When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
John 6:25 – 30
Jesus is talking here to a crowd of people. He had walked on water, fed the 5,000 with only five barley loaves and two fish which has compelled the crowd to seek Him out so they might attain more food. Jesus teaches them that they should not be seeking for temporary food that perishes, but for food that is eternal. The crowd asks him what they must do to get this eternal bread. See, these were Jewish people who believed in the Mosaic law. They were asking, according to the works of the Mosaic Law what they could do in order to find eternal life. They were accustomed to working and they recognised that God had a requirement for them to fulfill. They wanted to know what the requirement was so they could please God and obtain eternal life by doing good works. In verse 29, Jesus flatly denies this thinking. They could not please God by doing good works!
There is only one work of God – only one thing that God requires. For us to put our trust in the One the Father has sent. How are we to work for salvation, for eternal life? Only by believing in the one God has sent, Jesus the Messiah.
What must we do, to be doing the works of God?
When I was growing up we lived right across the road from the Catholic church. Dad made sure we attended mass, to keep up appearances cause he felt guilty in front of the nuns when they’d come door knocking. And I remember the priest emphasizing a lot to the congregation about good works. I agreed to doing good works because it was in my nature to do so.One is not human without good works unto others. But when the priest mentioned that you CAN’T GET TO HEAVEN WITHOUT GOOD WORKS, well that just about sent me to hell didn’t it? all these questions went through my mind cause we came from humble & poor backgrounds, & what if I can’t do good this week to help so-and-so, & what if I didn’t have the 50c to light a candle & pray for so-and-so etc. When questioning the priest about it and the nuns, they’d send me away to confession & to repent of my ways!!!
Anyway, my point is, being taught that good works gets you to Heaven alone is wrong.I learned that when a Bible was put into my hands & I read the above portion you mentioned Susan.I rejoiced in the fact that all I had to do THROUGH FAITH AND NOT WORKS ALONE, was to be believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, who took my place on that cross, reperesented ME before the FAther & through HIS WORKS, I am SAVED! Deep and yet, simple. Thank you for reminding me of this.God bless you!
Amen Lina… through His works we are saved.
This passage has been in my thoughts this week as well Susan 🙂