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The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
"Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light" (II Corinthians 11:14).
Edmund sees the White Witch through the filters of his own jealousy and greed. He believes the vision of himself that she holds up. He will be a King over the others. He will feast on Turkish Delight and the proud, stern Queen will soften toward him. But kicks have their kick-backs, and it is not in the nature of the witch to give more than she needs to give in order to control her minions. Instead of Turkish Delight, it’s water in an iron bowl (rusty tasting) and dry bread, the fare of criminals. Instead of being enthroned, Edmund is incarcerated. What is Edmund’s crime? Simply this: He has not been wise choosing the one he should trust.
Jesus warned about such choices (cf. Luke 6:39,40). When the blind lead the blind, both fall into the ditch. In the end, the student who succeeds will become like the teacher. The servants of the Witch have become like her and mimic her cruelty. While Edmund has not always taken the "high road," he does not yet delight in the suffering of others. (Though the Beavers saw a growing resemblance, "He had the look of one who has been with the Witch and eaten her food. You can always tell… something about their eyes.") For now, however, he wants to be "lifted up", but it is not in the power of evil to make people great. The illusion of power that the Witch and her servants share is the ease with which they inflict pain on others. In being able to hurt others they momentarily gain a sense of control. Like everything else, however, it is a lie. Consider what we often refer to as "the cycle of abuse". The abused child becomes the abusive parent. The one who is "put down" will try to turn the tables to get a taste of power. But injustice turned upside down is still injustice. What is required is to break the cycle of abuse? For this to happen, something different has to take place. While the Witch has no power over Aslan (cf. James 2:19…. "Even the demons believe- and shudder."), if he were to resort to her tactics he would be to become like her. Aslan chooses another way, he empties himself of power and places himself in the place of the traitor. (cf. Philippians 2).
Edmund has given himself over to the White Witch, but there are two things which would give him hope if he could but see them: 1) Aslan has not given him over, and 2) he is still the brother of Peter, Susan, and Lucy. There are relationships that sustain us, even at moments when we are blind to them.
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