The Only Work God Wants from You

Jesus traveled across the Sea of Galilee with his disciples, and a large number of people followed Him because He had been healing the sick.  There was about 5,000 men in the multitude, and they were probably accompanied by women and children.  The crowd had nothing to eat, and Jesus miraculously fed them with five barley loaves and two fish. Afterward He withdrew to be alone because the people wanted to make Him king by force.  Evening came, and His twelve disciples started back across the lake without Him.  He joined them by walking on the water.  After He got in the boat, they were instantly transported to their destination. 

When they saw that Jesus had departed, the throngs pursued Him. Then, when they found Him, the following exchange took place: 

They found him on the other side of the lake and asked, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs.  But don’t be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval.” 

They replied, “We want to perform God’s works, too. What should we do?” 

Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.” 

They answered, “Show us a miraculous sign if you want us to believe in you. What can you do?  After all, our ancestors ate manna while they journeyed through the wilderness! The Scriptures say, ‘Moses gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven. My Father did. And now he offers you the true bread from heaven.  The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 

 “Sir,” they said, “give us that bread every day.” 

Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.  But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me.  However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will.  And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day.  For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.” (John 6:25-40 NLT) * 

All that we must do to be saved is to believe in Jesus.  Everything after that is done through Him living in us and empowering us to do it.  Believe in Jesus Christ today, and you will be raised up bodily when He returns to take His true followers to be with Him forever. (1Thessalonians 4:13-18)

  

*  https://biblehub.com/nlt/john/6.htm