Have you read The Lord of the Rings?
The movies are wonderful and maintain most of the plot points from the six-book tome. However, the final movie ends more like a Hallmark chick-flick than you would expect from the epic journey that preceded it. While a Hallmark ending may be satisfying on some level, the complex ending in the novel lends itself to much deeper theological thought.
In the novel, the epic journey of The Lord of the Rings ends with some neat bows and many loose threads. Thus, inviting the reader into a new kind of happy ending. One where the main battle against evil is won, but where the reality of this victory is not immediate. The implications must be worked out between real people (or hobbits or dwarves) in real places. While some details remain a mystery.
One illustration of this unfolding victory is in the story of Aragorn. Without summarizing the whole book, I'll remind you that Aragorn is of noble blood and a promised king. But, until his time comes he is known as Strider, a Ranger of the North. He is a member of the Fellowship of the Ring characterized by bravery, self-discipline, and great compassion. By Book Five, the the story is about to reach its climax with a battle at the Black Gates of Mordor and Frodo nearing Mount Doom.
Many in Minas Tirith are left wounded by the Shadow of the servants of Sauron. Their only hope is a king with healing in his hands. Ioerth, wise-woman of Gondor recalls, "The hands of the king are the hands of a healer, and so shall the rightful king be known" (p. 845).
Aragorn, not yet bearing his kingly title, puts forth "all such power and skills as is given" to him to heal Lady Eowyn, Faramir, and Merry. As they lie on their beds, Aragorn kneels beside and calls each of their names as if "walking afar in some vale, calling for one that was lost" (847). He treats them with an herb that had previously been tossed out as a weed. Each arises from their deathly stupor surprised that the world around them is not conquered by the evil that almost took them.
Aragorn proves to be the king with healing in his hands, and the people of Gondor are only the first to receive the benefits of his restoring power.
"At the doors of the Houses many were already gathered to see Aragorn, and they followed after him; and when at last he had supped, men came and prayed that he would heal their kinsmen or their friends whose lives were in peril through hurt or wound, or who lay under the Black Shadow. And Aragorn arose and went out, and he sent for the sons of Elrond, and together they laboured far into the night. And word went through the City: 'The King is come again indeed.'" (853).
I've read that Tolkein was adamant that The Lord of the Rings was not an allegory like C.S Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia. However, this drama of a king with healing in his hands provides a moving similarity to Jesus' work of healing throughout the gospels and beyond. Tolkien gives us a fresh vision of a warrior king who is unwavering in the face of evil and a healer king who restores a kingdom.
Outside of Middle Earth, Jesus is that warrior king with healing in his hands. Just as Aragorn sends for the sons of Elrond, so Jesus sends for us to labor together in the kingdom come.
In the comments below, share how this image of Jesus as the king with healing in his hands encourages you or spurs you on. How does this kind of happy ending ring more true to reality for you? What is challenging about living in the "now and not yet?"
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