John 6:29

Redefining “Work” as Faith

In the context of John 6, Jesus is responding to a crowd that followed Him after the feeding of the 5,000. The crowd wanted more signs and wonders. Jesus is responding from the perspective of spiritual truth. In Jewish tradition, adhering to the Law and performing good works were viewed as pathways of righteousness. Jesus is redefining work as an act of faith, not a series of actions. To believe is to have a deep, personal trust and reliance on Jesus. It’s far deeper than just being knowledgeable about who he is. It’s something that is continuous and active. Jesus fulfills all the prophecies about the future “one being sent” – embodying the role of the suffering servant.

Faith First, Transformation Follows

The Gospel message is simple yet profound: believe in Jesus. That’s it. Christians can severely overcomplicate this, and have for many years. I’m sure most of us have heard some teaching that involves cleaning up your life before you can come to church and have a relationship with God. The message is simple: believe. If you believe, seek earnestly the attempt of repentance, then the transformative power of Christ will be with you. Through your journey with Christ, you will find that the work of transformation will happen over time. It’s not going to be instant or urgent. The more you lean on Christ, the more natural the transformation becomes.

Reflection Questions

1. Have I been trying to earn God’s approval by acts or by trust?
2. What false beliefs have I internalized about being accepted by God?
3. How can I deepen my belief and trust in Jesus today?

Call to Action

Spend five minutes sitting in this phrase: “The only work God wants is for me to believe.” 

Next slice of manna: Manna for the Mind #263