Christ Jesus trusted his Father’s word or else how could he have sacrificed his life, knowing he, the Son of Man, would die and be buried like any other human. And lie in a grave tomb for a portion of three days, secured by a huge stone and guarded by the Roman soldiers. He knew as no one else that his Father always kept his word and had the power to fulfill it. His faith in God’s faithfulness allowed the execution of the greatest story since the creation. God, the Holy Spirit, raised him to life inside the tomb without any human assistance. Don’t overlook the struggle Jesus had on the Mount of Transfiguration when he was praying to his Father, sweating drops of blood as he knew what he was going to go through. But he said, “nevertheless, not my will, but your will be done”. Thus, the Cross and the Resurrection of Christ Jesus.
What does this say to us? That faith is the mindset for life in Christ. “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved” (Rom. 10. 8-10). Christ’s faith and the Father’s faithfulness opened the door for our resurrection to new and eternal life. But we are to receive it by faith.
‘Jesus said to her (Martha), “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?”’ (Jn. 11. 25-26) Jesus set the standard for living by faith. He has now provided us with the Holy Spirit, who raised him from the dead, to live in us and empower us to live and walk victoriously by faith. “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Heb. 11. 6).
No faith, no cross…no cross, no resurrection!! But GOD!!! Allelujah!