22 On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 However, boats from Tiber’i–as came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper’na–um, seeking Jesus.
Labour for Food which Lasts
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?
26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal.”
Doing the Works of God
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
True Bread from Heaven
30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.”
34 They said to him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
Bread of Life
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.
B EXPLANATION
Introduction
a) The Gospel Reading for this Sunday’s Mass is from John 6: 24–35. To complete this section of the chapter I have added verses 22–23 which precede and verses 36–40 which follow the Gospel Reading.
b) The account of Jesus walking on the water has been omitted in the Sunday readings. The remainder of the chapter is a commentary on the two miracles, the multiplication of the five loaves and the walking on the water, signs 4 and 5 of John’s seven signs. The complete list of signs is given in the introduction to John 6: 1–15.
c) John 6: 22–40 is a dialogue between the remnant of the crowd and Jesus as a consequence of the multiplication of the loaves. The crowd asks three questions (vv. 25, 28 and 30) and Jesus enters into discussion with them.
22 On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 However, boats from Tiber’i–as came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper’na–um, seeking Jesus.
“The people who remained” — It is now “the next day” so a large number of the 5,000 crowd had gone home.
They “saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone” — The remnant of the crowd has a suspicion that here there is another miracle. Their enthusiasm is increased and they decide to find the miracle–worker.
“the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks” — The word “bread” is used here instead of “loaves” because the latter word will not be used again whereas “bread” will occur many times.
There was no need to add “after the Lord had given thanks”. The location was clearly and adequately described in the preceding words “the place where they ate the bread”. The addition is meant to emphasise, by repetition, the words “giving thanks” (the Greek word ‘eucharist’). This says that there is a eucharistic meaning to the multiplication of the loaves. It would be wrong to interpret that everything in the following verses refers to the Eucharist. Each verse, and each word, must be interpreted exactly and correctly without presuppositions or jumping to conclusions.
“The Lord” — This word generally refers to the Risen Jesus though it can also be translated as “Sir” when it is an address of respect. When John wrote his Gospel at the end of the first century he would have wished to stress that it is the Risen Lord with his wounds and marks of suffering who is present in the Eucharist.
“They themselves got into the boats — Obviously the crowd had diminished considerably in numbers. There may not have been many to be taken to “the other side” in the few boats that arrived. Boats on the lake at the time could take about a dozen to fifteen people.
“seeking Jesus” — People seek Jesus for many reasons, some good and some not so good. This will be clarified in the section to follow.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”
This is the first of three questions put to Jesus by the remnant of the crowd.
“Rabbi” —People who wished to be respectful but did not know how to address Jesus, used the title “Rabbi”. It was the designation used by students for their teachers. The disciples at their first encounter (Jn. 1: 38) and Nicodemus (Jn. 1: 49; 3: 2) used this description until they got to know Jesus better. As used here the title indicates that the remnant of the crowd of the previous day no longer considers Jesus to be either Prophet or Messianic King.
“when did you come here?” — There may be a hint that they were wondering if Jesus had crossed the sea in some miraculous way because they knew that he did not travel in the boat with the disciples. Incidentally they asked “when” did he get there, not “how?”
26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
“Jesus answered them” — Jesus does not directly answer their question but in his reply he interprets their wrong reasons for following him. He had already experienced the fickleness of people. Here he encounters it once more, “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did; but Jesus did not trust himself to them,because he knew all men and needed no one to bear witness of man; for he himself knew what was in man” (Jn. 2: 23–25).
“Truly, truly, I say to you” — This is an expression which Jesus uses when he intends to make a very solemn pronouncement. He uses it twenty–five times in John’s Gospel.
“you seek me, not because you saw signs” — He tells them that they seek him for the wrong motives. He gave them signs which they did not even try to interpret correctly; they were bogged down in the material understanding.
“but because you ate your fill of the loaves” — They interpreted the meaning of the multiplication of the loaves as a miracle to benefit them materially; they looked no deeper.
27 Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal.
