(Versiunea în Română o găsești aici)

English

This article is a deep analysis of “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe“, the first book of C.S. Lewis‘s series: The Chronicles of Narnia.
It will include multiple quotes from the book, followed by their lessons that we could take with us in life.

Table of contents:

• Introduction
• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
  • Chapter 1&2: “Lucy Looks into a Wardrobe”, “What Lucy Found There”
  • Chapter 3&4: “Edmund and the Wardrobe”, “Turkish Delight”
  • Chapter 5: “Back on This Side of the Door”
  • Chapter 6&7: “Into the Forest”, “A Day with the Beavers”
  • Chapter 8: “What Happened After Dinner”
  • Chapter 9: “In the Witch’s House”
  • Chapter 10: “The Spell Begins to Break”
  • Chapter 11: “Aslan is Nearer”
  • Chapter 12: “Peter’s First Battle”
  • Chapter 13: “Deep Magic from the Dawn of Time”
  • Chapter 14: “The Triumph of the Witch”
  • Chapter 15: “Deeper Magic from Before the Dawn of Time”
  • Chapter 16: “What Happened about the Statues”
  • Chapter 17: “The Hunting of the White Stag”

Introduction

If you haven’t read The Chronicles of Narnia, the book series written by C.S. Lewis, nor at least you have watched the movies that were based on these wonderful books, you should probably not read this article, unless you want to spoil the storyline, or the end of the book, among other quotes and particularly important details of the story.

Now that you have decided that you want to read this article, I will present you further on a collection of thoughts that I have studied on the book series that is The Chronicles of Narnia.
(get ready for some metaphorical thinking)

These books are, at least to me, a masterpiece, that deserves to be appreciated by being read at least once in a lifetime.
If you have a reading list, note these ones down, and if you don’t have one, these books should be at the top of your new reading list.
Why, you might ask? Because these books have such a profound meaning, yet they are only written as children’s stories. But if you get yourself further in their explanation, you will find answers for so many things that happen in our life, in our world, on Earth.
You just have to keep your eyes open.
Yet for this you will have to read each book to obtain an overview, to get together more points of view.

There is something I used to say ever since I’ve been a child, even – that every story ever told might find connections in the Bible.
And this is one of the things that I would like to share with you in this article.
But the beauty of it, the beauty of Christian-inspired books is that they will help you in life and in your faith.
The Bible is the foundation of Culture, yet, although it is a complete book, on itself, being so complex in its structure, we do need sometimes some explanations and guidance, or, just like some children, to have some things explained to us in the form of a story. This happens to us since, in our generation, getting lost in so much knowledge, we might lose sight even of The Purpose of Life, although we know the Bible. This is where the well-intentioned quality books come in help, bringing us back on our feet, and restoring the knowledge that we need (because not everything that flies is good to be eaten).

For the reason that this book series is composed of 7 books, such as “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”, “Prince Caspian”, “The Voyage of The Dawn Treader”, “The Silver Chair”, “The Horse and His Boy”, “The Magician’s Nephew”, “The Last Battle” (in order of the date they were written and published by C.S. Lewis), a single article will not make justice to everything I have on my soul to write down, that is why I planned around 7 articles on this topic, that will be published here hopefully by the end of this year.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe

But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.

_{-C.S. Lewis}

The first book of this series, “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” written by Clive Staples Lewis, was published in the year of 1950.

This book follows the story of four children, four siblings: Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy, in descending order of their ages, who will discover a new world, a new perspective, by entering a special Wardrobe.
(Through a Door – analogy to the Christian life: Narnia (here) might symbolize Christianity,  a new life, with a lot of things to learn about, with small steps, and even some obstacles to overcome — and The Door is Jesus Christ, only Him.
“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture,” the Bible, John 10:9).

Further on, I will present to you an analysis of the book, based on some excerpts that, personally, sent me a significant message.

Once again, if you haven’t read this book, I suggest you come back after you will, because I’m going to cross it from cover to cover.

But, before you’re going to search for a magical Wardrobe, to get into a different dimension, take Lewis’s advice and always remember: “it is very foolish to shut oneself into any wardrobe”.

Chapter 1 & 2

Lucy was the one who started it all. She got into Narnia through the Wardrobe from the spare room, and she reached the Lamp-post. This is where she encountered Mr. Tumnus, a Faun.

