The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, follows the exploits of four children who enter the amazing world of Narnia. Once there they discover a charming peaceful land but a land that has been cursed by the White Witch and is enduring an eternal winter with no Christmas.

It was because of this curse that Aslan the lion had to voluntarily lay down his life. He felt sad and lonely as he made his way up to the stone table. The children cried as he was bound, and his four paws tied together. Aslan made no noise even when his enemies were straining and tugging, pulling the cords so tight that they cut into his flesh. He was muzzled and mocked but he simply looked up into the sky, neither angry nor afraid, but a little sad before the moment of killing.

C.S. Lewis’ strong imagination created Aslan as a picture of Jesus Christ. However, unlike Aslan Jesus was not just King of the Jungle but King of Kings and the Lord of all creation. He also willing laid down His life, not on a stone table but on a Roman cross but like Aslan He rose from the dead. He had to die because of the absolute truth that our sin brings judgement. Only by us repenting and trusting in his death on our behalf, can we be forgiven.

For nearly 30 years C.S. Lewis was a fellow of Magdalene College Oxford and it was there that he turned from his atheism to become a follower of Jesus. He tells us how this happened. “It was in 1929 that I gave in and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed.” That day the ice of Narnia melted from his heart and he later described his conversion in a book entitled, ‘Surprised by Joy!’