“Do not labour for” — People can “labour for” material things such as food but they cannot “labour for” eternal life by their own efforts. Eternal life is a gift from God. This will become clearer as the chapter progresses. Perhaps ‘strive for’ or ‘make efforts to attain’ would be a clearer way of understanding the word “labour … for the food which endures to eternal life”.
“the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life” — Manna was food that perished either by melting or by becoming foul (Ex. 16: 19–21). Its life–span was a single day. Jesus tells the crowd that they work for material food which nourishes for a while but which comes to an end with death. It is more important to strive for food that “endures for eternal life”. This food may not last either but its effect is everlasting. Obviously Jesus is not speaking about purely material food but special ‘food’ which has spiritual effects. (Please do not presume that Jesus is speaking about the Eucharist — not yet.)
“which the Son of man will give to you” — “The Son of man” is a title used only by Jesus and never by the four evangelists. It occurs seventy times in the synoptics and twelve times in John’s Gospel. Included in its meaning is that the Son of Man pre–existed but is fully human: the divine and the human are one in him. The title “Son of man” always implies the crucifixion and resurrection. The expression might best be described as the Saviour who reveals God and his love for the world, above all in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Hence the future tense: “will give you”.
This divine–human person will give them the spiritual “food which endures to eternal life”. They have to strive earnestly and with energy, as they do in manual effort, for this food.
“for on him has God the Father set his seal” — A seal is a sign of authority and power. God the Father has given Jesus his authority and power (Jn. 1: 32–34; 3: 34–35). With this authority Jesus gives eternal life to those who strive for the food which “endures to eternal life”.
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
This is the crowd’s second question.
“the works of God” — Note the plural. In the Jewish mind the “works of God” were those things that would please God, especially by observing the Law. The crowd’s idea was to please God by doing something special so that they might receive the miraculous material food that would not perish. They ignored that “the Son of man” would give it.
“This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent” — Note the singular, “the work” in contrast to the crowd’s plural “works”. The meaning is that if you wish to please God then believe “in him whom he has sent”.
“believe in him” — This expression is frequent in John’s writings. It means to accept Jesus and his claims, trust him and dedicate oneself to him (Jn. 8: 31–32).
“whom he has sent” — Jesus clarifies that he is this one sent by God: “No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known” (Jn. 1: 18). People must believe that God has sent Jesus to give life to the world and to each individual in it if they are to have access to God.
30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Here is the crowd’s third question, expressed in two forms.
“Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform?” — Jesus had said (v. 26) that they had not understood the sign of the multiplication of the loaves. They challenge him on that and ask him for a sign which they would understand and accept. Then they would believe that he was sent by God the Father.
“Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” — The sign they would accept is the repeat of the multiplication of manna from heaven given in the Old Testament. They quote Psalm 78: 24. Providing manna was regarded as Moses greatest miracle (Ex. 16; Nm. 11).
What they ask for is precisely what Jesus had done when they met with him the day before and he had multiplied the loaves abundantly. They were so impressed they wanted to make him their Messianic King (Jn. 6: 1–15). That enthusiasm seems to have evaporated! Their argument is along these lines: ‘You want us to believe that God sent you into the world. Moses gave our fore parents bread from heaven. True, you multiplied some earthly bread yesterday. If you really want to prove better than Moses get us material bread from heaven, not for today but for our earthly life–span’.
32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.”
“Truly, truly, I say to you” — Jesus is about to make a very solemn pronouncement.
“it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world” — Jesus clarifies three points:
First, it was God who gave the manna, not Moses. The Old Testament referred to it as “bread from heaven” (Ex. 16: 4, 15; Ps. 78: 24; Wis. 16: 20).
Second, God “gave” the manna at a particular time in the past and then it stopped. It was not permanent. Now his Father “gives” (continuing present tense) the “true bread” and this giving will not stop. It is permanent.
Third, the manna was meant to satisfy hunger. Jesus speaks of “the true bread from heaven” which is “the bread of God” who is the giver of life. What makes it “the true bread” is that it already “gives life to the world” (Jn. 3: 15–16; 5: 24). Manna could not do that.