After meeting this initially mysterious character, which we soon find out he was a spy from evil’s side, but he turns back to the Good side, by his resistance to wrong orders, just like each one of us should filter what is asked of us through a strainer of what is good to do, (“For he that is not against us is for us.” – The Bible, Mark 9:40), we encounter next the force of Evil, represented in this story by The White Witch.

The first thing we learn about Evil is that “she has got all Narnia under her thumb, making it always winter. Always winter and never Christmas.” says Mr. Tumnus.
– Just like under any Evil influence in our world, we know that we won’t be having warmth nor real joy (like the innocent Christmas joy children have) from It.

Mr. Tumnus was going to turn Lucy over to the White Witch but, now that he knew how a human truly is, he couldn’t let himself be that way, serving the evil Witch that turns people into stone, instead he would help Lucy get back to our world.

Chapter 3 & 4

Soon after, takes place the meeting between the Witch and Lucy’s brother, Edmund, who got into Narnia accidentally, following Lucy, after none of the siblings believed Lucy about Narnia. Lucy was now for the second time in Narnia, by herself.

Since Evil is cunning, It will offer, at first without asking, “something hot to drink”, when the poor human being, desperate for power, or glory or simply being full of pride, will receive it gladly, although it comes from a stranger’s hand. Once the bait is out, Evil will take a step further, this time asking its victim for exactly “what would he like best to eat?”, just like in our world when Satan gives us whatever we need BUT to keep us away from what is right and Good.

Thus, Edmund sold himself for sweeties.
– A lesson to learn: do not sell yourself for anything, do not sell your soul, especially not for some sweeties.

Therefore, Edmund, from our story, told the Witch everything she wanted to know, while he “only thought of how to shovel down as much Turkish Delight as he could, and the more he ate the more he wanted to eat.”  Because “this was enchanted Turkish Delight and anyone who had once tasted it would want more and more of it, and would even, if they were allowed, go on eating it till they killed themselves.”

The Witch from Narnia, knowing about the prophecy in which Two Sons of Adam and Two Daughters of Eve will dethrone her, while meeting Edmund, a Son of Adam, being sly enough, she lures him to reveal details about him and his family, while she bewitches him with Turkish Delight, which he wanted to eat more and more.
– In our world, the devil knows we are created to become Sons and Daughters of God, each one of us being chosen for something great, being blessed with gifts that we have to learn how to use. Well, he knows, that is why, sly as he is, he lures us, starting with “something hot to drink”, then offering our choice of what to eat, followed by giving us “enchanted sweeties”, of which, after we have tasted them, we would want more and more, doing ANYTHING to obtain them – anything the “Witch” will ask of us, stepping over any kind of moral laws. Although our conscience would tell us to get back to the truth, we will inhibit it, or we would even kill it.
That is why, the gifts that are inside you, use them well, for Good, before the evil one will lure you with something else, seeing how great your victory might be. Any gift can be good: “it’s good a vessel of honor, but we need a fragment too” (verses from Costache Ioanid).
The unsignificant gifts considered by some, have, in fact, the greatest value: “to stay awake at night at a bedside, scarcely turning the sick man over, to endure and to comfort”, to help his family, to bring groceries to an old man, to lift a child that hit himself by falling, to fix something at a man’s house, for free, to take care of your children. All these things are so precious, and yet, not everybody is willing to do them.
However, while performed with a smile on your face and joy in your heart, these are worth more than jewelry.

Chapter 5

Back to our story.

Edmund has joined the dark side in his heart, but not yet was he able to turn his siblings to Evil as well, because when they got back to our world, his and Lucy’s older siblings made sure to discuss serious issues about this “New World” with the Professor they were staying at:

Still, Peter and Susan couldn’t believe Lucy’s words, while Edmund pretended not to believe, although his eyes have seen the truth. Therefore Edmund was very mean to Lucy.

-This happens in our life as well, when we discover something wonderful and delightful like Faith, and, even if it passes the test of logic (just like the Professor the children were staying at explained to them the probability that Lucy might in fact tell the truth), the others around us might still not believe us.
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (The Bible, Hebrews 11:1)

Chapter 6 & 7

At the right time, all four of them: Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy will get into Narnia, together, through the Wardrobe. There they found themselves with a great rescue mission on their shoulders, followed by a queer meeting with a beaver, who led them to his dam house:

“Further in, come further in”,
“We’re not safe in the open.”

