In Dan Brown’s book, The Da Vinci Code, a curious conversation takes place. Sophie exclaims to Langdon, the book’s hero, ‘you told me the New Testament is based on fabrication’. Langdon replies, ‘Sophie, every faith in the world is based on fabrication. That is the definition of faith – acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that which we cannot prove’. For many, that remains their understanding of faith… ‘acceptance of that which we imagine to be true, that which we cannot prove.’
Yet the apostle John tells us that the opposite is true in the conclusion to his gospel. Jesus said to [Thomas], ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen yet have believed.’ Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. (John 20:30–31)
These two verses sum up three themes that John has spent the previous 20 chapters exploring. He has unpacked for his readers the evidence of Jesus’ miracles, the necessity of belief in Jesus as God’s Saviour King and the life to be found believing in him.
Those who witnessed these miracles firsthand and heard Jesus’ teaching verbatim are indeed blessed. But how wonderful that faith is not dependent on living in first century Judea but speaks through the ages and across cultures. How wonderful that faith in Jesus Christ is not a matter of subjective, summoned-up feelings but founded on historical evidence. How wonderful that the Spirit inspired John to write down what he heard and saw so that subsequent generations, like you and me, might have the opportunity to read, believe and have life.
Friends, let us rejoice in the Bible, God’s word written, living, active, true – and bearing eternal fruit across the world.