“For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.” — In this sentence, the words “that which comes down from heaven” may be translated as “he who comes down from heaven”. The meaning is the same but expressed impersonally or personally.
“life to the world.” — Manna was given for the children of Israel. This true or authentic bread is to give life to “the [whole] world”. This “life” is “eternal life” (Jn. 3: 14–15) which Jesus was sent to give to the world. This is what they have to “labour” for (v. 26).
“my Father” — Jesus calls God “my Father” (Jn. 2: 16; 5: 17), an extremely close relationship.
There are three points stated in this verse. First, the Father “gives the true bread from heavens”. Second, this “true bread from heaven”, the “bread of God”, is “that which” or “he who comes down from heaven”, the Incarnate Son, Jesus. Third, he “gives life to the world” through the working of the Holy Spirit. This will be made clearer in Jn. 6: 63 and elsewhere.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church has a useful comment: “Jesus does not reveal the Holy Spirit fully, until he himself has been glorified through his Death and Resurrection. Nevertheless, little by little he alludes to him even in his teaching of the multitudes, as when he reveals that his own flesh will be food for the life of the world (Jn. 6: 27, 51, 62–63). He also alludes to the Spirit in speaking to Nicodemus (Jn. 3: 5–8), to the Samaritan woman (Jn. 4: 10; 14: 23–24), and to those who take part in the feast of Tabernacles (Jn. 7: 37–39)”. (CCC 728).
34 They said to him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
“Lord” — The Greek word “Kyrie” can be translated as either “Lord” or “Sir”. It is most unlikely that the crowd, who manifest that they do not believe in Jesus, would use the word “Lord” which refers to the risen Christ. The Jerusalem Bible translates the word as “Sir”. See the comment on verse 23 above where “Lord” is used by John.
“give us this bread always’” — The crowd reiterates what they said in v. 31, they want bread not for a meal but for “always”. They are so wrapped up in themselves and their material expectations they cannot see any religious or spiritual meaning.
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.
In verse 31 the crowd quoted from Psalm 78 and said that manna was the “bread from heaven”. In verse 32, Jesus pointed out to them that his Father “gives” the “true bread from heaven”. This “true bread”, the “bread of God”, is the bread that gives life. He now proceeds to explain the meaning of “bread of life”.
“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life” — “I am” is a most special expression. When Moses saw the burning bush and heard the voice of God, he asked God to reveal his name. “I am who am” was the answer (Ex. 3: 14). When Jesus uses the expression “I am” he reveals himself as divine (Jn. 4: 26; 6: 35, 48, 51; 8: 12, 24, 28, 58; 11: 25; 13: 19; 18: 5–6, 8). When a predicate is added, Jesus tells what he does. Here he is saying, ‘I, the divine, am the one who nourishes with divine life’. As he proclaimed in verse 33, “For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives [divine] life to the world.”
“he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst” — Jesus now explains what he means by “the bread of life”. When commenting on John 6: 5 (17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B) it was pointed out that the word “come” has a unique meaning for John in his Gospel. It means believing in Jesus (Jn. 3: 21; 5: 40; 6: 5, 37, 45; 7: 37). “He who comes to me” and “he who believes in me” mean the same. It is by faith that we approach, join and dedicate ourselves to Jesus.
Food is a vital necessity for people; without food they die. Just as material food is essential for the life of the body so spiritual food is essential for the life of the soul which has to be nourished. How? Deuteronomy 8: 3 gives the well known answer: “man does not live by bread alone, but … by everything [or “every word”] that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord” (see also Wis. 16: 20, 26). The spiritual food that sustains our spiritual life is the word of God that comes through Jesus in his teaching and revelation. He is “the bread of life”.
C APPLICATION
What does this Passage tell us about Jesus? There are three points: (i) God is his Father. (ii) He has been sent into the world by him. (iii) He is the “bread of life” that gives God’s life to the world.
What he expects in return is that people believe in him.