-Mr. Beaver

-Just like a follower of the Good, who must pay attention to the dangers that an open field might hide, without any protection.

At last, at the Beaver’s house, we find out about The Name of the One who represents Good: Aslan.

“Aslan is on the move.”

-This reassures us that the Good won’t let us be alone in the open but is coming to help us.

At this point, at the sound of His Name, the children will get a feeling within them, according to the state of their hearts: all but Edmund felt sweet and brave feelings, while Edmund felt terrified.

Chapter 8

Further on, we find about the prophecies that were mentioned earlier.

Aslan is the Great Lion, the King of the forest, the Son of the Emperor-beyond-the-Sea, representing Jesus Christ, the Lion of Judah.

“Safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you,” said Mr. Beaver.

-One of the things that proves Bible to be trustworthy is the fulfillment of the prophecies, and the ones that are yet going to be fulfilled at the right time. These fulfilled prophecies (see The Old Testament in the Bible) can be watched through the History of Humanity.

We find some prophecies in The Chronicles of Narnia, which we are waiting for to become reality as well.

Another prophecy in our story says:

“When Adam’s flesh and Adam’s bone
Sits at Cair Paravel in throne,
The evil time will be over and done.”

– This reminds us that we were meant even from back at the time of Creation that we were supposed to be guardians of Earth.

We also find out, from the Beavers, on the subject of Evil, that the Witch pretends to be human, but in fact, is not:

“…she comes of the giants”
“There may be two views about humans, but there’s no two views about things that look like humans and aren’t”, said Mr. Beaver.

-That’s why you should “keep your eyes on it and feel for your hatchet” (Mr. Beaver).

Edmund left that night from the Beaver’s house to the House of the Witch.

“Has he been in this country before?” asked Mr. Beaver. “Has he ever been here alone?”
“He had the look of one who has been with the Witch and eaten her food.”

Edmund has become a traitor.

“Oh, can no one help us?” wailed Lucy.
“Only Aslan.” said Mr. Beaver.

Chapter 9

Meanwhile, Edmund was heading towards the House of the Witch, being unsatisfied with his dinner at the Beavers – which was food from the ones who were supporting Good – because, “there’s nothing that spoils the taste of good ordinary food half so much as the memory of bad magic food.”
While on the way, he was thinking about what he had heard in the Beaver’s House, and yet he was still trying to convince himself that “all these people who say nasty things about her are her enemies and probably half of it isn’t true… It wasn’t a very good excuse, however, for deep down inside him, he really knew that the White Witch was bad and cruel.”

On the way to Her House, “there was no road… he kept slipping…, and tripping… and sliding down, … till he was wet and cold and bruised all over. The silence and the loneliness were dreadful… he might have given up the whole plan if he hadn’t happened to think about being a king and all other things he would do and this cheered him up a good deal.“
-Even in this excerpt we can see Evil’s doing: It will promise earthly glory, in exchange for your soul, but you will actually only find instead loneliness and coldness around you, after your own body will get through dark and cold places that will leave you with bruises, marks and pain.
-The one important thing that determined Edmund to push through, although “he began to be afraid of the House”, was his hatred for his brother.

Once arrived at the Witch, he found Her greatly dissatisfied by the news the boy brought, therefore she started getting ready to catch the other children, but she made sure, carefully, to choose, “the harness without bells”.

Chapter 10

“Aslan is on the move. The Witch’s magic is weakening.”

Father Christmas appears in the story as a messenger, bringing joy in a place that was once dark and cold. “Always winter, and never Christmas” -transforms now into happiness and spring, in a normal way of things.
-The Witch tried to take away any hope or reasons of joy from the Narnians, leading them by fear. She probably sensed herself that “Hope is the only thing stronger than Fear.” (Suzanne Collins in “The Hunger Games”), that could be the reason why she took away from them even Christmas.

But now that Aslan came in sight, everything changes, and Evil will no longer have power over what is Good.

Peter, Susan, and Lucy, and also the Beavers, have each received presents that will help them from now on in their journey.
-We as well have received certain gifts from God, especially spiritual gifts, and when we are going to use them, just like Susan’s hunting horn, “…help of some kind will come.”

