Anna from Disney's "Frozen" as a Type of Christ

I believe that the story of Anna and Elsa symbolizes Jesus Christ's sacrifice as well as any parable in scripture. In literary terms, Frozen is the most obvious retelling of the Messiah story since The Lion King or I, Robot.

Leaving the Ninety-Nine for the One

Anna loved and gave freely, focusing on those who needed it the most. She left her people at home and went to search for the one who was lost, no matter how difficult the journey. She even left her handsome prince at home, instead of asking him to come along, so that someone could take care of Arendell.

How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

Matthew 18:12

Even when Elsa froze Anna's heart, she kept on pleading: I am here; let me help you!

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Revelation 3:20

Redemptive Sacrifice

Elsa hurt all of Arendell. Many people suffered because her powers got out of control, but the person who suffered most was Anna.

Weak and dying from the ice in her heart, Anna has one last hope: if she and Kristoff share a kiss of true love, then she will be saved. She sets out across the frozen fjord, hoping to find him. The storm clears, and she sees him, just a few dozen yards away. They run towards each other, but then something more important than her own life attracts Anna's attention.

Elsa is in danger.

Giving up any hope of surviving, enduring the pain Elsa has caused her, Anna runs to her sister's side and saves her life. As she does so, her own time runs out, and she becomes frozen solid. Her sacrifice shatters the sword that had been raised to kill Elsa--just as Elsa gave up all hope of forgiveness.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

Conquering Death

But, like Jesus' sacrifice for us, Anna's sacrifice went beyond saving her sister. Her act of true love literally brought her back to life, much like the Father gave power to the Son to live again.

And Anna's sacrifice had one final gift: when Elsa saw that Anna's love could thaw the ice inside her, Elsa was inspired to be more, to gain control over her own powers. I believe that Jesus Christ, likewise, lives to this day, praying for us and inspiring us to be more than we could ever be without his death and resurrection.

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

Romans 8:11