Discovering ASLAN in 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe'

He is the son of the Great Emperor beyond the sea, beyond the world. He spoke and sang before the creation of the world and brought the world into being.

He commands legions of creatures and people in many worlds. Some creatures loyal to him may seem strange to us, and many of them fly. They worship him and serve him wholeheartedly.

His word is always true. You can depend on him totally. He never lies.

He appears unexpectedly and makes things right. He gave his life to conquer evil and ransom the guilty rebel. He rose again by dawn and appeared first to loving, caring young women.

He has enemies in this world and in other worlds but he defeated them and they are doomed. They tremble at the sound of his name.

All who trust in him are forgiven and set free. He breathes life into hearts of stone. His breath gives life.

He reveals himself to all who choose to follow and obey him, and the more they know him the more they love him. The more you know him the bigger he becomes to you. He loves with unending love.

He chose Peter to lead under his authority and to reign with his royal family. They failed him at times, as we all do, but he always sets things right when anyone asks for his help, trusts him and follows him.

He has all authority in this world and in other worlds. Multitudes love and serve him now and forever. You can talk to him now and always.

He is the subject of this book and many other books. He calls you to respond to him, to believe in him, to love him and to live for him.

He is the Lion of Judah.

Illustrations in the first book

Photos include Dunluce Castle, the Lewis homes, Jerusalem, Mount of Olives & Emblem of Jerusalem

Artwork: The Lion of Judah series by Rebecca Brogan, Tasmania, Australia

BLOGS related to ASLAN & THE LION OF JUDAH

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Discovering Aslan: High King above all Kings in Narnia

Exploring the Story within the Stories

Introduction

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe – “Aslan is on the move”

Prince Caspian – “Every year you grow you will find me bigger”

The Voyage of the ‘Dawn Treader’ – “By knowing me here for a little, you may know me better there”

The Silver Chair – “Aslan’s instructions always work: there are no exceptions”

The Horse and His Boy – “High King above all kings in Narnia”

The Magician’s Nephew – “I give you yourselves … and I give you myself”

The Last Battle – “Further up and further in”

Conclusion

ALSO – Individual books for each of the Narnia stories:

Basic Edition, Gift Edition (colour), and eBooks

Discovering ASLAN in ‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ – Blog
Discovering Aslan in the Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe – PDF

Discovering ASLAN in ‘Prince Caspian’ – Blog
Discovering Aslan in Prince Caspian – PDF

Discovering ASLAN in ‘The Voyage of the ‘Dawn Treader’ – Blog
Discovering Aslan in The Voyage of the ‘Dawn Treader’ – PDF

Discovering ASLAN in ‘The Silver Chair’ – Blog
Discovering Aslan in The Silver Chair – PDF

Discovering ASLAN in ‘The Horse and His Boy’ – Blog
Discovering Aslan in The Horse and His Boy – PDF

Discovering ASLAN in ‘The Magician’s Nephew’ – Blog
Discovering Aslan in The Magician’s Nephew – PDF

Discovering ASLAN in ‘The Last Battle’ – Blog
Discovering Aslan in The Last Battle – PDF

Links to Links

The following comment about Discovering Aslan is included in

The Lion of Judah (1) The Titles of Jesus

and

The Lion of Judah (7) The Lion of Judah (compiled in one volume)

One of the most popular Lion stories is about Aslan in The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis.

The stories of Aslan illustrate in fairy tale the greater story of the Lion of the tribe of Judah hidden within the Narnia stories. Replying to a child’s enquiry about the lion’s name, Lewis wrote. “I found the name in the notes to Lane’s Arabian Nights: it is the Turkish for Lion. I pronounce it Ass-lan myself. And of course I meant the Lion of Judah.”[i] The Aslan passages echo and reflect the greatest story of all, the story of the Lion of Judah.

Aslan reminded the children that they would know him truly in their own world when they left Narnia: “But there I have another name. You must learn to know me by that name. This was the very reason why you were brought to Narnia, that by knowing me here for a little you may know me better there.”[ii]

Lewis encouraged readers to make that discovery. He replied to Hila, an 11 year old girl who wrote a letter asking about Aslan’s other name: “As to Aslan’s other name, well I want you to guess. Has there ever been anyone in this world who (1.) Arrived at the same time as Father Christmas. (2) Said he was the son of the Great Emperor. (3) Gave himself up for someone else’s fault to be jeered at and killed by wicked people. (4) Came to life again. (5) Is sometimes spoken of as a Lamb (see the end of the Dawn Treader). Don’t you really know His name in this world.”[iii]

Most children did. Many adults did not.

Nine-year-old Laurence worried that he loved Aslan more than Jesus. So his mother wrote to C. S. Lewis, care of the Publishing Company. She received his answer ten days later. Lewis explained, “Laurence can’t really love Aslan more than Jesus, even if he feels that’s what he is doing. For the things he loves Aslan for doing or saying are simply the things Jesus really did and said. So that when Laurence thinks he is loving Aslan, he is really loving Jesus: and perhaps loving Him more than he ever did before.”[iv]

Lewis, replying to a girl, Ruth, wrote, “If you continue to love Jesus, nothing much can go wrong with you, and I hope you may always do so. I’m thankful that you realized [the] “hidden story” in the Narnian books. It is odd, children nearly always do, grown-ups hardly ever.”[v]

The Chronicles of Narnia can help you know Aslan better in the world of Narnia and to know and love Jesus, the Lion of Judah, better also.

Jesus promised to be with us always. He is with us now, caring for us and helping us, even though we do not see him yet. One day we will see him and really know how great and good he is. Meanwhile we can talk to him in our mind and heart anytime and get to know him better from the Bible, especially through the Gospels.

One of his last promises is ‘Remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age’ (Matthew 28:20).

[i] C. S. Lewis: Letters to Children, edited by L W Dorsett and M L Mead, Touchstone, New York: Simon & Schuster, 1995, p. 29.

[ii] The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Ch. 16.

[iii] Letters to Children, p. 32.

[iv] Letters to Children, pp. 52-53.

[v] Letters to Children, p. 111.

Back to The Lion of Judah (compiled in one volume)
The Lion of Judah – PDF

Appendix 1: Aslan – The Lion of Judah

Appendix 2: China Miracle

Appendix 3: Resources

Back to The Lion of Judah Series