Chapter 11

Edmund, however, had a very unpleasant time in Narnia, at the moment. He wasn’t welcomed as he had thought. The Witch didn’t want to give him any food, but some “dry bread”, similar to our world, when joining the evil’s side, while initially being charmed with “sweeties”, you might realize they become in fact only “dry bread” as the time goes on, since Evil doesn’t need your services at the moment. It will then say: “you may be glad enough of it before you taste bread again”, for The Only source of real, sweet, and nourishing Bread is Jesus Christ. (The Bible, John 6:48)

Not long after that, the Witch encounters some Narnians that were on Aslan’s side, enjoying a great meal, with plenty of nourishing food, that she will learn they have received from Father Christmas himself, which, until then, she had successfully banish from Narnia.
In her great despair, she pleads them to say they were lying “and you shall even now be forgiven”, basically begging them to tell her what she wants to hear, supporting a lie, of course, for the devil himself is the father of lies.

At this point, it begins a change in Edmund’s heart, since the Witch turned that merry party into stone, for being “spies and traitors”. And Edmund has begun to feel for others, since he knew that he has betrayed his family.

Spring was here. “The frost was over.” And the White Witch became more and more frightened at any hearing of the Name of Good, of Aslan: “If either of you mention that Name again, he shall instantly be killed.”

-In our world too, there is a Name that turns heat in the demons’ heads, because of the power of His Name, The Name of Jesus Christ.

Chapter 12

…When Aslan comes to Narnia… “wrong will be right”, as previously mentioned in another chapter.

Winter, which symbolized the power of the Witch, her doings, was now vanishing, since she was losing control over Narnia, when the Son of the Emperor came to heal the land and to bring Life.
-As we know, in the temperate climate, a common winter, which will last for a few months, brings benefits to the land, giving it rest, while, if it lasts for a hundred years, life stagnates or even dies, and, for the locals, hope dies.

When the party of Peter, Susan, Lucy, and the Beavers arrives to Aslan’s camp, we notice Mr. Beaver telling them that “Sons of Adam go before animals”, this being another connotation as to why we, humans, should be the protectors of the world we were put in; but on this matter, we will find out more in the following books of the series.

At the sight of Aslan, Lucy took notice as “how regal and strong and peaceful his face looked, but he looked sad as well.”, after he had told them regarding the rescue of Edmund that “All shall be done, but it may be harder than you think.”

When Susan was attacked by one of the Witch’s wolves, Aslan let Peter fight first, just like God lets us fight our battle, because He trusts us, He knows that we can overcome it.

“Peter did not feel very brave, indeed, he felt he was going to be sick. But that made no difference to what he had to do.”

Peter has won his first battle.
But there was one more thing that he had to do.

“You have forgotten to clean your sword, “ said Aslan.

-This is one of the things we have to remember ourselves in life: even after we win a battle, we must clean our weapons, on one hand so they won’t rust, and, on the other hand, so we would be ready anytime for the next fight, not being overcame by pride.
(Ann-Margret’s article helped me understand this concept better, and I hope you are going to read it as well, here).

-Our weapons are the gifts we have received, and which are more that you would’ve thought. (check out the Bible, Ephesians 6:14-18)

“…whatever happens, never forget to wipe your sword.”

Chapter 13

“Edmund had been made to walk for further than he had ever known that anybody could walk.”
Evil has pushed him beyond his limits in order to achieve evil’s will.
Yet, at the very right moment, he has been rescued by Aslan’s party, who were also searching for catching the Witch, if only she didn’t transform herself into a stump, “for it was part of her magic that she could make things look like what they aren’t.”
– I wonder, doesn’t the devil do the same thing in our world?

When Edmund met with Aslan, they have been talking for a while, and “it was a conversation which Edmund never forgot”.
-It was a private talk, just like our prayers to God for forgiveness on our mistakes and our sins are personal, taking place only between us and God. And then He will forgive us, throwing away all that was bad in the Sea of Oblivion.

Aslan brought Edmund to his siblings, telling them that “there is no need to talk to him about what is past.”

Nevertheless, Evil won’t let us go away that easy with our mistakes, nor the Witch did let Edmund.
She requested a meeting with Aslan in front of all the people.

“Though it was bright sunshine everyone felt suddenly cold.”

“It was the oddest thing to see those two faces – the golden face and the dead-white face – so close together. Not that the Witch looked Aslan exactly in his eyes.”

“You have a traitor there, Aslan,” said the Witch. Of course, everyone present knew that she meant Edmund.
But Edmund had got past thinking about himself after all he’d been through and after the talk he’d had that morning. He just went on looking at Aslan. It didn’t seem to matter what the Witch said.”

