From the Cold War of Winter to the Genuine Hope of Christmas

By Matthew Steven Bracey

Aslan

In the C. S. Lewis children’s classic The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, the Narnians live in a world caught in the relentless grip of the White Witch, a world where it is always winter but never Christmas. Although bleak, brave individuals hold out hope for the fulfillment of the Golden Age Prophecy:

Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death,
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring again.

One of the first signs the White Witch is losing her tyrannical hold occurs when Father Christmas makes a long-anticipated appearance, announcing the imminent arrival of the Great Lion. Christmas signifies the end of winter and the arrival of spring—the hope of life and the healing of relationships.

Upon hearing about this prophecy from Mr. and Mrs. Beaver, Edmund Pevensie does not react with expectation but rather joins the White Witch, betraying his brother (Peter) and sisters (Susan and Lucy) to her. However, Edmund soon discovers her wickedness, escapes her clutches, and, by the mediation of Aslan, reconciles with his siblings.

Make no mistake, that reconciliation comes at great cost: the sacrifice of the Great Lion, Aslan himself. The White Witch murders Aslan, believing she has won, believing she has secured eternal winter. But, in Aslan, death begins to work backward, and Aslan returns to life, demonstrating power over death itself and giving hope within the depths of despair.

Jesus

The story of Aslan and Narnia is an allegory of the story of Jesus Christ and the world. The Son of God entered the world an innocent babe and died as an innocent sacrifice. In Ephesians 2:1-10, Paul considered the alienation that exists between holy God and sinful men and women, brought about by the sin of Adam and Eve. But God, in His great mercy, sought and achieved reconciliation between God and man in the person of Jesus Christ. God has made us alive with Christ (verse 5).

Paul then moved from the vertical dimension to the horizontal dimension: because God in Christ has established reconciliation between God and man, He calls His “saints” (Ephesians 1:1) to seek reconciliation among one another. Specifically, Paul discussed the relationship between Jewish and Gentile Christians (2:11–22). Then, several chapters later, Paul also discusses the relationships between husbands and wives (5:22–33), parents and children (6:1–4), and employers and employees (6:5–9).

Where there is alienation, there can be reconciliation; where there is hostility, there can be peace. But, as Lewis made clear with Aslan, Paul made clear with Jesus: true reconciliation comes at great cost: “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity . . . for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby” (2:14–16).

The Christmas Babe became the Easter Lamb, sacrificed for our sins. But death could not keep Him; the grave could not hold Him. He rose from the dead, and His resurrection became a symbol of life, hope, and healing.

You and Me

Just as the Pevensies found reconciliation, we likewise may seek the same for our broken relationships. In our own lives, we sometimes find certain relationships trapped in the long, cold war of winter. Perhaps we find ourselves in relationships with the traitor Edmunds of the world. Or perhaps we discover we are the traitor Edmund to someone else’s Peter, Susan, or Lucy. Sadly, some of our relationships are always winter but never Christmas.

Yet, in Christ, we can be reconciled. So, ask for forgiveness, give grace, and seek restoration. It is true restoration will not always occur in this life, sometimes because of impossible circumstances, sometimes because of impossible people. But in Christ, who already achieved reconciliation between God and man, we, too, can seek peace within our relationships.

The cold war of winter can end. The genuine hope of Christmas awaits.

About the Writer: Matthew Bracey serves as vice provost and faculty member at Welch College, teaching courses in history, law, theology, and interdisciplinary studies. He holds degrees from Cumberland School of Law (J.D.), Beeson Divinity School (M.T.S.), and Welch College (B.A., History, Biblical Studies). He is currently completing a Ph.D. in Christian Ethics Public Policy at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Adapted from the article published at HelwysSocietyForum.com