Meaning of John 6:28

This question from the crowd to Jesus in John 6:28 arises from their astonishment and subsequent desire to understand the divine mandate following Jesus' miraculous feeding of the five thousand. They had just witnessed a profound display of God's power through Jesus, who provided abundant sustenance with minimal resources, a feat that echoed Old Testament miracles like the provision of manna in the wilderness. Their question, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" is not a casual inquiry but a desperate plea to grasp the nature of God's will and how to align themselves with it, particularly in light of Jesus' earlier statement that God sent him and that this is "the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent" (John 6:29). They are seeking a tangible, active path to pleasing God, perhaps expecting a list of rituals or commandments, and Jesus redirects their understanding towards the foundational work of faith.

Context and Background

The immediate context is Jesus' discourse following the feeding of the five thousand. The crowd, having been miraculously fed, sought Jesus again, not necessarily for spiritual truth, but for more physical bread. Jesus, however, rebuked their materialistic pursuit and urged them to seek the "food that endures to eternal life" (John 6:27). This sets the stage for their question. They are responding to Jesus' implicit challenge to move beyond superficial needs and to engage with God's deeper purposes. Their question reflects a common human inclination to earn God's favor through effort and obedience, a perspective deeply ingrained in some interpretations of Jewish law.

Key Themes and Messages

The central theme is the nature of "the works God requires." The crowd assumes this means outward actions or adherence to specific religious practices. Jesus, however, redefines this as a singular, fundamental work: belief in him, the one sent by God. This highlights the theme of divine initiative – God sends his Son, and our primary response is to accept him. It also emphasizes faith as the primary work, rather than a series of works. This is a radical reorientation from a works-based righteousness to a faith-based relationship.

Spiritual Significance and Application

Spiritually, this verse calls believers to understand that the most essential "work" God requires is to place their trust and faith in Jesus Christ. It's not about accumulating a list of good deeds to earn salvation or favor, but about entering into a relationship with God through his Son. The application is profound: instead of striving to perform a multitude of religious duties in isolation, the focus should be on cultivating a deep and abiding faith in Jesus. This faith, in turn, will naturally lead to a life of obedience and good works, not as a means of earning favor, but as a natural outflow of a transformed heart.

Relation to the Broader Biblical Narrative

This passage is pivotal in understanding Jesus' mission as presented in John's Gospel. It aligns with the overarching theme of Jesus as the Bread of Life (John 6:35), the true sustenance that satisfies the deepest human needs. It foreshadows the New Covenant, where salvation is not achieved through the Mosaic Law's meticulous adherence but through faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice. This contrasts with the Old Testament emphasis on ritualistic sacrifice and obedience to the Law, presenting faith in Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of God's requirements.

Analogies

One analogy is that of a physician and a patient. The patient, realizing they are gravely ill, asks, "What treatments must I undergo to be healed?" The physician's answer might not be a complex regimen of exercises and diets initially, but rather, "First, you must accept the medicine I offer." Similarly, Jesus' answer points to the foundational step of accepting him. Another analogy is a client asking a contractor, "What are all the tasks involved in building this house?" The contractor's initial, most crucial response might be, "First, you must sign the contract with me." The signing of the contract is the prerequisite for all subsequent construction.

Relation to Other Verses

This verse is directly connected to Jesus' own declaration in John 6:29: "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent." It also resonates with other New Testament passages that emphasize faith as the cornerstone of salvation, such as:

• Ephesians 2:8-9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast."
• Romans 3:28: "For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law."
• 1 John 3:23: "And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us."

These verses collectively underscore that while good works are a consequence of genuine faith, the primary requirement of God is belief in Jesus Christ.