John 6:25-29, Grace & Faith, Not Karma

25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" 26Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." 28Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" 29Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." 

Jesus immediately dismissed the Galileans’ transportation question to confront them with an uncomfortable truth: they are following him for his popularity and for the free food! Everything is about faith in Jesus, not the fantastic byproducts of miraculous healings, unexpected catering, or advanced transportation. These point to Jesus’ true identity as the Son of Man given to us by God, language that references Daniel 7:13-14, an exceptional vision received by Daniel: 

“I saw in the night visions, 

and behold, with the clouds of heaven  there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days  and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion  and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed. 

Jesus refers his hearers to the Old Testament prophecy that God is fulfilling in their presence. God, “the Ancient of Days,” has given him all people and all authority over an everlasting kingdom. People do not enter it through karma—that is their good works that outweigh their bad works—but through belief in him as the true promised one of God. The good news that the work that gives us eternal life has already been accomplished by and in Christ Jesus himself. Eternal life is not by karma but by grace and faith! 

Where have you replaced grace with works in your life? Take this to Jesus in prayer and see what he will teach you today.