³⁰ “What sign, then, are you going to do so that we may see and believe you?” they asked. “What are you going to perform? (John 6:30 CSB)

The word perform has a number of connotations, the two most meaningful are to act in a certain way the other is a gauge of that action.

In may ways, especially in our jobs, we are gauged upon how we perform. Every company has measures against which we are graded. In life in general our actions are measured by others as well.

There are other times when we feel we must act in a certain way. We perform not to be measured or graded, but to be accepted. We are on some form of stage before others. Not as in being an actor, but it has been said many times that the “world is a stage” and we are often asked to perform.

In our scripture today the people were asking both of Christ. They were waiting to see how he would perform and what he would perform. I can only imagine how this made our Lord feel. He was being put on a stage and people were gauging if they would follow based upon His actions and not because of His message. How misguided.

When asked to perform what drives us? Acceptance of others or the truth and sincerity of our actions?