August 30- John 6:29

THE VERSE

Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
~John 6:29

THE THOUGHT

In this passage, Jesus told the gathered crowd to work "for the food that endures to eternal life." The crowd, however, misunderstood him and asked what works God required for eternal life. In asking that question, they uncovered their own misconceptions about God, salvation, and eternal life. They were determined to earn God's favor by their works, but Jesus set them straight by pointing them back to Himself as the source of eternal life.

So what works must we do? Jesus answered the question: it's not about works, it's about believing in the One that God has sent. Salvation is about surrendering your attempts at self-righteousness and self-salvation, and instead casting yourself on the one that God has sent to earn salvation for you. Jesus is the bread of life; Jesus is the one on whom God has set His seal, the promised Messiah, the perfect Lamb, our Savior. What other work could we possibly add to His finished work? He fulfilled all righteousness, He lived perfectly in our place, and in His death absorbed all the wrath of God for our sins, so that we could partake in His blessing.

So what works must we do? We must cease from our working and trust in Him who justifies the ungodly. In that trust, in that resting from our own work, we find the blessing of full forgiveness, justification, and life: "Blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin."

THE PRAYER

Lord Jesus, Thank you for fulfilling all of the Father's requirements on my behalf. Thank you for Your life of perfect obedience, which secures my standing, acceptance, and blessing before the throne of grace. Thank you for Your perfect death, which covers all my sin in a river of atoning blood. Thank you for Your perfect love, which holds me, uplifts me, and will never let me go.

EXTENDED READING

John 6:26-40
Romans 4:4-8

THE QUOTE

“God’s love is his holiness reaching out to sinners; grace is but the price that his love pays to his holiness; the cross is but its victory over sin and death; and faith is but the way in which we bring our worship to him who is holy.” ~David Wells