Too Clear. Too Obscure.

As a Christian, when I have the time and pleasure of reading fiction (and especially great fiction), it is only natural that I do so through my particular Christian lens. Without being explicitly or implicitly of my faith, I find that many artists, made in the image of God, point to themes and truths that I can appreciate as a Christ-follower. Sometimes even in ways that I don't think the author intended.

Now, this of course can be a slippery slope in some ways and I don't want anyone to think that I'm a closet postmodernist. However, I have found, along with many others, types of Christ-figures and redemptive themes in works such as Les Misérables, Harry Potter and The Dark Knight. This was the case with Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell, one of the best novels I've read in some time and my favorite within the last year.

In this novel, Susanna Clarke tells the story of an England that once was filled with magic, fairies and wondrous spectacles. During the time the story takes place (the early 1800's) however, it is a place where magic has ceased to be practiced and fairies are practically extinct. That is, until the titular Mr. Norrell comes along, followed closely by Jonathan Strange. They begin to stir things up in Britain that have long been dormant.

Associated with their arrival is a prophecy about the return of "the Raven King," a mysterious character who had been a great magician (and king) until his sudden departure many years before. This "Raven King" is a character who no one seems to know what to make of. Some see him as terrible and frightening, others as great and noble. All agree, though, that he was powerful.

This novel is full of descriptions like these that remind one of Christ. But as I was reading through my highlights from this book, I found that a description of one of the lesser characters brought Jesus to my mind in strong way. Speaking of this character, Mr. Norrell, an educated (and very opinionated) magician says this:

"He is mystical where he ought to be intelligible — and intelligible where he ought to be obscure. There are some things which have no business being put into books for all the world to read.
Clarke, Susanna (2010-06-05). Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell (Kindle Locations 325-327). Bloomsbury Publishing Plc. Kindle Edition. 

In reading this, I thought of Jesus' words in Scripture (not just the red letters, but the whole Bible). They can be so frustrating at times. Often I think we want the Bible to clearly answer questions like "who I am supposed to marry?" and "what career should I go into?" We want easy references for issues like slavery and marijuana and particular political issues. We want Jesus to have clearly denounced "those liberals" or "those republicans" or "those people." And so we find Christ to be "mystical where he ought to be intelligible."

In other areas, we find that Jesus is too clear for us. There's not much ambiguity in following the world or following Christ, in serving money or serving the Lord, in denying ourselves or loving ourselves. Jesus is clear about our need to love God first and very near to Him our neighbor.  He is clear that sin is real and that it leads to death. And He has made it clear that He alone has paid for that sin to bring us life. This makes some uncomfortable, and so they might say that Jesus is "intelligible where he ought to be obscure."

Personally, I'm thankful even for all the times that Jesus doesn't allow me to stay within my comfort zone. If He always stayed in my tiny box, I would doubt that He was really God, really my Savior. But to God be the glory that He doesn't fit neatly in my box.

And praise Him that He has put this in a book "for all the world to read."