Mission of God to Save Sinners— Jesus Gives Life that Shall Never Die
Trinity Lutheran Church, Riverton, WY
March 22, 2026
Text: John 11:17–27, 38–53, Ezek. 37:1–14
In the name of Jesus, Amen!
The phrase “the frozen chosen” is a humorous or critical label used by some to describe Lutherans as doctrinally sound, but with no emotions, no passion for mission work, some people even include no active faith. I don’t agree. However, there is a certain truth about the phrase itself that can apply to Christians from all denominations and a danger that Lutherans in particular may seem to easily fall into. This is on the one hand. On the other hand, you may have heard some stories about miracles that show some people’s “living faith”, even miracles of raising up dead people. Recently, I saw a video of a TV interview with a priest telling a story about a girl who used to abuse drugs and was dying from AIDS. Finally, she was raised up from the dead by a catholic exorcist. The person who sent me the video asked me, “Do you believe God still does miracles in people’s lives?” I said, “Yes, I do. But the problem that I have with this kind of story is that (1) it’s hard to verify; (2) for what purpose do they want to achieve by telling the story?” To glorify God? I hope so. We know there are some people who use so-called “miracles” to draw attention to themselves to become famous so that they can have a better life here on earth, or to give themselves assurance of salvation by showing to other people that they have special spiritual experience and active faith in their life.
In today’s Gospel reading, John 11 and onward, The Bible is teaching us something for both cases. Before Jesus raised up Lazarus, there was a conversation between Jesus and Martha. If you analyze all Martha’s answers, you can tell that there is nothing wrong with her confessions. They are all doctrinally sound. She believed Jesus could heal the sick and prevented people from dying. She believed Lazarus would rise again in the resurrection on the last day. She believed that Jesus is the Son of God who came into the world. But Jesus was not satisfied with her faith. After repeatedly hinting to His disciples, now Jesus told Martha that their assumption that Lazarus would only rise again on the Last Day was wrong. After hearing yet another doctrinally correct answer from her, Jesus emphatically says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Since Jesus knows that Martha believes that whoever believes in Jesus, though he die, yet shall he live on the last day, Jesus is really saying, “Do you believe that anyone who believes in Me shall NEVER die,” meaning that any believer in Jesus already has an undying life NOW. This may surprise any “frozen chosen” believer. Does it surprise you? Martha didn’t seem to understand or believe what Jesus just said and what He was going to do because when Jesus came to the tomb and was ready to bring Lazarus back to life, she discouraged Him to go further in order to avoid embarrassment, saying “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.”
Martha seems to have a “frozen chosen” problem. But what about the miracle-seeking Jews? Initially, they didn’t believe Jesus. But after Jesus raising up Lazarus, some of them believed and were excited about it. They welcomed Him into Jerusalem and witnessed to others that Jesus did raise up Lazarus. However, when they realized that Jesus was not coming to drive out Roman occupiers and establish a Jewish kingdom, they shouted at Jesus’ trial, “Crucify Him. Crucify Him.” They are similar to modern day miracle seekers. They want success and glory in this world. However, despite the difference between the “frozen Chosen” and the “theologians of glory” as we Lutherans often call them, they all miss the essence of faith – Jesus, who He really is and what He does. They don’t understand or truly believe what the miracles of Jesus are all about. By being the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world and rising up after dying on the cross, He shows the world that He IS the resurrection and life. Not only will He raise up the dead on the last day, He also gives anyone who believes in Him a life that shall NEVER die. Giving us an undying life is the center piece and the final goal of the mission of God to save sinners, and therefore, the real purpose of all God’s miracles for humanity.
You see. Jesus did all kinds of miracles, and many, many miracles of healing the sick, driving out demons, and raising up the dead. Most of the time, He did them in front of masses, sometimes in front of thousands of people. The Gospels record that in just one evening, He healed all the sick brought to Him, and those oppressed by demons. Yet, Jesus kept it low key and warned His disciples again and again, “don’t tell anyone.” Jesus did not want to draw public attention to Himself before the hour of His cross. Jesus also warned those scribes and Pharisees who still did not believe Him and asked Him for more miracles or signs, saying, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” That is the sign of the cross — His death and resurrection. The mission of God in Christ Jesus to save sinners is to destroy sin, death and the devil, and to give people a life that shall never die. In fact, Jesus did not just do miracles, His whole life was a miracle from the Virgin’s Birth all the way to the Ascension. Jesus fulfilled all the OT prophecies concerning the Messiah, the Christ. And all His words and actions point to one direction – giving human beings a new and incorruptible life in Himself by forgiving our sins, and by conquering death and the devil. His message is loud and clear, “Repent and believe in the Gospel.” All miracles experienced in believers’ life should lead to the miracle of the cross. Lazarus was resurrected by Jesus, but still died a few years later. So did the girl who was raised up by the exorcist. However, the life that is born from above through Baptism of water and the Spirit, and nourished by Jesus’ Word and Sacrament shall never die. That’s why the most wonderful and the greatest miracle here and now is for someone to believe in Jesus who is the resurrection and the life.
Don’t want to be frozen and want to be excited instead? Seeking after “miracles” is NOT what Jesus recommends. However, pay attention to God’s Word, especially what Jesus says to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life… whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” This should get you excited. You don’t have to wait until Jesus’ second coming or after your physical death. Physical death for a Christian is just the pathway to life everlasting in the new heaven and new earth. Once you realize the true meaning of life undying, your life will be totally different. When you feel your life is meaningless, why not be part of the exciting mission of God to save sinners — your undying life has already begun after all. So, find something meaningful to do in God’s kingdom. When you suffer or feel depressed in any way, you can still rejoice and have hope because you realize that even if you die it’s just a pathway to another stage of life undying. Or, when you are disturbed by sins and troubles in and around you, you can be certain that you have real peace because in Jesus and His blood your sins are forgiven and you already have a life that shall never die.
Therefore, be excited and active in faith in everyday life and in God’s mission to save sinners because in Christ Jesus He has given you a life that shall never die. Amen! In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen!
