In The Chronicles of Narnia , C. S. Lewis wrote in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe about an occasion when Susan and Lucy ask Mr. and Mrs. Beaver to describe Aslan, the Christ-figure in the story. They ask if Aslan is a man. Mr. Beaver replies:
Aslan a man? Certainly not. I tell you he is the King of the woods and the son of the great Emperor-beyond-the Sea. Don’t you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion – the Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh!” said Susan. “I’d thought he was a man. Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“That you will, dearie, and make no mistake,” said Mrs. Beaver, “if there’s anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they’re either braver than most or else just silly.”
“Then he isn’t safe?” said Lucy.
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about being safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”
Two thousand years ago The Lion of the Tribe of Judah came roaring into our small world devouring the grip that sin held on those He loved. With one swipe, He destroyed the power of Satan over your life like a lion crushes a field mouse with one slap of his paw. The authority of hell over you was demolished in a single moment. The power of the world, the flesh and the devil over the life of a believer today is no more than the final whimper of a scared rabbit who is held firmly in the great jaws of the king of the jungle.
The power of our King is awesome. Demons run like roaches in bright light at His presence. Hell quakes in fear at the very mention of His name. He is not only King. He is King of Kings. Others may be called Lord, but He is Lord of Lords. There is no greater authority; no greater power; no greater Force with which one must reckon. One day every creature in the universe will fall before Him in humble submission and awe. He will forever be the Sovereign-Of-The-Universe because He is the Son of “the great Emperor-Beyond-The-Sea.”
The only thing that equals His power and authority is His love for you. You are His child. Sin stalked you as a vicious predator which would have totally destroyed you. But the Lion Of The Tribe Of Judah took note of you, His elect cub, and He came tearing out of heaven with a vengeance to defend you. That’s what Christmas is all about – the roaring, relentless love of the Great King of the Jungle who came to your rescue through a stable and a cross.
Terrorists threaten and scare some. The DOW Jones average causes others to be afraid. Anthrax? Nuclear warheads in the hands of madmen? They are all field mice to our King. Is our King safe? Oh, no! He is far too powerful to ever be described that way. But He is good – very good to those He loves. Bow before Him. His power would make any sane person tremble with awe, but His love makes Him irresistible. Rest in His shadow and be assured nothing will ever touch you there.
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