Christian parents often seek ways to teach biblical truths to their children in ways that are engaging and memorable. One powerful tool is storytelling, and C.S. Lewis’ beloved classic, The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, is a profound example of how fiction can illustrate deep theological concepts. More than just a children’s fantasy novel, this book is a carefully crafted allegory of the gospel message, reflecting key biblical themes such as sin, redemption, and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.
As parents, it is our responsibility to nurture our children in the knowledge of God’s Word. Scripture encourages us in this calling: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it” (Proverbs 22:6). Stories like Lewis’ can serve as an excellent bridge, helping young minds grasp spiritual realities in a way that resonates with their imagination and experiences.
Words: 2529 / Time to read: 13 minutes (includes explanations for children and preteens)
C.S. Lewis: A Christian Thinker and Storyteller
Clive Staples Lewis, known as C.S. Lewis, was a renowned Christian writer, scholar, and apologist. Though he initially embraced atheism in his early years, he later became a devoted follower of Christ, largely influenced by fellow author J.R.R. Tolkien. Lewis’ writings span both fiction and theological works, blending storytelling with profound Christian truths. His most famous series, The Chronicles of Narnia, is a beautifully woven narrative rich with biblical symbolism.
Beyond The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lewis authored other notable works such as Mere Christianity, which presents a rational case for the Christian faith, The Screwtape Letters, an imaginative take on spiritual warfare, and The Great Divorce, which explores themes of heaven and hell. Through his writings, Lewis has influenced millions and continues to inspire Christians of all ages to think deeply about their faith.
Biblical Allegory in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (For Parents)
At the heart of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe lies a powerful allegory of Christ’s redemptive work. The land of Narnia, initially trapped under the rule of the White Witch’s eternal winter, mirrors a world enslaved by sin and darkness. The arrival of Aslan, the great lion and rightful king, represents the coming of Christ to bring salvation and hope.
Aslan as a Christ Figure
Aslan’s character is a clear parallel to Jesus Christ. He is portrayed as both powerful and gentle, a combination reflecting Christ’s divine and human nature. One of the most poignant moments in the story is Aslan’s willing sacrifice on the Stone Table in place of Edmund, the traitorous boy. This act of substitution echoes Christ’s atoning death on the cross:
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
Furthermore, Aslan’s resurrection demonstrates Christ’s victory over sin and death, bringing restoration and renewal to Narnia, much like Christ’s resurrection brings new life to believers.
The White Witch as a Symbol of Satan
The White Witch, who holds Narnia in an oppressive grip of winter, represents Satan, the deceiver and oppressor of humanity. She tempts Edmund with Turkish Delight, mirroring how Satan tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden with forbidden fruit (Genesis 3:1-6). The Witch’s false promises of power and pleasure ultimately lead Edmund into bondage, just as sin enslaves humanity. However, Aslan’s intervention secures his redemption, showing the power of grace.
Edmund: A Picture of Fallen Humanity
Edmund’s journey is a powerful reflection of the human condition. Like all of us, he is drawn to selfish desires and makes choices that lead him away from truth. His eventual recognition of his wrongdoing and his redemption through Aslan’s sacrifice illustrates the gospel’s message of repentance and forgiveness.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)
The Stone Table and the New Covenant
The Stone Table, where Aslan is sacrificed, represents the Old Testament Law, which required sacrifices for sin. When the table is broken after Aslan’s resurrection, it symbolizes the fulfillment of the Law through Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, ushering in a new covenant of grace (Luke 22:20).
The Battle Between Good and Evil
The final battle between Aslan’s forces and the Witch’s army represents the cosmic struggle between God’s kingdom and the forces of darkness. This echoes the ultimate victory of Christ over Satan, as foretold in Revelation 19:11-16. The hope for Narnia’s liberation mirrors the believer’s hope in Christ’s return and final victory over evil.
Explaining the Allegory to Young Children
Now, let’s break this down in a way that children can understand and appreciate. Parents can use this simplified explanation to help kids see the biblical truths woven throughout the story.
