John 6:28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?
Let’s recap what we have up to this point in the context of the passage:
1) The people who followed Jesus after the feeding of the 5,000 did not understand the reason for the miracles. They didn’t understand that He was the Christ.
2) The people were more interested in the physical results of the miracles performed rather than the spiritual source.
Now here we are in verse 28 where the question is asked in response to the teaching in verse 27. In the previous verse, Jesus is teaching them the difference between the temporary and the everlasting.
So what are the works of God?
(John 9:1) And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
(John 9:2) And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
(John 9:3) Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
The works of God is something that was manifested in the blind man. What was manifested in the blind man? In verse 7, this man received His sight! The works of God is the miracle that a blind man could now see. Let me say it again – the work(s) of God is the miracle that took place. Look a little further in verse 4:
(John 9:4) I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work. (John 9:5) As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
It was “day” as long as Jesus Christ was in the world. The works of God the Father were the miracles performed by the God the Son to demonstrate to Israel that He was really who He claimed to be. On the prophetic calendar, the next event scheduled to occur after the Son was to depart was the Tribulation which would end in a glorious kingdom. When He left the world, prophetically it would be “night!”
John 10:32 Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me?
What were the good works from the Father? They were the miraculous manifestations demonstrating He was who He said He was.
Back to John 6 then – the people were asking Him regarding what they needed to do in order to be able to perform the miracles they saw Jesus perform. They were looking for a system of works that would then make them “good enough” for God to do His work through them. They were totally disregarding His teachings on the need to “believe” in order to “receive.” This is consistent with the message given in the book of John.
(John 1:12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.
(John 14:11) Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.
(John 14:12) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
We also see this same message in the book of Mark:
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
Mark 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
So the cold, harsh reality is that these people were looking for a shortcut to performing the miracles. Their motivation for performing the miracles was to satisfy their own flesh. Believing was out of the question. They wanted this all on the basis of their own merits! Sounds like things haven’t changed much in 2,000 years…
Amidst The Rubble 