“You have a traitor there, Aslan,” said the Witch.
“Well,” said Aslan, “His offense was not against you.”
“Have you forgotten the Deep Magic?” asked the Witch?
“Let us say I have forgotten it,” answered Aslan gravely. “Tell us of this Deep Magic.”
“Tell you?” said the Witch, her voice growing suddenly shriller. “Tell you what is written on that very Table of Stone which stands beside us? Tell you what is written in letters deep as a spear is long on the fire-stones on the Secret Hill? Tell you what is engraved on the scepter of the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea? You at least know the Magic which the Emperor put into Narnia at the very beginning. You know that every traitor belongs to me as my lawful prey and that for every treachery I have a right to a kill.”
“And so,” continued the Witch, “that human creature is mine. His life is forfeit to me. His blood is my property.”
“It is very true,” said Aslan, “I do not deny it.”
In my current rereading of C.S. Lewis’ The Chronicles of Narnia, I was struck by this passage in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe.
Those familiar with the story will recall that Aslan goes on to forfeit his own life in exchange for Edmund’s. However, Aslan later comes back to life…through the power of the Emperor’s older deeper magic that the Witch did not know.
What a clear illustration of our redemption through Jesus Christ!
Notice who Edmund’s accuser is…and who his defender is:
“You have a traitor there, Aslan,” said the Witch.
“Well,” said Aslan, “His offense was not against you.”
Edmund betrayed Aslan. He betrayed his own brother and sisters. He betrayed their woodland friends. Edmund sought out the Witch to tell her where his siblings were hiding, who was hiding them, where they were going, and where they were to meet Aslan.
Edmund became a traitor to Aslan by allying himself with the Witch.
Yet, Aslan offered Edmund forgiveness while the Witch accused him.
Lewis’ illustration is consistent with biblical teaching. The Bible calls Satan the accuser of the brethren…who accuses them before our God day and night and says Jesus Christ is our Advocate with the Father.
Realizing we have sinned against God, too often we mistakenly act as though God is angry with us, looking for any excuse to condemn us to Hell for any unconfessed sin. Yet the Bible clearly says Satan is our accuser and Jesus is our defender. God’s position toward His children is loving concern and a desire to deliver us, rather than of angry vengeance.
Even for those who have not believed in Christ, we are told, “God demonstrates His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Like Edmund, we were all traitors. We all treacherously allied ourselves with Satan in his war against God. Yet Jesus, in accordance with the Father’s will, died so we could be rescued from Satan’s dominion. Even while we were still traitors against God…still allied with Satan…Christ died for us.
Why was it necessary for Aslan to be killed?
The Witch had valid legal claim over Edmund. Edmund belonged to her. She owned him, as a slave, to do with as she pleased.
“You know that every traitor belongs to me as my lawful prey and that for every treachery I have a right to a kill.”
“And so,” continued the Witch, “that human creature is mine. His life is forfeit to me. His blood is my property.”
“It is very true,” said Aslan, “I do not deny it.”
The Witch had valid legal claim over Edmund’s life. Aslan gave his life in exchange for Edmund’s.
Notice there was not a question of strength. The Witch knew Aslan was powerful enough to take Edmund by force. Her claim to Edmund relied completely on legal rights for which she called on Aslan’s righteous justice. If the situation were reversed, she would not have followed the path of justice. Yet she relied on Aslan to be just.
So, Aslan offered his life in exchange for Edmund’s.
Aslan died to redeem Edmund from the Witch’s claim…one life exchanged for another…so Edmund would be free of the Witch’s claim…free to live a life of honor, love and justice in right relationship with the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea.
The Bible has much to say on the topic of redemption. Today, we often use the word redeem in a rather loose manner to refer to anything good that comes from a bad situation. However, scriptural use of the word redeem is much more specific.
In Leviticus 25, Moses gave us the Law of Redemption, in which redemption clearly refers to transfer of legal ownership being restored back to the rightful owner. In biblical context, redemption means to justly bring about the end of a covenant of bondage by which someone or something belonging to God is being held captive.
According to Leviticus 25, right of redemption is a reserved right by the rightful owner. When an Israelite sold land or sold themselves into servitude, they retained right of redemption…the right to cancel out the purchase contract by refunding the purchase cost. The reason given for the right of redemption is that they belong to God.
What Aslan did for Edmund is what Jesus did for us.
Jesus gave His life in exchange for ours. Jesus died and descended into that shadow world called Sheol (Hades or Death) to redeem us from Satan’s valid legal claim over us.
I once belonged to Satan. Satan once had a legal claim over my life which the Father acknowledged to be valid. Satan could not hold me by strength, as God is much stronger. Rather, Satan held me by legal claim, for which he completely relied on Father’s justice. So Jesus gave His life in exchange for mine. Jesus redeemed me from Satan’s legal claim, so I could cease to be a slave to sin and can now walk in righteousness and love, as a child of God.
Hallelujah, what a Savior!
Your thoughts?