Editor's note: Enjoy today's devotion from The Chronicles of Narnia Devotional by C. S. Lewis and Rachel Dodge.
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Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. — Hebrews 12:2 ESV
From The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, chapter 14
“Oh, children, children, why are you following me?”
“We couldn’t sleep,” said Lucy...
“Please, may we come with you—wherever you’re going?” said Susan.
“Well—” said Aslan, and seemed to be thinking. Then he said, “I should be glad of company tonight. Yes, you may come, if you will promise to stop when I tell you, and after that leave me to go on alone.”
“Oh, thank you, thank you. And we will,” said the two girls.
Forward they went again and one of the girls walked on each side of the Lion. But how slowly he walked! And his great, royal head drooped so that his nose nearly touched the grass. Presently he stumbled and gave a low moan.
“Aslan! Dear Aslan!” said Lucy, “what is wrong? Can’t you tell us?”
“Are you ill, dear Aslan?” asked Susan.
“No,” said Aslan. “I am sad and lonely. Lay your hands on my mane so that I can feel you are there and let us walk like that.”
And so the girls did what they would never have dared to do without his permission, but what they had longed to do ever since they first saw him—buried their cold hands in the beautiful sea of fur and stroked it and, so doing, walked with him.
Reflection
When Aslan finally tells Susan and Lucy that they must stay behind as he goes ahead, the girls cry bitterly and cling to him, kissing his mane and his nose and his paws and his “great, sad eyes.” The Witch and a large crowd of horrid-looking creatures stand waiting at the Stone Table with burning torches and dark faces. They tie down Aslan, cut off his mane, and surround him, “the whole crowd of creatures kicking him, hitting him, spitting on him, jeering at him.” But Aslan doesn’t move or fight or even lift a paw. When the Witch raises a knife to kill him, the girls cannot watch and cover their eyes.
These scenes, which are painful to read, paint a heartrending picture of Aslan, the great and powerful Lion, laying down his own life in sacrifice for Edmund—without so much as a growl or a murmur. Many of these details and descriptions of Aslan’s death remind us of the sacrificial death of Jesus when He walked to Calvary and died for us on the cross. And just as Lucy and Susan cannot bear to watch Aslan die, we also want to turn our eyes from the painful death that Jesus endured for us.
But the sorrow of the crucifixion brings us face-to-face with two incredible truths: the depth of our sin and the depth of God’s love for us. God sent His only Son to die for us because of His great love for us (Ephesians 2:4–5).
Jesus laid down His life for us so that we might live forever in Heaven with Him.
And He did it because He was looking forward with joy to our salvation and restored fellowship with Him. Hebrews 12:2 tells us to look to “Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (ESV).
He did it for love. He did it for us.
During this scene in the book, Lucy and Susan do the most loving thing they can do when they walk in the dark with Aslan. While everyone else sleeps, they stay by his side and comfort him. They stay close by, much like the women who stood nearby when Jesus was crucified (Mark 15:40–41).
When Jesus was arrested, many of His disciples fled out of fear, but several women stayed with Him until the end. And what a holy example these women in the Bible have given us.
- May we stay close to Jesus, no matter the cost.
May we remain faithful to Him, even when we are mocked for our faith. May we honor Him in all that we do and say, even when we’re the only ones.
And finally, may we walk beside those who are suffering and in need of comfort—through whatever long, lonely night they might be facing. Often, the greatest comfort we can offer those in deep sorrow is simply to walk beside them, so they do not have to walk alone.
Excerpted with permission from The Chronicles of Narnia Devotional by C. S. Lewis and Rachel Dodge, copyright C.S. Lewis Pte. Ltd.
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Your Turn
If you love The Chronicles of Narnia, you love the majestic, powerful Christ-figure of Aslan. Think of what Jesus did for love! He gave Himself for you… because He loves you more than you can imagine! ~ Devotionals Daily