How to See Life in 321 - a Guide to John's GospelSample

What does faith look like?

Some people think of “faith” as a substance that some people possess and others don’t. But John’s Gospel gives us a healthier way of thinking about it.

‘Faith’ is another word for trust, belief, reliance or dependence. And actually, the whole of John has been written in order to draw faith out of its readers. That’s what today’s reading says:

“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31)

The ‘signs’ (miracles) are signpostsand they point to Jesus’ identity. When we see Jesus rightly (as the Messiah, the Son of God), the light dawns on us. ‘Ah, he’s Lord!’ we say. And we find ourselves trusting him.

Remember John chapter 2 and the first miracle — water into wine. The episode finishes by saying, “What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory and his disciples believed in him.” That’s how faith happens: when we see Jesus as glorious, faith follows.

Faith is not something we push out of ourselves. Faith is something pulled out of us by Jesus’ “glory.” On Day 12, we learnt that “glory” is about the weightiness—the gravity—of something. If the magnificence of Jesus is his glory, then that glory is like an electromagnet. Faith is like iron filings and Jesus draws it out of us.

In our reading today, we meet two people who go from doubt to faith. First Mary (v1-17). She begins the day distraught and it only gets worse. She’s come to the tomb of Jesus to complete the burial rituals, but—disaster!—she finds it empty. She even physically meets Jesus without realising who she’s met. But then… when she hears him speak her name… when she sees him truly… faith follows.

It’s the same for Thomas. He also begins the chapter in doubt. But he sees Jesus properly, and faith follows.

How about you? Through John’s Gospel, you have seen more and more of Jesus over the last 3 weeks. Do you see him as ‘the Messiah, the Son of God’? Do you see his glory? Do you think he’s ‘Lord’? If so, you believe. And it’s not just a one-off event. The life of faith is a life of continually looking to Jesus, seeing his glory, and trusting him. This is our duty and our joy — through life, through death, and for all eternity.