The Witch knows that Aslan is giving himself in Edmund’s place to fulfill the demands of the Deep Magic. As she raises her terrible stone knife over him she cries out her victory, “Fool…”
The Deep Magic in Narnia is Lewis’ imaginary picture of the Moral Law. In Narnia it is not the kind of magic that can be manipulated by incantations or spells or ceremony. It is so deep that it is written into the foundations of the universe itself, an essential part of the way things are. That is true of the Moral Law. It is not some optional add-on to the way things are. It is the essential nature of a universe that is fundamentally relational. That is why Jesus declares the law will outlast even the visible cosmos.
That is why when Lewis imagined the land of Narnia, betrayal meant death. It is the same law that is written into the real world.
“When you eat of it you will surely die.” Gen 2:17 (NIV)
It is a statement of fact. It is always true. Sin destroys our lifeline to the sinless God. Like the flower pulled from the earth, like the vine cut off from the branch, we wither and die. That is the way it is in a universe that is entirely dependent upon the living and holy God. Betrayal means someone must die. And to save Edmund, Aslan offers himself. The Deep Magic must be appeased.
God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God. 2 Cor 5:21 (The Message)
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