-This was the day Edmund had become a new being. He was a traitor. But now he is redeemed. We do not know the things Aslan has told him, but we can see in Edmund’s doings that he has been transformed: he will no longer think about himself, like he used to do before, when he was proud and selfish; from now on he will only look at Aslan. Nothing else mattered to him. Only Aslan. This is where his heart will be turned to, to the One who loved him in the lowest point of his life.
“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” (Bible, Luke 9:23)

The Witch, though, went on: “You know that every traitor belongs to me as my lawful prey and that for every treachery I have a right to a kill.”
–“For the wages of sin is death.” (The Bible, Romans 6:23)

“Oh,” said Mr. Beaver. “So that’s how you came to imagine yourself a queen – because you were the Emperor’s hangman.”

-Evil only received what was fallen, as Lucifer became a fallen angel, and this would be the only thing he will get to satisfy himself: the fallen prey.
“Dust shall the snake eat.”  (The Bible, Genesis 3:14) – He can only feed by what we are giving him, through our sins and mistakes.
“The Lord’s mercies are new every morning.” (The Bible, Lamentations 3:22-23) – God is giving us, and not the devil, breath, and life every day, and only through our wrongs will evil feed upon.

As a response to the Witch’s charge, Susan asked Aslan if there’s something to do against it.
“Work against the Emperor’s Magic?” said Aslan, with a frown.
-The Emperor’s Magic represents the Law and God’s Will.
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” said Jesus. (The Bible, Matthew 5:17)

Finally, after a long and private talk between Aslan and the Witch, “Aslan had settled the matter. The Witch has renounced the claim on Edmund’s blood.”

Chapter 14

“Aslan explained to Peter his plan of campaign.”
He gave Peter all the instructions he would need for the battle, just like Jesus, while still on Earth, thought his disciples all the things they would need to do in life.

“But you will be there yourself, Aslan.” said Peter.
“I can give you no promise of that,” answered the Lion.

At nighttime, while everybody was asleep except for the two Daughters of Eve, Aslan was walking away from their camp into the wood. Without a word, Susan and Lucy followed him.
“His tail and his head hung low and he walked slowly as if he were very, very tired.”
At one point, he stopped to talk to the girls who were following him.

“Please, may we come with you – wherever you’re going?” asked Susan.
“Well… 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.” said Aslan.

Aslan seemed very sad to the girls, and, at their question, he answered:
“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.”

When the time came, the girls cried, but they left him go on alone.
And Aslan gave himself in the hands of the Witch and her servants.

“Lucy and Susan held their breaths waiting for Aslan’s roar and his spring upon his enemies. But it never came.”

“The evil spirits tied all his four paws together, shouting and cheering as if they had done something brave, though, had the Lion chosen, one of those paws could have been the death of them all. But he made no noise, even when they pulled the chords so tight that they cut into his flesh.”
Then, he was shaved, and a mean laughter was floating above, and they were jeering at him…

-All the same happened to Jesus Christ. The women and a few of his disciples followed him on the road, but he had to bear the burden of the cross himself. And He was feeling so lonely.

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely, He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed.
…He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.”
(The Bible, ESV, Isaiah 53)

“Oh, how can they!” said Lucy, tears streaming down her cheeks.
For now that the first shock was over, the shorn face of Aslan looked to her braver, and more beautiful, and more patient than ever.”

Aslan, on the Stone Table was bound with chords.
-Jesus was pierced on a Cross.

“The cowards!” said Susan. “Are they still afraid of him, even now?”
“Or isn’t an end to the wrath
  What is still striking Jesus?” cried Mary Magdalene (poem by Costache Ioanid).

– And Jesus Christ was put into a tomb, and they rolled a great stone to the entrance of it, so “it will keep Him in the tomb”, and to prevent people from getting to Him, and He was even guarded by soldiers for three days, after He died on the Cross.

The Cross of Jesus, the symbol that remained over centuries in our world, was represented in Narnia through a Stone Knife.

“And the Witch bared her arms and took the stone evil-shaped knife, and before she gave the blow, she said:
“And now, who has won? Fool, did you think that by all this you would save the human traitor? Now I will kill you instead of him as our pact was. But when you are dead what will prevent me from killing him as well? And who will take him out of my hand then? Understand that you have given me Narnia for ever, you have lost your life and you have not saved his. In that knowledge, despair and die.”

