A favorite and powerful portrait of Jesus appears in The Chronicles of Narnia, by
C S Lewis.
In these timeless mythical tales, Aslan is a great lion to gives his life to right the wrong that has invaded his world.
Aslan is the answer to the question of what Christ might be like if He entered a world like Narnia for the purpose of redeeming it from evil.
Many, including me, have found themselves irresistibly drawn to Aslan's Christ-like character.
But Aslan is "not a tame lion" the children are reminded many times.
Approaching him involves a risk. He cannot ever be bargained with. They must learn to trust him at all costs.
In these timeless mythical tales, Aslan is a great lion to gives his life to right the wrong that has invaded his world.
Aslan is the answer to the question of what Christ might be like if He entered a world like Narnia for the purpose of redeeming it from evil.
Many, including me, have found themselves irresistibly drawn to Aslan's Christ-like character.
But Aslan is "not a tame lion" the children are reminded many times.
Approaching him involves a risk. He cannot ever be bargained with. They must learn to trust him at all costs.
But Lucy was thirsty, and Aslan was positioned near the stream. She daren't approach further for fear of him.
"Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion.
"Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion.
"I'm dying of thirst," said Jill
"Then drink," said the Lion.
"May I -- could I -- would you mind going away while I do?"
said Jill.
The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.
The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.
"Will you promise not to -- do anything to me, if I do come?"
said Jill.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.
"Do you eat girls?" she said.
"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion.
It didn't say this as if it were boasting, not as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.
"I daren't come and drink." said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
"Oh dear!" said Jill, coming a step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the Lion.
Dying of thirst....and there is no other stream.....
*From The Chronicles of Narnia, The Silver Chair.
"Then drink," said the Lion.
"May I -- could I -- would you mind going away while I do?"
said Jill.
The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience.
The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.
"Will you promise not to -- do anything to me, if I do come?"
said Jill.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.
"Do you eat girls?" she said.
"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion.
It didn't say this as if it were boasting, not as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.
"I daren't come and drink." said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
"Oh dear!" said Jill, coming a step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the Lion.
Dying of thirst....and there is no other stream.....
*From The Chronicles of Narnia, The Silver Chair.
Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.
Indeed the water I give him will become in him
a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
John 4:14