The Story of Narnia and the Bible
Imagine a land called Narnia, a beautiful place where it should always be spring and full of happiness. But something went wrong—a wicked queen, the White Witch, took over and made it winter all the time. No one could celebrate Christmas, and everyone was sad and cold.
Does that remind you of something? In the Bible, the world was meant to be perfect, but sin entered and made things sad and broken. Just like the White Witch, Satan wants to keep people trapped in sin.
But hope arrives when Aslan, the great lion, comes back to Narnia! Aslan is like Jesus—he’s powerful, kind, and he wants to set everyone free.
Why Did Aslan Have to Die?
In the story, Edmund made bad choices. He listened to the White Witch and did things he knew were wrong. We’ve all done that too, haven’t we? The Bible says everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23). Edmund was supposed to be punished, but Aslan loved him so much that he decided to take Edmund’s punishment instead.
That’s exactly what Jesus did for us! He took the punishment for our sins when He died on the cross. But just like Aslan didn’t stay dead, Jesus came back to life to show He had beaten sin and death forever. Isn’t that amazing?
The Coming of Spring
When Aslan comes back, the snow starts to melt, and Narnia begins to change. This is like how Jesus brings hope and new life to us when we follow Him. When we trust Jesus, our hearts are filled with joy, just like Narnia was filled with sunshine and flowers again.
The Final Battle
The big fight at the end of the book reminds us that there’s a battle between good and evil. But with Aslan leading the way, good wins! The Bible tells us that Jesus is coming back one day to defeat all evil, and those who trust in Him will live happily forever.
What We Can Learn from Narnia
The story of Narnia teaches us important things about our faith:
- Jesus loves us and is always ready to forgive us, just like Aslan forgave Edmund.
- Even when things seem dark and sad, Jesus is our hope and brings light.
- We should trust Jesus and follow Him, knowing that He is our King.
Explanation For Preteens (Ages 11-12)
Have you ever wished you could step into another world, where adventure awaits and everything is exciting and new? That’s exactly what happens to four kids—Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy—when they stumble upon the magical land of Narnia in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. But Narnia isn’t just any fantasy world; it’s full of deeper meaning, and if you look closely, you’ll see that it’s a lot like the story of the Bible. In fact, C.S. Lewis, the author, wrote it as an allegory—a story that symbolizes something bigger. And the coolest part? The hero of the story, Aslan the lion, represents Jesus!
Let’s take a look at how the events in Narnia reflect God’s bigger plan and what they can teach us about Jesus, sin, forgiveness, and hope.
Narnia Under the Rule of the White Witch – A World in Trouble
When the four Pevensie siblings first enter Narnia, they find a world trapped in an endless winter. Imagine a place where it’s always cold, icy, and dark—no sunshine, no Christmas, and no joy. Everything is frozen under the control of the evil White Witch. This might remind you of how our world is affected by sin. Because of sin, our lives can sometimes feel cold and broken, and without Jesus, there’s no real hope or joy (Romans 3:23).
The White Witch is like Satan in the Bible. She tricks, lies, and tries to take control, just like Satan does in our world (John 8:44). She wants everyone to follow her instead of Aslan, and she tempts people with things that seem good but end up hurting them—just like she does with Edmund and his love for Turkish Delight. In the same way, sin can seem fun at first, but it eventually traps us in guilt and consequences.
Edmund’s Betrayal – The Reality of Sin
Let’s talk about Edmund. At first, he seems like a pretty normal kid, but when he meets the White Witch, he gets caught up in her lies. She offers him enchanted Turkish Delight, and it’s so good he can’t get enough of it. But there’s a catch—she tricks him into turning against his siblings and siding with her. Edmund’s story is a lot like ours. The Bible says that everyone sins and makes bad choices that separate us from God (Romans 6:23). Sin promises happiness, but it always leads to trouble in the end.
The cool thing is that even though Edmund messes up big time, he doesn’t stay trapped in his mistakes. He realizes he’s been wrong, and thanks to Aslan, he gets a second chance. This is exactly what Jesus does for us. No matter how badly we mess up, Jesus is always ready to forgive us if we come to Him with a repentant heart (1 John 1:9).
