Aslan, the coming ruler

y wife and I have been reading C.S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in preparation for the upcoming movie. We all understand the parallel that Lewis made between Aslan and Jesus. But, yesterday was the first time I saw this particular parallel between the expectation the people had of Aslan, and what the Jews, especially Christ's disciples, expected from the coming Messiah.

"Aslan?" said Mr. Beaver. "Why, don't you know? He's the King. He's the Lord of the whole wood, but not often here, you understand. Never in my time or my father's time. but the word has reached us that he has come back. He is in Narnia at this moment. He'll settle the White Queen all right. It is he, not you, that will save Mr. Tumnus."

"She won't turn him into stone too?" said Edmund.

"Lord love you, Son of Adam, what a simple thing to say!" answered Mr. Beaver with a great laugh. "Turn him into stone? If she can stand on her two feet and look him in the face it'll be the most she can do and more than I expect from her."

The expectation was that this coming King would get rid of the present powers with his own power. But, as we know the story, Aslan came and willingly died on the table. Jesus came and the people expected him to be rid of the Romans and sit in Jerusalem as King. Yet, he rode in on a donkey and died on the cross. Not only did he present powers look him in the face, but they were able to do what they willed with him. And he went willingly.

It's a beautiful depiction of who the people thought Christ would be and who he truly was . . . and is.