John likes to play on words. We have some perfect examples in today’s passage. We look at his use of “bread” employed ten times, once on its own and then in correlatives (loaves, manna, food) or different expressions (Bread from Heaven, True Bread from Heaven, Bread of God and Bread of Life). Jesus reveals himself as the true bread from heaven, the bread that gives life which will satisfy the deepest human hunger.
He had multiplied five loaves and two fish for an extremely large crowd to show how he can nourish materially as a sign of his ability to nourish spiritually.
A second word used by John is “labour” or “work”. There is, first of all, the normal understanding of what we undertake to do for one reason or another, generally to sustain life in us. In the Old Testament “works” referred to creation, the Exodus and the salvific acts of the Father. In John’s Gospel Jesus refers seventeen times to his miracles as “works”. There are wider implications as, for example, the whole ministry of Jesus (Jn. 17: 4) and also his words are “works” (Jn. 14: 10).
A third word is “signs”, that is, miracles which people receive with understanding (Jn. 2: 11; 4: 54). Not all who witnessed miracles accepted them as signs of who Jesus is (Jn. 12: 37). The proper reaction to miracles worked by Jesus as signs is to come to accept Jesus because of who he is and his relationship with his Father (Jn. 2: 11; 5: 36; 10: 37–38; 11: 41–42).
Words, in addition to being works, also are signs. We are nourished by Jesus’ words which means by his teaching, his revelation, what he has been given or authorized to say by his Father (Jn. 4: 32–35; 7: 16–18; 8: 28–29, 38; 12: 49–50; 14: 10; 15: 23–24).
Reflect on the reaction of the large crowd to the miraculous work of multiplying bread. They were impressed. At first they saw a spiritual meaning — the miracle–worker must be the prophet promised by Moses, the Messiah–King. Their spiritual interpretation was not serious; their real interest was in what Jesus could do for them materially. By the following day they had forgotten the spiritual aspect. They had returned to their former materialism.
As dialogue with Jesus progressed, the crowd thought that there was some work which they might be able to do to obtain bread for ever. Jesus pointed out to them that faith in him as “sent” from heaven by his Father was the essential work. Faith means accepting Jesus as sent by God, submitting to God working in and committing or dedicating oneself to Jesus. The perfection of this commitment is practical love. The danger can be that some work without faith in Jesus, the crowd, or have faith without doing anything else.
The invisible God has revealed himself in his Incarnate Son, Jesus, through whom he has revealed his will. This will is that people should have access to him through Jesus and share his divine, eternal life both here and for eternity. Jesus accomplishes his role by words and deeds (works). This passage, following on and explaining the miracle of the multiplication of bread, shows us Jesus exercising his role. The crowd asked for a sign that they might believe in him. His answer was simple: I am the sign! He is God’s gift to the world. He came to share God’s eternal life. People need to accept the gift and commit themselves to Jesus, the Way, and what he stands for.
Commentary on the 18th Sunday (B) 1.08.2021
JOHN 6: 22–40 BREAD OF LIFE, Part I
Ordinary Time, Sunday 18B (John 6: 24–35)
A TEXT
New Setting
22 On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 However, boats from Tiber’i–as came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper’na–um, seeking Jesus.
Labour for Food which Lasts
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?
26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal.”
Doing the Works of God
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?”
29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
True Bread from Heaven
30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.”
34 They said to him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
Bread of Life
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.
B EXPLANATION
Introduction
a) The Gospel Reading for this Sunday’s Mass is from John 6: 24–35. To complete this section of the chapter I have added verses 22–23 which precede and verses 36–40 which follow the Gospel Reading.
b) The account of Jesus walking on the water has been omitted in the Sunday readings. The remainder of the chapter is a commentary on the two miracles, the multiplication of the five loaves and the walking on the water, signs 4 and 5 of John’s seven signs. The complete list of signs is given in the introduction to John 6: 1–15.
c) John 6: 22–40 is a dialogue between the remnant of the crowd and Jesus as a consequence of the multiplication of the loaves. The crowd asks three questions (vv. 25, 28 and 30) and Jesus enters into discussion with them.
22 On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 However, boats from Tiber’i–as came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper’na–um, seeking Jesus.