How pleased would have been the devil by killing Jesus on the Cross, with his entire army gathered around. The whole planet stopped, for the One that was its Life, died.

Chapter 15

After the Witch has finished her ritual, she left Aslan’s body behind, to get ready for the battle with the Sons of Adam, passing by Susan and Lucy, with her party, so close that the children would feel their breaths.

 “At any other time they would have trembled with fear, but now the sadness and shame and horror of Aslan’s death so filled their minds that they hardly thought of it.”

-Like Edmund when he met the Witch again with Aslan by his side, nothing else mattered, not their lives, not what was around them, only Aslan and what has happened to Aslan.

They got close to him and they mourned him. “And down they both knelt in the wet grass and kissed his cold face and stroked his beautiful fur and cried till they could cry no more.”

-All the same, the women that were following Jesus, Mary Magdalene, the other Mary, and others, were the ones to come to Jesus’s tomb early in the morning. They also went there to cry at His feet and to cover Him in sweet fragrances and their tears.

“Lucy and Susan felt as if nothing is ever going to happen again.”

But, after a long time, when it was still early morning, they got up for a little while from him, and they made a few steps, and, when they turned round, “The Stone Table was broken into two pieces by a great crack that ran down it from end to end; and there was no Aslan.”

-The Sacrifice Table was broken. Rituals were no longer going to take place.
The Stone Table symbolized the Law, just like the Curtain of the Temple from Israel was torn in two at the moment of Jesus’ death, so the Law was “broken”, and salvation will only come through the One who is bigger than the Law, through Jesus Christ.

“Is it magic?” asked Susan.
“Yes. It is more magic.” said a great voice behind their backs. There, shining in the sunrise, larger than they had seen him before, shaking his mane (for it apparently grown again) stood Aslan himself.

Aslan has told them: “The Witch’s knowledge goes back only to the dawn of time. But if she could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before Time dawned, she would have read there a different incantation. She would have known that 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 backwards.”

They all rejoiced, and “when all three finally lay together panting in the sun, the girls no longer felt in the least tired or hungry or thirsty.”

–Jesus is the Life, He is the Bread of Life. (The Bible, John 14:6, John 6:48)
He is the Living Water. “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me (to Jesus) and drink.” (The Bible, John 7:37)
“…Whoever believes in Me, shall never thirst…” (The Bible, John 6:35, John 4:14)

Together with Aslan, they passed over deep valleys, over any obstacles, over great rivers, never growing tired.

-Alongside Jesus, we will pass over anything, because He will be there for us.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, For You are with me.”
(The Bible, Psalm 23:4)

Chapter 16

Aslan, Susan, and Lucy have reached the House of the Witch, and there, “Aslan was doing something”: “everywhere the stone statues were coming to life”, for, where the Witch left behind death and coldness of heart, Aslan’s breath was bringing Life.

All the ones who were alive were now searching through the castle for lost souls.

“And at last… the whole castle stood empty with every door and window open and the light and the sweet spring air flooding into all the dark and evil places which needed them so badly.”

Aslan was preparing help for the battle, getting ready to go, but for that he would need some of them to work with him to find exactly where the battle was. So, he asked some of them who would have similar qualities, one of which was another lion.
This one would start to brag among the others: “Did you hear what he said? Us Lions. That means him and me.”
“At least, he went on saying this till Aslan had loaded him up with three dwarfs, one dryad, two rabbits, and a hedgehog. That steadied him a bit.”

-When Pride comes over us, if we still want to be on Jesus’ side, He might “load us with some burdens”, so that we would get back on the right track.

“When all were ready (it was a big sheep-dog who actually helped Aslan most in getting them sorted into their proper order) they left for the battle.”

When they had reached it, they found Peter fighting the Witch, which was now fighting with her Stone Knife, although there were statues all over the battlefield, so the Witch had been using her wand. The enemy’s army was made of all the horrible creatures that were at the Stone Table the night before.
After Aslan’s roar, he flung himself upon the White Witch and killed her.

Chapter 17

In a few minutes, the battle was over.

This battle has changed Peter – “his face was so pale and stern and he seemed so much older.”

-We are changing as well after a significant circumstance from our life. Let us hope that we become wiser.

We soon find out from Peter that “it was all Edmund’s doing… when he reached the Witch he had the sense to bring his sword smashing down on her wand instead of trying to go for her directly and simply getting made a statue himself for his pains. Once her wand was broken we began to have some chance – if we hadn’t lost so many already.”

