No Paybacks

“Christ had no sin, but God made him become sin so that in Christ we could be right with God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

My son, Nathan, and I have been reading through the Chronicles of Narnia books together. After we read the second, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,” we watched the movie. That was probably my fourth time watching it, and every time I do, I see a new aspect of it that I have never noticed before. (If you have never watched it, you should)

The symbolism between Aslan, the Lion- King of Narnia, and Jesus Christ, is unmistakable. After young Edmund betrays his family and returns showing remorse, Aslan speaks to him privately and then tells the others, “we shall speak of it no more.” However, the only way to appease the law of Narnia for treason is by the shedding of the guilty party’s blood. Aslan sacrifices his own innocent life to save Edmund. To watch him take the beating and mocking without saying a word and lie there while the witch laughs as she kills him breaks my heart. But to see him alive again in all His glory makes me want to shout!

There was something else that I noticed this time though. At the end of the battle when Edmund is healed of his wound and is embracing his family, he sees Aslan. Edmund’s smile fades. It’s a look of fear and uncertainty. He doesn't know what to say or think. When the camera turned to Aslan, his huge brown eyes were implying compassion and complete forgiveness. “It’s alright,” They seem to say. I could not hold back the tears while watching this touching seen. There was absolutely nothing Edmund could do to repay Aslan for the sacrifice he had made for him. 

This was such an amazing depiction of Christ, our Savior. Though sinless, he gave his own life for ours. He forgives us completely, and there is nothing we can do to repay him. He gave it freely. This makes me want to give him my own life even more. It makes me want to serve him out of love, not necessity or guilt. When Edmund fixed his eyes on the one who had saved him, it made me long for the day when I can see the face of my Savior and look into his eyes full of mercy and compassion. How amazing that will be!

“This is amazing grace
This is unfailing love
That You would take my place
That You would bear my cross
You'd lay down Your life
That I would be set free
Oh, Jesus, I sing for
All that You've done for me “