hand, If nothing is unforgivable for God, then nothing should be unforgivable for us. If we are harboring a grudge against someone, get rid of it. If we are judging someone for something they did in his or her past, stop. Don't be a Pharisee. They lived righteous lives and obeyed "the law," but Jesus called them whitewashed tombs. Don't forget that the one who loved the moneylender more was the one who had more of the debt canceled. If God is willing to forgive and restore, so should we.






"The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him;"


-Daniel 9:9 (New International Version )






Dear Lord we want to thank you for forgiving us, we pray that we would also forgive those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Narnia, He Takes Us Through It.

“The Voyage of the Dawn Treader” is a grand adventure. There is excitement. There are risks. There is danger. Just like our own spiritual journey, the young people in the movie wrestle with challenges of all kinds.



An important lesson we see in the movie is the fact that like Aslan, Jesus doesn’t rescue us from trouble—He takes us through it.


As the movie illustrates evil is quite real. You and I know evil exists in this world, but far too often we ignore it. C.S. Lewis knew the power of Satan, and he wasn’t afraid to present the reality of sin in the world.


This powerful story shows us the challenges and obstacles of life. We can see that although evil exists and is very real, God will deliver.


There is great hope. Our task is not an easy one, but just like the characters in the Dawn Treader, we have the strength in Jesus Christ to brave the violent seas that are before us.


As we watch those onboard the Dawn Treader embark on this life-changing journey, their courage and beliefs are tempted and tested in various ways. But in the end, Aslan comes through. While courage and determination matter, their ultimate answer is Aslan—who we know as Jesus






8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.


-2 Corinthians 4:8-12 (New International Version)






Dear Lord we pray that as we face each day that is before us that we would remember that you are there leading us through. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

Tonight we watched the “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe “along with Aslan himself, the heroes of the Narnia are the four children, Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy. Taken away from their London home to avoid the Nazi bombings, they are boarded with an elderly bachelor professor in his rambling mansion in the country.

While playing hide-and-seek, Lucy, the youngest at age 8, hides in an old wardrobe filled with racks of overcoats. Moving farther back to escape detection, she pushes her way past the coats, expecting to hit against the back of the wardrobe at any moment. Lucy feels instead the boughs of evergreen trees, hears the crunch of snow at her feet, and sees in the distance the glow of a lamp post just like those she had seen many times back in London.

This marks the beginning of the four siblings' many adventures in Narnia.

For those who know to watch for it, Lewis has filled Narnia, not only with interesting characters, majestic scenery, and exciting action, but also with Christian allegory. Aslan himself represents Jesus Christ, "the lion of the tribe of Judah" (Revelation 7:14). The children eventually become so much at home in Narnia that they see it as their native land and this world as the place where they are visitors.

The Stone Table, which symbolizes how Christ's death and resurrection brought about the end of the Law of Moses by meeting its demands for blood atonement. Watch also for the role Susan and Lucy play in witnessing the death and revival of Aslan, corresponding to the historical role women played as mourners at Jesus' death and burial and as the first witnesses of His resurrection.

The professor helps Peter and Susan to sort through how to receive Lucy's testimony about Narnia: if she's not a liar and she's not crazy, then logically, she must be telling the truth. This corresponds to the testimony Jesus gave about His own identify, and the testimony His follows gave about Him.

Another significant parallel is this: Aslan's loyal followers play a significant role in the battle against the White Witch. Like our own spiritual warfare, Christ ensures the final victory, but calls on His followers to engage personally in the fight.

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, the kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever.

- Revelation 11:15 (King James Version)

Dear lord, we pray that we will always look forward to the eternal kingdom that you have prepared for us in heaven. Help our actions always bring honor to you and lead others to call upon you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen