As we commemorate the resurrection of our Lord this year, it must be noted that without faith you will not benefit from Christ’s resurrection. In other words, the resurrection is of no consequence for those who do not believe. That being said, there are many who would choose the right answer if given a True/False quiz: Did Jesus Christ rise from the dead?
However, believing in Christ or having faith is not a one-time decision in which you intellectually weigh out the facts and eventually concede that Jesus rose from the dead. Neither does biblical faith consist of trying really hard to trust in God for a happier, healthier and/or wealthier existence in this life.
Rather, faith is a complete entrustment of your life to what Christ has done and said; faith is a lifestyle of refusing to trust in yourself or other people and instead trusting in what God has revealed in his word. James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote in the book bearing his name, that it is always the case that true faith can be seen in one’s life because true faith puts one in union with Jesus Christ and the new life he grants. And on the other hand, if someone says they believe, but there is no ongoing evidence of that—day in and day out/week in and week out—then that faith is dead and worthless. In that case, faith equates to a bunch of empty words.
All of this ties in directly to John’s purpose for writing his gospel, including this chapter recounting the resurrection; namely to provide the basis for saving faith—John 20:31 these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. Has faith in the resurrection of Christ given you life in His name?