Aslan the Great Lion – A Picture of Jesus
Now, here comes the most important part—Aslan. He’s not just a talking lion; he’s the true king of Narnia. Aslan is powerful, kind, and full of love. Sound familiar? He represents Jesus, who is the King of Kings. Just like Jesus, Aslan sacrifices himself to save Edmund. Instead of letting Edmund face the punishment he deserves, Aslan takes his place.
This part of the story mirrors what Jesus did for us when He died on the cross. He took the punishment for our sins, even though He was innocent (Romans 5:8). When Aslan allows himself to be killed on the Stone Table, it seems like all hope is lost. The White Witch thinks she has won, but she doesn’t understand the deeper magic—just like Satan didn’t understand God’s ultimate plan of salvation.
But here’s the best part: Aslan doesn’t stay dead. He comes back to life! His resurrection breaks the power of the Witch, just like Jesus’ resurrection broke the power of sin and death forever (1 Corinthians 15:55). This shows us that with Jesus, we always have hope, even when things look impossible.
The Battle for Narnia – Good vs. Evil
When Aslan comes back to life, it’s time for action! He leads the Narnians into battle against the White Witch and her army. This part of the story reminds us of the spiritual battle between good and evil that the Bible talks about (Ephesians 6:12). Just like the Narnians had to choose whether to follow Aslan or the Witch, we all have to decide whether to follow Jesus or go our own way.
The battle in Narnia ends with Aslan’s victory, and everything begins to change—the snow melts, the sun shines, and Narnia is restored to what it was meant to be. This reminds us that one day, Jesus will return and make everything right again (Revelation 21:4). Until then, we can trust Him and fight the good fight by standing strong in our faith.
What Narnia Teaches Us About Our Faith
The story of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe isn’t just a fun adventure; it’s a reminder of God’s incredible love for us. Here are a few important lessons we can take away:
- Jesus is our Rescuer: Just like Aslan saved Edmund, Jesus came to rescue us from sin. He loves us no matter what we’ve done.
- Forgiveness is always possible: Even when we mess up, God is ready to forgive us and give us a fresh start.
- Evil won’t win in the end: Just like Aslan defeated the Witch, Jesus has already won the victory over sin, and we can trust Him to make things right.
- We should follow Jesus: The Narnians trusted Aslan as their leader, and we should trust Jesus in our lives too.
How You Can Live Out the Lessons from Narnia
You don’t have to be in a magical land to live out what you’ve learned from Narnia. Here are a few ways you can apply these lessons in your everyday life:
- Be kind and forgiving, just like Aslan showed mercy to Edmund.
- Stand up for what’s right, even when others are going the wrong way.
- Trust God, even when things don’t make sense, because He has a bigger plan.
- Share the story, just like Lucy shared Narnia with her siblings—tell your friends about Jesus and what He’s done for you.
Narnia isn’t just a great adventure; it’s a story that reflects the greatest adventure of all—God’s plan to rescue and restore His people. C.S. Lewis wrote this book so that kids (and adults) could better understand the gospel in a way that’s exciting and meaningful. So, next time you read about Aslan, think about Jesus. He’s real, He loves you, and He has an amazing plan for your life.
As Aslan says in the story, “Courage, dear heart.” Trust in Jesus, and you’ll find that He is always with you, guiding you, just like Aslan did for the children in Narnia.
Conclusion (For Parents)
C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe offers families a wonderful opportunity to explore biblical truths together. Whether through Aslan’s sacrifice, Edmund’s redemption, or the ultimate victory over the White Witch, the story beautifully reflects God’s love and the message of the gospel.
As parents, it is a privilege and responsibility to guide our children in understanding these truths. Through literature like Narnia, we can engage their imagination while grounding them in God’s Word.
“Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 11:18-19)
As you and your children step through the wardrobe into the land of Narnia, may you discover anew the beauty of the gospel and the wonder of God’s redemptive plan.
All Scripture quoted from:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
