Volume XVIII, Issue VIIIa: Picture of Redemption and Resurrection
Although in our house “the book is always better” is a credo, I was watching the Disney Narnia movie and noticed something. Though the story loses touch with C. S. Lewis’ original autograph, it is clear that visually there is something to recommend. It is in the scene where Aslan dies on the stone table and comes to life again. Lewis meant this to be a modern day telling of the Christ story. While the dialogue preceding this scene entirely muddles discussion of ‘deep magic,’ visually the ‘true myth’ remains. The cinematographers add an architectural element to the stone table entirely missing from the book – a large stone doorway. Evil creatures dance on it as Aslan is sacrificed for Edmund. It does not seem to have a purpose… until the resurrected Aslan appears in light through the doorway. It is a perfect picture of the Resurrected Christ if you are looking for it. The death of Aslan too, shows the pain that sin truly inflicts – and the seriousness thereof. Indeed, upon meeting the resurrected lion, Edmund first confesses, but very quickly Peter makes the perhaps greater confession that it was his sin that egged Edmund on. Indeed, there is a holy moment where each character owns his or her personal failings in this department. Repentance must indeed begin personally. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 says: “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” Indeed, the charge is to the people of God. It is all too easy to see the ‘villain’ in a story, the Edmund, the ‘evil secularists,’ whoever, but when we stand in the presence of Christ, as His people, it is our own knees that need to be knocking.
