The Lion-Clothed Lamb

Produced in 2005, the film The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe uses characters such as Edmund, Aslan, and the White Witch to resemble the story of Jesus. From the movie’s plot, one can infer that the White Witch represents the devil, Edmund, fallen humanity, and Aslan, Jesus. The story of Jesus is evident in the film’s narration of Aslan’s sacrifice for Edmund, as it encompasses God’s intention for Jesus as the redeeming source of life for sinners.

Aslan’s decision to sacrifice his life for Edmund imitates that of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross for sinners. The White Witch tricked Edmund (and his siblings by extension) into reaching Narnia, promising that he would inherit a throne. Edmund’s desire to gain Narnia’s throne led him to betray his siblings. However, over time, he understood the witch’s deception and was filled with so much guilt (Morris). When Aslan sent his team to save him from the White Witch, rightly so, the White Witch challenged Edmund’s actions by claiming he should die according to the rules of Narnia (The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe). This sequence mirrors the pervading role of sin in humanity. Fortunately, God provided his son Jesus as the redeeming source of life for any believing sinners (Holy Bible, John 3.16). Jesus’s role is depicted in Aslan’s introduction. Once Aslan, the king of Narnia, heard of Edmund’s sins, he asked the White Witch to take his life in place of Edmund’s (The Chronicles of Narnia, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe). The intention of sacrifice parallels the role of Jesus in crucifixion as he, too, died to save sinners.

In conclusion, the humble request of Aslan, a figure of royal status, to die for the sins of Edmund is a powerful parallel to the story of Jesus. Both individuals, despite their high status, chose to sacrifice themselves for the benefit of a lowly sinner. The film’s narrative, from the moment sin enters the human world and death becomes the consequence of sin, mirrors the trajectory of Jesus’ story. The film’s runtime underscores this parallel, showing how Aslan’s sacrifice, like Jesus ‘, was the only redemptive action that could save Edmund from his law-bound death.