Asland and Jesus

Aslan is an interesting mixture of the Christian concept of YHWH and Jesus. He takes on the form of a lion in Narnia. A lion symbolizes the power and fear that the Christian God deserves, yet he is also the chief keeper of justice. Thus good creatures know not to fear him, but creatures who are against know the danger of their opposition. And yet, it seems those who follow Aslan fear him more than those who oppose him. After all, why would his enemies stand in opposition if they truly understood, as Aslan's followers do, the invincible power of the lion's will. Thus his enemies irrationally do not fear him, but his followers know the power of Aslan's ways and justly fear him. This is simliar to the Christian concept of a "God fearing" person. Christian rightfully fear YHWH as the great creator and mover of all creation, who is perfectly good, just, and loving. How then does Aslan relate to Jesus, if in so many qualities he seems to only embody the great God aspects of Christin faith. Jesus came in humility, taking the shameful nature of a man, loved the world, then handed himself over to be killed at the hands of man. Lewis certainly models the gospel of Christ in the second Narnian tale, The Lion The Witch And The Wardrobe. However I think there are other ways that Aslan appears like Jesus. One of the most significant parallels is how Aslan appears to Lucy, Edmund, Peter, and finally Susan in Prince Caspian. There is a mystical revealing of Aslan one by one to each of the children. It is interesting that they have to both believe they are seeing Aslan in order to see that he is there. This is another parallel to Christ.