Gandalf as Jesus

Gandalf

Gandalf is another 'Jesus' figure in Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit. His wisdom, authority, power, leadership, and humility are all assets which make Jesus the perfect Servant King. Gandalf leads the Company until Moria, where he sacrifices himself so that the rest of the Company can go on. Gandalf is the leader of the Fellowship of the Ring and, in some ways, binds the other members together. Though he is the wisest member of the Company he gives time to others and, as Aragorn grows up into being king, Gandalf treats him as a friend and almost an equal. For the sake of the Company he gives himself to death in the battle with the monstrous Balrog in the end he comes back (rises!), even greater and more powerful than before!

Aragorn as Jesus

There are many different 'Jesus' figures in The Lord of the Rings. In a way, each member of the Fellowship is a different representative of Him.

Aragorn

Aragorn is a lonely Ranger under the disguise of Strider, so he doesn't look too pretty. But 'All that is gold does not glitter'. He is heir to the throne of Gondor, but doesn't want to take up his place as king until the end. He is misunderstood, and taken as a dangerous man by many who meet him. He heals Faramir, Eowyn, and Merry in The Return Of The King.
'The hands of a King are the hands of a Healer'.

Jesus

Jesus is the King of our World. He takes his place on the Throne to rule and judge us justly. While living on this earth, Jesus was ignored, dispised, misunderstood, and even killed by those around him. To be honest, being a carpenter's son, he wouldn't have looked too glamorous, but 'All that is gold does not glitter'.
Jesus' hands are the hands of a King. The King. They are also hands that heal. He heals many, and the people bring sick to him for healing.
'The hands of a King are the hands of a Healer'.

Gollum's Death

I have two thoughts on Gollum's death for now;

1. While Gollum, Frodo, and Sam are struggling together on the slopes of Mount Doom, Frodo says to Gollum, 'Begone and trouble me no more! If you touch me ever again, you shall be cast yourself into the Fire of Doom.'
The next time we meet Gollum, he touches Frodo and flings himself into the Fire of Doom.

2. 'The Lake of Fire is the second death.' Rev 20:14b NIV
In a way, Gollum has two deaths. He first 'dies' to the Ring, by falling completly under it's power, and being controlled by it. His second death is by being thrown into the Lake of Fire...

The Love of the Rings

As I start reading The Lord of the Rings for the ninth time, I realise my love for the works of Tolkien grows every time I read it. I can hardly wait to get back into Middle-Earth, where I can be with all my favourite characters again. Every time I read it, I wonder if somehow the ending will change, and if Gollum will kill Frodo and keep the Ring, and become the Master like he dreams of. But no. Each time it stays the same, and the Ring gets destroyed.
Because I love this series so much, I have decided to share some of my delight with the few Tolkien fans who might read my blog, and to change it into an I-love-Lord-of-the-Rings-and-Tolkien blog.
I will be posting some thoughts (not very profound ones), and comments on Lord of the Rings.

So welcome to Middle-Earth...