“What must we do to do the works God requires?” John 6:28

We continue our study of the Gospel of John.  Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle tells us of the Lord Jesus taking two small fish, and three small loaves of bread, and feeding thousands.  He had His Disciples pick up over 12 baskets of left over food.  All of the people were all totally satisfied, and could eat no more.  Jesus then went to pray, and told told His Disciples to cross over the Sea of Galilee and go to Capernaum.  After they had rowed several hours against strong winds, Jesus came to them – walking on the water – calmed the Sea, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. (John 6:10-21)  Several awesome, beautiful, powerful miracles back to back in one 24 Hour period which we have covered.

As we look at verses 22-25 of this chapter, the Apostle tell us of the people waking up the next day and discovering that Jesus was gone. (Evidently it was late when they finished the awesome dinner the Lord provided, and they just spent the night there.)  In any event, they jumped in boats and started looking for Him.  Finding Him in Capernaum, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”  They were not aware of the water walk, and all that had happened with Peter, and the instant landing of the boat, so it was a legitimate question.
Picking up at verse 26, “Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, you are looking for Me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.  For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.’
Then they asked Him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’
Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.'” (John 6: 26-29.)
So often the enemy tries to make us fearful of not doing enough to please God.  Or doing something the wrong way.  Or not speaking the right way.  Or a number of other things that might make us think God is waiting to ‘get us’ if we mess up.  Those things and thoughts just DO NOT line up with the Word.
Jesus had one command.  “Love one another as I have loved you.”  His blood and grace has taken care of the of the Law of “Do or Die”.  All of the things we should do with, and for each other, or our relationship with God falls into place as we live in Christ and His Love.  We will not steal from each other, or try to cheat, or commit adultery, or lie to or about one another, or kill, or mistreat or not honor our Mom and Dad, or worship idols instead of the Lord.  Love leads us to think right, and do what is right.  When they asked Jesus ‘what works God required them to do?’, He simply said:  “Believe in the One He has sent.”  The One who is sent is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  He is God’s Grace.  He is Love personified.
The Jews had been required to try to keep over 600 Laws in the old Covenant.  Impossible.  Many of us have been misinformed about what we are ‘required’ to do to be ‘good Christians.’ Impossible.  We can never be good enough through our own efforts.  The bottom line is this:  Jesus took care of the Laws, and Religious Requirements. He put us all under the Covenant of Grace, and unconditional Love with His blood.  When we believe that, and in what He has done for us, we love Him. We want to live for Him, and to do good things in the world.  Those good things are not works, they are using the gifts He has given us to make this a better world using the ‘Golden Rule’,(Matthew 7:12), and Jesus as a guide.
Poppa B.
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