The Chronicles of Narnia - The Magician's Nephew (Book 1 of 7)

The Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis has become a new favorite at our home at bedtime. I never read these growing up and I find myself as excited to read-on as my daughter is.

Book "1", The Magician's Nephew, was actually written after the others but is a prelude to the series. It explains the origins of Narnia, the Wardrobe, and some of the interesting characters you read of throughout the series.

One of the reasons I do enjoy these books so much is the strong resemblance between one of the series' main characters, Aslan the lion, and Jesus. The way Lewis describes others reacting as they first see this majestic lion, with such fear and reverence and amazement and joy, is much what I picture seeing our Lord face to face to be like. I will try (as I finish each book) to give some examples of what I'm talking about in hopes of spurring you to read them as well (or again).

For instance in this book, you get a front row seat of the creation of Narnia, as the main characters (young Digory and Polly, Uncle Andrew (a quasi-magician), and the powerful evil witch Jadis) stumble upon Aslan creating the world of Narnia. The four watch with astonishment as Aslan sings the Narnian world into creation.

"The Lion was pacing to and fro about that empty land and singing his new song. It was softer and more lilting than the song by which he had called up the stars and the sun; a gentle, rippling music. And as he walked and sang the valley grew green with grass. It spread out from the Lion like a pool. It ran up the sides of the little hills like a wave. In a few minutes it was creeping up the lower slopes of the distant mountains, making that young world every moment softer. The light wind could now be heard ruffling the grass."

As they watch"...the lion's song, and his stately prowl, to and fro, backward and forward, was going on. What was rather alarming was that at each turn he came a little nearer."

My favorite part....

"...Digory... could not help feeling a bit nervous as each turn of the Lion's walk brought him nearer. As for Uncle Andrew, his teeth were chattering, but his knees were shaking so that he could not run away." "Suddenly the Witch stepped boldly out toward the Lion. It was coming on, always singing, with a slow, heavy pace. It was only twelve yards away. She raised her arm and flung the iron bar straight at its head." "Nobody, least of all Jadis, could have missed at that range. The bar struck the Lion fair between the eyes. It glanced off and fell with a thud in the grass. The Lion came on. Its walk was neither slower nor faster than before; you could not tell whether it even knew it had been hit. Though its soft pads made no noise, you could fee the earth shake beneath their weight." "The witch shrieked and ran: in a few moments she was out of sight among the trees."

I can just imagine Satan doing his worst to Jesus, and our sovereign Lord, so mighty and majestic, calmly continuing with His work at hand, responding fearlessly with almost indifference. Then seeing Satan realize he has meet his match and running like a coward.

These books have opened many opportunities for great talks about how awesome of a God we have. We've both laughed ourselves silly and even cried. Try them for yourself; you will not be disappointed.