Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?”They said therefore to him, “What must we do, that we may work the works of God?”Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?They said therefore unto him, What must we do, that we may work the works of God?
3 sermons cite this verse
… They said to him, what shall we do that we may work the works of God? Have you ever talked to somebody about the Lord Jesus and thought you were very clear in your presentation? You even wrote it on a little slip of paper and you gave him a simple little chart and you illustrated it and you say, now, isn't that great? And they answer in return along the very same line before you ever started your explanation. They're locked into a mindset in which you have not penetrated. That's what happened here. Jesus said, I'm ready to give you this kind of life. So they said, how do we work for it? Now look at Jesus' response. All right, you must use the word work. This is the work of God There's someone that's worked for it God has And the work he leaves for you to do Is that you believe in him whom he has sent God's plan is this Men, women, young people Gathered around me today Said the Lord Jesus He says I have provided the work Now your only response is to believe Give me your life Turn the controls over to me Accept the gift of eternal life that's God's plan you must believe in him whom he has sent now those last few words of course caused them to realize he was referring to himself and so they responded what do you do for a sign that we may see and believe you now back behind the scenes they want another …
… Drop down all the way to verse 28, for the sake of time, they said to Him, What shall we do so that we may work the works of God? And Jesus answered and said to them, This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent. So they said to Him, what then do you do for a sign, so that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform?" They're asking Him to validate His claim by doing a miracle when they have just eaten food that He created with massive supernatural power. They want what they want. It's about their own satisfaction, and that's what drives false disciples. They follow the crowd. They look for the supernatural. They want what their carnal heart wants, and they expect their desires to be met. And Jesus says, essentially, in verse 29, the only miracle you're going to see is the miracle of faith. This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." They were not interested in soul salvation. …
… which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him. And they said to Him, What shall we do that we may work the works of God? Jesus answered and said, This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent. And therefore they said to Him, What sign will you perform then that we may see it and believe you? What work will you do? Our fathers ate the manna in the desert. As it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. And Jesus said to them, Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven, for the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. And then they said to him, Lord, give us that bread always. And He said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. We're going to stop at that point, finish the text, God willing, next week. But we'll stop there, and so you may be seated for now. …