Aslan's Ancestors

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Not surprisingly, killing a lion is seen as one of the ultimate acts of courage in the Bible (Judg. 14.5; 1 Sam. 17.34; 2 Sam. 1.23; 1 Chron. 11.22; 1 Macc. 3.4). A truly brave person could be called lion-hearted (2 Sam. 17.10), and a warrior be said to have the face of a lion (1 Chron. 12.8).

A king especially might be said to have the courage, strength, wrath like a lion (Prov. 20.2). And when a biblical writer wanted to conjure up the ultimate image of peace, would speak of a day when the lion would cease being a predator and lie down with the lamb (Is. 11.6).

That's why Revelation's image of Christ as both lion and lamb, almost melded together, is so remarkable. It is perhaps this last image which C.S Lewis had most in mind when he conjured up the wonderful character Aslan in the Chronicles of Narnia.

Although the dominant image of Jesus in the book of Revelation is the slain, but now triumphant lamb, its author does use the lion image. Revelation 5.5 says that the lion of the tribe of Judah has already triumphed, not through final judgment on the wicked, but rather through his atoning death which opens up the possibility for all to be saved. He is worthy to unseal the judgment scroll because he has already effected salvation through his death as the slain lamb of God who takes away the world's sin.

Is it correct to portray Jesus as the lion of Judah? Yes, but we need to remember that his triumph comes through his sacrificial death, not primarily through last judgment "payback." Revelation was written for Christians under fire, and it encourages them to follow the path of non-violent and sacrificial death, as Jesus did. This is why the book's central image is Jesus the slain lamb, not Jesus the lion.

C.S. Lewis knew this, of course. So while he chooses the lion Aslan to represent Jesus, he has him play the role of sacrificial lamb-a combination that is all the more striking because it goes beyond the biblical text.

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