What kind of work are you doing?

(John 6:28-59 NIV)
[Note: There is so much in these passages, that I could probably write forever on one or two verses. Not being a theologian, that might prove difficult :-). I'll simply continue to capture what God lays on my heart during my quiet time. God bless.]

Following Jesus’ feeding of 5000, the crowds were following Jesus because they believed he could meet their physical needs. Jesus began to teach them with a goal of transitioning the people from a focus on the temporal to a focus on the eternal. In John 6:27, he told the people not to work for food that would spoil, but rather for food that lasted forever. The people asked the question, “How do we do that?” (John 6:28 NIV – “What must we do to do the work God requires?”)

Many of us work hard for what we have. We believe we have what we do because we work hard for it. (Note, I’m a huge proponent of a strong work ethic, but we still need to realize that God is the source of our blessings and what we have.) Notice the simple response, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” The good news of Jesus Christ is still one of grace, and faith.

Yet, we all have trouble transitioning from the physical to the eternal. We want our physical needs met, and then we’ll focus on the spiritual. Let me pay my bills first, buy what I need, accumulate my savings, and then I’ll give to God. The people began to ask for signs so that they could believe. Even then, their request was centered on a physical request – albeit a lasting one. God had met the needs of the children of Israel with a perpetual blessing of physical food when they were wandering in the desert. They gravitated to this understanding – that their physical needs would be met for eternity.

Jesus let them know that a) first of all, the physical bread from Moses came from God so it was God who had met their physical need; and b) though the people had the manna for food, they still died (v.49). This was a not so subtle way to communicate to them that even if he kept feeding them as he had miraculously done in the feeding of the 5000, the people would still die.

Jesus calls for us to seek him. In verse 45, he references Isaiah 54:13 stating that “they will … be taught by God.” He, God-The Son, was teaching them to come to him for eternal life. “[He] shall lose none of all that [God] has given [him].” He wants us to listen to him (through prayer, scripture, Godly advice) and to learn from him. “Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.” (John 6:57 NIV)

Do you hunger to know Christ?