There’s a secret in an old wardrobe—a secret world. An enchanted world—full of talking beasts, fauns, dwarfs, giants, and other amazing creatures. In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, when Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy climb through the door of that mysterious wardrobe, they have no idea that they are about to begin an incredible adventure. The children discover that the kingdom of Narnia is in bondage—held captive for a hundred years under the spell of an evil White Witch. “It’s she that makes it always winter; always winter, and never Christmas!”
But prophecies have foretold the end of the Witch’s reign. One day the great Lion Aslan will return to Narnia.
“Wrong will be right,
when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar,
sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth,
winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane,
we shall have spring again.”
As the saying goes, two “Sons of Adam” and two “Daughters of Eve” will one day sit on the four thrones at Cair Paravel and rule as Kings and Queens in Narnia. Now that the four children are here, could it be that Narnia’s deliverance is at hand?
The Real Secret Over the years, millions of Narnia fans have discovered that there’s another secret in the wardrobe. C. S. Lewis, the author of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, called this secret “the story within the story.” Have you discovered the secret? Do you recognize the story?
In Narnia, Edmund falls under the spell of the White Witch. He gives in to pride, selfishness, and greed. He becomes a traitor. And according to the “Deep Magic,” or law on which Narnia was founded, Edmund must pay the penalty with his life.
The Bible tells us that at one time or another, every one of us has behaved like Edmund. We’ve all done things that displease others and God, too. Those things are called sins. In his book, the Bible, God says that “all have sinned” (Romans 3:23). And according to the law on which our world is founded, the penalty for sin is death: “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). In other words, our sins earn us something we don’t really want!
The only hope for Edmund and Narnia is the lion Aslan, the Lord of the Wood, the King of Beasts, Son of the Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Only Aslan—the one who created Narnia—can deliver it from the power of the White Witch. In the Bible, Jesus Christ is called the “Lion of Judah.” He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Son of God. He is the only One who can save us. “The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
Aslan lays down his own life for Edmund, taking Edmund’s punishment and dying in his place. The Bible says, “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
The Curse is Broken! It is by suffering a horrible, agonizing death on the Stone Table, that Aslan sets Narnia and Edmund free. For there is an even “Deeper Magic”—a greater law—at work: “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.” With Aslan’s sacrifice, the curse is broken.
The Bible tells us by suffering a horrible, agonizing death on the cross, Jesus set Creation and all humankind free. With His sacrifice, the power of sin and death is broken. Those who put their trust in Him can say, “Christ redeemed us”—paid the price to free us—“from the curse of the law” (Galatians 3:13).
Just as Aslan rose from the dead in Narnia, Jesus Christ rose from the dead in our world. As the Bible explains, “Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). God has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into “the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). One day, we will live forever with Him in Heaven.
Now you know the secret—the true story behind The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Would you like to meet the great Lion yourself—the Lion of Judah—Jesus? You can tell Him yourself with words like these:
Dear Jesus, I do believe with all my heart that You died on the cross for my sins. Thank You for breaking the curse and setting me free. I’m so glad I can enter Your Kingdom and come to know You. Help me to live my life in a way that pleases You. Amen.
References from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis, HarperCollins Publishers, 1950. c C. S. Lewis Pte. Ltd. 1950, 1978.
About the Author :
Max Lucado (MA, Abilene Christian University) serves as the minister of preaching at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, and is a best-selling author and speaker. His award-winning books have been translated into more than fifty-four languages and he has been named one of the most influential leaders in social media by The New York Times. Max lives in San Antonio, Texas, with his wife, Denalyn, and has three daughters and one granddaughter. David Wenzel received a BFA from Hartford Art School and has been illustrating professionally for nearly thirty years. He is recognized for illustrating the graphic novel adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, as well as numerous other children's materials.
