ASLAN, MY HERO

Aslan.

The beloved hero of C.S. Lewis’ cherished children’s book, "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe."

Aslan is Jesus.

My hero.

The first time I heard about Aslan was when I was about 22. I was attending a college summer camp. The speaker wove stories about Aslan into his wonderful talks. I was enraptured.

But I have a confession to make.

I've been a Christian since I was about 3 ½ years old – all my life. But I had always felt a little bit (a lot) guilty because I never FELT the horror of the crucifixion. I had head knowledge that it was awful, and I believed it – and all that it stood for – with my whole heart. But somehow it hadn't quite reached my emotions.

Until this quiet summer night at camp.

The speaker told us how Aslan had been shamed and humiliated – how his kingly mane had been shorn. How all the evil cohorts of the White Witch cackled and jeered – taunting the majestic Lion who had willingly become meek as a lamb.

And then, the White Witch killed the great Lion with her knife.

The speaker paused…

I was in tears. For the first time, I felt the tremendous depth of what Jesus' death had been like. I felt the shame, the horror, the grief, the pain.

A Lion's story had reached my heart.

Later this week, we remember Good Friday. A day when the Lion of Judah became a lamb – the sacrificial Lamb of God.

It's a day that makes me grieve – a day that makes me sad – a day that I feel in my heart of hearts.

A day when the worst that mankind could do – happened. The Son of God was murdered, on a criminal’s cross – shamed and humiliated, taunted and jeered.

His mane shorn off, He quietly accepted the culmination of His mission on earth.

He died…for us.

Praise the Lord, it was not the end of the story!

Aslan rose from the dead!!

You see, there was a Deeper Magic from before the Dawn of Time. The Witch had not known of this.

But Aslan did – Jesus did.

"…when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backward."

I am that traitor.

But, because of the Great Sacrifice – death is now working backward in me!!

I hope you love C. S. Lewis as much as I do. And I would encourage you to read his Chronicles of Narnia – maybe for the first time, maybe once again. Each story in the series brings meaning and practical knowledge to the reader.

However, Lewis' greatest contribution to Christianity, in my opinion, is that he turns people toward the heart of Jesus, our Aslan. He inspires love, commitment, courage, and faith –

He reveals to us a Savior who isn't safe, but He's good…

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"