John 6:28 – “Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’”

Extended Explanation

This verse comes in the middle of a conversation between Jesus and the crowd that followed Him after the miraculous feeding of the five thousand. Jesus had just told them not to focus on temporary things like food but to seek “food that endures to eternal life” (John 6:27). The crowd’s response reveals how they understood His words—they assumed He was talking about religious work.

Their question, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”, shows that they believed their relationship with God depended on their own efforts. They were thinking in terms of rules, rituals, and religious actions. They wanted a checklist of things they could do to earn God’s approval.

But Jesus was about to correct their thinking. In the next verse, He tells them that the real “work” God requires is to believe in the One He has sent—Jesus Himself (John 6:29). Their question reflects the common human tendency to believe that we must work our way to God. Jesus’ response will make it clear that salvation is not about human effort but about faith in Him.

Historical Context

In the Jewish culture of Jesus’ day, obeying God’s laws was a central part of life. The people had been taught from childhood that righteousness came through keeping the Law of Moses—following the commandments, offering sacrifices, and performing religious duties. Many religious leaders, such as the Pharisees, emphasized outward obedience, often turning God’s commands into burdensome legalism.

So when the crowd asked Jesus about the “works” they needed to do, they were thinking in terms of religious actions—keeping the Sabbath, giving to the poor, fasting, and other forms of obedience. They assumed that pleasing God required effort on their part.

But Jesus was about to shift their perspective. Instead of focusing on external actions, He would point them to faith in Him as the one sent by God. This was a radical idea because it challenged their deeply held belief that righteousness was something they had to earn.

Theological Implications

This verse touches on one of the biggest misunderstandings in human history—the idea that people must do something to earn salvation. Many believe that being good, following religious traditions, or doing good works will make them acceptable to God.

But Jesus makes it clear in the next verse that the only “work” God requires is faith in Him (John 6:29). This is a crucial theological truth:

• Salvation is by grace, not by works. No one can earn their way to God by good deeds. Eternal life is a gift that must be received by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).
• Faith, not religious effort, is what pleases God. Many people focus on outward actions, but Jesus always points to the heart. God is looking for people who trust in Him, not those who try to prove themselves through works.
• Legalism leads to self-righteousness, but faith leads to true righteousness. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day were obsessed with following rules, but they missed the most important thing—faith in the Son of God.

This verse is a reminder that salvation is not about what we do for God, but about what God has done for us through Jesus.

Literary Analysis

John 6:28 is part of a dialogue structure that is common in John’s Gospel. Jesus often makes a profound statement, and the people respond with confusion, revealing their misunderstanding. Then Jesus explains the deeper spiritual meaning.

• The people’s question: “What must we do?” (focusing on human effort)
• Jesus’ answer (John 6:29): “Believe in the one he has sent.” (focusing on faith in Him)

This back-and-forth pattern appears throughout John’s Gospel. For example:

• In John 3, Nicodemus asks how a person can be born again physically, but Jesus explains the spiritual meaning of being born again.
• In John 4, the Samaritan woman thinks Jesus is talking about literal water, but He explains that He is offering living water—eternal life.

This style highlights how often people misunderstand Jesus, thinking in earthly terms when He is speaking about spiritual truth.

Biblical Cross-References

• John 6:29 – Jesus answers their question by saying, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” This is the key to salvation.
• 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.” This confirms that salvation is through faith, not human effort.
• Romans 3:28 – “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” Paul echoes Jesus’ teaching—salvation is by faith, not by works.
• Isaiah 64:6 – “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” Even our best works cannot earn us a place with God.

What This Verse Means for Today’s Christian

Many people today still ask the same question: “What must I do to be saved?” Some believe they must be a good person, attend church regularly, or follow religious traditions to earn God’s favor. But Jesus’ answer is simple: Believe in Him.

This doesn’t mean that good works are unimportant. The Bible teaches that true faith produces good works (James 2:17). However, good works are the result of salvation, not the way to earn it.

For today’s Christian, this verse is a reminder that we don’t have to strive to earn God’s love. Instead, we are called to trust in Jesus completely. Our relationship with God is based on faith in Christ, not our performance.

How This Verse Relates to a Loving God

God’s love is seen in the fact that He does not demand impossible religious efforts from us—He simply asks us to trust in His Son. Many false religions teach that people must work hard to reach God, but the true Gospel is about God reaching down to us.

This verse also shows God’s patience. The people didn’t understand the full truth yet, but Jesus continued to teach them. In the same way, God patiently calls people to move from trying to earn His favor to simply trusting in Him.

How This Verse Connects to Jesus Christ

Jesus is at the heart of this verse because He is the only way to eternal life. The people wanted a list of things they could do to please God, but Jesus redirected them to the one thing that truly matters—believing in Him.

Throughout the Bible, Jesus is presented as the only path to salvation:

• John 14:6 – “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
• Acts 4:12 – “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
• Romans 10:9 – “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Jesus’ response in John 6:29 (that the work of God is to believe in Him) is not just a statement—it is an invitation. He calls people away from religious striving and into a life of faith and trust in Him.

Questions for Reflection and Discussion

1. Do you ever feel like you need to earn God’s love or approval? How does this verse challenge that mindset?
2. What are some common ways people try to work for salvation instead of trusting in Jesus?
3. How can you focus more on faith in Christ rather than relying on religious traditions or personal achievements?
4. How does understanding that salvation is a gift change the way you relate to God?
5. What does this verse teach us about the simplicity of the Gospel?