Mt. Lebanon United Presbyterian Church     
 
Pastor Tim Janiszewski - "The Deeper Magic"

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This Sunday
August 7, 2016



Sermon Title:
"When People Are Cruel"



Scripture:
Psalm 129  
Picture
August 5, 2015
 
Dear MLEPC Members and Friends:
 
Among the best known and most beloved stories for Christian children are the seven volumes of The Chronicles of Narnia, written by C. S. Lewis. These tales, however, are not merely for kids; they are meant for adults who see the deeper allegorical meaning intended by the author. Perhaps the most popular in the series is its first installment, entitled, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Set in World War II England, four children are sent from their home in bombshelled London to stay with an uncle living in the quiet countryside. In his rambling old home, the children fall to playing a game of hide-and-go-seek. The youngest, Lucy, climbs into a large clothing wardrobe, only to find that it has no back panel; rather, as she steps in farther she finds herself ankle deep in snow as she gazes at a lamppost illumining spiraling flakes gently falling to the ground. Lucy has entered the world of Narnia. Soon, Lucy's older sister and two older brothers will follow.
 
All is not well in this enchanted land, however. Narnia is a place where "it's always winter, but never Christmas," because the evil White Witch has cast her spell upon it. The White Witch particularly fears the four children, because an old prophecy indicates that they may hold power to break her rule. She entices one of Lucy's older brothers, Edmund, to betray the other three to her. Edmund turns traitor. But all is not lost in Narnia, either. A great Lion, Aslan, counters the White Witch's wicked ways. He has the authority to defeat the witch, bringing back Christmas, ending winter, and reclaiming the coming of spring. But the White Witch still knows the deep magic which requires a person who has committed treachery to die, unless a righteous person steps forward to take the traitor's place. In other words, Edmund still must die, unless one can be found who is a worthy substitute.
 
Aslan himself clearly is the only one qualified to fill the role. Aslan volunteers. The White Witch is ecstatic, beside herself in a frenzy of jubilation to think that her arch-nemesis will die on the great stone table for the worthless traitor! She and her fiendish hoard taunt and mock Aslan as they shave off his mane. Finally, the White Witch plunges her dagger deep into the great Lion's chest . . . and it is over. Lucy and her sister, who from a hiding place watch on, are incredulous. How could such repugnant evil destroy such beauty and goodness? Their incredulity gives way to despondency. Aslan is dead. The witch wins.
 
The sisters wait for the evil mob to march away from the stone table down the hill before they come out to mourn over Aslan's lifeless body. They finally turn away to leave, when behind them they hear a thunderous crack. They turn around, and to their astonishment they behold the stone table broken in two. Beside it stands Aslan, risen from death and exuding power, light and life. Aslan gathers the sisters to himself and then explains: Though the deep magic requires the death of a righteous one for a traitor, the deeper magic announces that when the righteous one dies voluntarily for the betrayer, the power of death works backward. The righteous one lives again to extend forgiveness and life to the traitor. The White Witch, Aslan explains, did not know this deeper magic. Aslan lives and Edmund is free!

C. S. Lewis gives us a penetrating insight into the work of Christ on the cross for us. We all like Edmund go astray. Every one of us betrays God by living outside His best plan and will for us. And we are worthy of death, according to the "deep magic." Yet Jesus is that one righteous Son of God who alone can stand in our place. He does not have to do it. He doesn't need to do it. But He does it, because God so loves us! As Aslan dies on the stone table for Edmund, Jesus dies on the cross for us. And as the stone table was not strong enough to hold Aslan in death's cold grip, neither can the cross and the tomb contain our Savior. Jesus rises. Jesus lives. Jesus offers us the deeper magic. As we receive His gift of love and righteousness, we too are forgiven and set free.
 
May C. S. Lewis's imaginary story of Aslan become the real story of Jesus Christ in each of our lives!
 
Pastor Tim
 
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