How unexpected would it be if a criminal actually admitted his crimes and his motive, rather than covering his guilt with proud looks and defiant silence? C.S. Lewis looks at repentance – only a bad person needs it, but only a good person can do it – and also looks at the Perfect Penitent, Jesus Christ...
(0:22) “Just what He said” – “Why then do you accuse me of blasphemy because I said, 'I am God's Son'?” (https://biblehub.com/john/10-36.htm)
“Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ‘I am,’ said Jesus. (https://biblehub.com/niv/mark/14.htm)
“Who has gone up to Heaven, and come down? Who has gathered the wind in His fists? Who has bound the waters in a garment? Who has made all the ends of the earth to rise? What is His name, and what is His Son’s name? Surely you know.” (https://biblehub.com/proverbs/30-4.htm).
(0:30) You can find Lewis’ short argument doodled here (https://youtu.be/bxzuh5Xx5G4) & his full essay argument in the video description there.
(1:28) I decided not to illustrate the many theological atonement theories, but simply drew the biblical illustrations on which the atonement theories can be based. This way, one can see a variety of inspired illustrations that the Holy Spirit has used of this great event, and not use one image to the exclusion of all other biblical images. NB: Lewis calls the atonement theories (i.e. Penal Substitution, etc.) man-made "theories", not the inspired Biblical illustrations.
The atonement is like light, which can be refracted and viewed seven beautifully different ways. If you want to get into the differing atonement theories (and bitter arguments) visit this link for a quick summary (https://www.sdmorrison.org/7-theories-of-the-atonement-summarized). Many of these theories were reactions (or overreactions) to the previous dominant atonement theories of the time (that had sometimes been pushed too far), or simply the result of a new false philosophy on the rise which was hoping to destroy all before it. But to be honest, you don’t really need to know any of these, simply all the biblical images &, in particular, the one inspired illustration the Lord wants you to focus on at this time.
The Biblical illustrations sometimes use actual death itself to illustrate Christ’s death and resurrection, such as with Elijah and the widow’s son (1 Kings 17.17) and the Shunammite's son (2 Kings 4.18), and with Lazarus (Luke 7.11), but on most occasions, it doesn’t suit the story to kill off the hero, & raise him to life again, so it is death is in a manner of speaking or in parable form. For instance with Isaac, where Abraham received his son back as if from the dead (Hebrew 11.19). Jacob receives his chosen son Joseph back who he thought had suffered a cursed death (eaten by wild animals), but returns to save his whole family from starvation as Governor of Egypt (Genesis 43.3), Jonah also (Jonah 1.15, Matthew 12.40) & Samson (Judges 16:3).
(2:05) A verse taken from the hymn, “I stand amazed in the presence.”
(5:47) “Yet in my flesh shall I see God: Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold...” (https://biblehub.com/job/19-25.htm)
"Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear His voice.” (https://biblehub.com/john/5-28.htm)
(5:50 The fuller’s soap (i.e. a professional cleaner’s soap) and a refining furnace are the biblical images of Christ’s cleansing (Mal. 3:2). The bomb disposal picture of disabling death is an illustration from WW2 iconography.
(6:30) The difficulty with a criminal trial illustration is that in a real court a guilty person can not justly be replaced, and an innocent person can not be punished instead. (But note 1 Kings 20:42, John 11.50 & 1 Peter 3.18).
But this “swap” does work in terms of an animal sacrifice: “You are to lay your hand on the head of the burnt offering, and it will be accepted on your behalf to make atonement for you” (Lev. 1.4). “…The law [of Moses] requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness (Heb. 9.22). And it does further work with the image of a ransom or a war prisoner exchange, in the image of a civil court debt which can be paid by a friendly party not at all responsible, and also in war when our sons are sent to die to save our lives.
(7:16) ‘Stand the racket’ means to pay the bill, to treat or shout one’s companions.
(9:23) “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; & the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” (https://biblehub.com/isaiah/53-6.htm)
(14:21) This word ‘atonement’ (‘at’ ‘one-ment’) was coined by the great English translator William Tyndale.
(14:41) The introductory & closing was written for the 2005 movie adaption of Lewis’ book, ‘The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe’, just before Tumnus’ repentance. See the comments section for an excerpt of the book from this scene.