What Is the Work of God? [John 6]

26Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.

27"Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.

28Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?"

 29Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

 30So they said to Him, "What then do You do for a sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work do You perform? 31"Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT.'"

 32Jesus then said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33"For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world."

 34Then they said to Him, "Lord, always give us this bread."

 35Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. 36"But I said to you that you have seen Me, and yet do not believe. 37"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out. 38"For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me. 39"This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day. 40"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day. 


 

Jesus had fed the 5000 and now many were following Him, not because they were amazed at the miracle He had done, but because they wanted their physical needs met.  What were they thinking? Maybe they were thinking that if they followed this man maybe He would feed them all the time and they wouldn't have to think about providing their own food. "Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, 'HE GAVE THEM BREAD OUT OF HEAVEN TO EAT."


Jesus used this opportunity to show them that even the manna in the wilderness was pointing to what God would provide in Jesus, the "true bread of heaven."  Even as Jesus makes the statement, "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world,"  they immediately realize that this is what their hearts yearn for. "Then they said to Him, 'Lord, always give us this bread.'" (emphasis added.)


It had to be all mixed up in their heads, the physical desire to not have to deal with hunger and the spiritual desire to have that deep longing, that feels like hunger, completely satisfied.  It is sure mixed up in my mind, at least.  Oh, to taste of the Bread of Life, coming to Him and believing in Him in such a way that I am completely satisfied.  So completely content that I don't worry about what to eat,  what to drink, what to wear or what is going to happen in the future.  Being fully persuaded that my Father in Heaven knows what I need and that He will abundantly provide for each need (Matthew 5).

Jesus graciously brought them full circle back to the original question, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?"  Believe in God, believe in Jesus so you can live with Him eternally - that is the work of God.

Lord, help me with my unbelief.  Cause me to believe You (know, agree and act) as the true Bread of Life so that I will never be hungry and thirsty again.  You are worthy of my complete trust to provide ALL that I need. 
Verna McCrillis, 12/7/2010