-For one who was once a traitor, because Edmund knew evil’s ways better than the others, he became a hero and a great help in the battle, although he was now terribly wounded.
That is why, after repentance, some would become great warriors for Righteousness, since they knew evil thinking and can better anticipate the enemy’s plans.

Next, we’ll have Lucy as a helper with her gift, her cordial, healing Edmund. Yet, while she was waiting to see for herself how Edmund will recover, Aslan reminds her that “There are other people wounded…”, and then, in a graver voice “…others also are at the point of death. Must more people die for Edmund?”. Lucy, then, went with Aslan to help everyone who was wounded.
–We must not cease from doing good. (The Bible, Galatians 6:9)
Even when we would like to see the result of our doings, we must not stop when others are also in great need of help.

“There are wounds unattended,
Candlewicks that are dying
Handkerchiefs in which tears are secretly trickling.” (Poem by Costache Ioanid, “The towel”)

Let us not forget about the souls of all men.

When Edmund finally came into his senses, “he looked better than Lucy had seen him look for ages; in fact, ever since his first term at that horrid school which was where he had begun to go wrong. He had become his real old self again and could look you in the face. And there on the field of battle Aslan made him a knight.”

Not long after that, Susan and Lucy had an important conversation:

“Does he know?” whispered Lucy to Susan, “what Aslan did for him? Does he know what the arrangement with the Witch really was?”
“Hush! No, of course not, “ said Susan.
“Oughtn’t he to be told?” said Lucy.
“Oh, surely not,” said Susan. “It would be too awful for him. Think how you’d feel if you were he.”
“All the same I think he ought to know,” said Lucy.

What do you think? Should they have told Edmund?

I believe so. While it is a weighty thing, if Someone would give His life for me, in my place, I would’ve wanted to know, so that I could be eternally grateful.

However, C.S. Lewis didn’t give us an answer at this quandary here.

After all these events, after Evil was defeated and killed, it was time to fulfill the prophecy.
The four siblings were now made kings and queens, by Aslan.

“Once a king or queen in Narnia, always a king or queen.
Bear it well, Sons of Adam!
Bear it well, Daughters of Eve!”
said Aslan.

On coronation day, after the festivities, Aslan slipped away. Although saddened, the Kings and Queens have been warned by Mr. Beaver that “He’ll be coming and going… He doesn’t like being tied down – and of course he has other countries to attend to… He’s wild, you know. Not like a tame lion.”

These two Kings and two Queens governed Narnia for several years to come.
They were known as:
“King Peter, the Magnificent,
Queen Susan, the Gentle,
King Edmund, the Just,
Queen Lucy, the Valiant.”

But one year, while hunting for “the White Stag who would give you wishes if you caught him”, these kings and queens had reached a part of the forest they have long forgotten: the Lamp-post. There they felt that “if they’ll pass this post and lantern either they shall find strange adventures or else some great change of their fortunes.”

And King Peter said, “For never since we four were Kings and Queens in Narnia have we set our hands to any high matter, as battles, quests, feats of arms, acts of justice, and the like, and then given over; but always what we have taken in hand, the same we have achieved.”

Edmund said he wouldn’t give up on finding the signification of this thing for the richest jewel in all Narnia, or further away.

Whilst Susan initially wished they would turn away from this quest, she has accepted the will of her siblings.

-All the same, let us work in all the good things to achieve victory, and while searching for the Truth, let us not give up, even for the richest jewels of this world.

Thus, these four have passed it, have got into the forest, and, on their way, they got back into the Wardrobe, and from the Wardrobe, in the Professor’s House, and back into our world.

At one point, they did tell the Professor about everything that happened to them, and he assured them that they would get back there someday, but it’s better not to try to get there at all.
-As well as we have a promise that we will get into God’s Kingdom, if we believe and we love Jesus Christ, but we must not try to rush our departure from this world.

The Professor also told them that they might find some others that had adventures of the same sort themselves, and they will know that through the “odd things they say – even their looks – will let the secret out.
Just keep your eyes open.”

That is also how we will know those who are faithful to God – by the way they act, by the things they say.

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (The Bible, John 13:35)

“I wonder, what do they teach them at these schools.” said the Professor.

Disclaimer:
All quotes from The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe are written in Blue, or else mentioned into Quotes Blocks.
Bible verses are from the English Standard Version 2016.

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