They said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for 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 for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” -John 6:25-29 NRSV
It seems that there has always been a tension between faith and works. James writes about this declaring "faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead". So it is interesting that Jesus here tells us that the work of God is actually believing in himself. The idea challenges me. I want life to be all about what I do and not what I believe. In truth, it is a bit of both.
The ministry of Jesus teaches us that belief always leads to works. Apart from the amazing healings and miracles done at the hands of Christ, no one would understand that God had come to plant earth. Yet in this passage the Lord reminds us that the work of God is not all about signs and wonders but about believing. It is the food that endures for eternal life.
Lord, help us to to embrace faith and find the food that endures for eternal life. Please transform us as we believe in you.
... this devotion is part of an ongoing series on the Gospel of John.
Amen my friend.
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