“The people who remained” — It is now “the next day” so a large number of the 5,000 crowd had gone home.
They “saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone” — The remnant of the crowd has a suspicion that here there is another miracle. Their enthusiasm is increased and they decide to find the miracle–worker.
“the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks” — The word “bread” is used here instead of “loaves” because the latter word will not be used again whereas “bread” will occur many times.
There was no need to add “after the Lord had given thanks”. The location was clearly and adequately described in the preceding words “the place where they ate the bread”. The addition is meant to emphasise, by repetition, the words “giving thanks” (the Greek word ‘eucharist’). This says that there is a eucharistic meaning to the multiplication of the loaves. It would be wrong to interpret that everything in the following verses refers to the Eucharist. Each verse, and each word, must be interpreted exactly and correctly without presuppositions or jumping to conclusions.
“The Lord” — This word generally refers to the Risen Jesus though it can also be translated as “Sir” when it is an address of respect. When John wrote his Gospel at the end of the first century he would have wished to stress that it is the Risen Lord with his wounds and marks of suffering who is present in the Eucharist.
“They themselves got into the boats — Obviously the crowd had diminished considerably in numbers. There may not have been many to be taken to “the other side” in the few boats that arrived. Boats on the lake at the time could take about a dozen to fifteen people.
“seeking Jesus” — People seek Jesus for many reasons, some good and some not so good. This will be clarified in the section to follow.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”
This is the first of three questions put to Jesus by the remnant of the crowd.
“Rabbi” —People who wished to be respectful but did not know how to address Jesus, used the title “Rabbi”. It was the designation used by students for their teachers. The disciples at their first encounter (Jn. 1: 38) and Nicodemus (Jn. 1: 49; 3: 2) used this description until they got to know Jesus better. As used here the title indicates that the remnant of the crowd of the previous day no longer considers Jesus to be either Prophet or Messianic King.
“when did you come here?” — There may be a hint that they were wondering if Jesus had crossed the sea in some miraculous way because they knew that he did not travel in the boat with the disciples. Incidentally they asked “when” did he get there, not “how?”
26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.
“Jesus answered them” — Jesus does not directly answer their question but in his reply he interprets their wrong reasons for following him. He had already experienced the fickleness of people. Here he encounters it once more, “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs which he did; but Jesus did not trust himself to them, because he knew all men and needed no one to bear witness of man; for he himself knew what was in man” (Jn. 2: 23–25).
“Truly, truly, I say to you” — This is an expression which Jesus uses when he intends to make a very solemn pronouncement. He uses it twenty–five times in John’s Gospel.
“you seek me, not because you saw signs” — He tells them that they seek him for the wrong motives. He gave them signs which they did not even try to interpret correctly; they were bogged down in the material understanding.
“but because you ate your fill of the loaves” — They interpreted the meaning of the multiplication of the loaves as a miracle to benefit them materially; they looked no deeper.
27 Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal.
“Do not labour for” — People can “labour for” material things such as food but they cannot “labour for” eternal life by their own efforts. Eternal life is a gift from God. This will become clearer as the chapter progresses. Perhaps ‘strive for’ or ‘make efforts to attain’ would be a clearer way of understanding the word “labour … for the food which endures to eternal life”.
“the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life” — Manna was food that perished either by melting or by becoming foul (Ex. 16: 19–21). Its life–span was a single day. Jesus tells the crowd that they work for material food which nourishes for a while but which comes to an end with death. It is more important to strive for food that “endures for eternal life”. This food may not last either but its effect is everlasting. Obviously Jesus is not speaking about purely material food but special ‘food’ which has spiritual effects. (Please do not presume that Jesus is speaking about the Eucharist — not yet.)
“which the Son of man will give to you” — “The Son of man” is a title used only by Jesus and never by the four evangelists. It occurs seventy times in the synoptics and twelve times in John’s Gospel. Included in its meaning is that the Son of Man pre–existed but is fully human: the divine and the human are one in him. The title “Son of man” always implies the crucifixion and resurrection. The expression might best be described as the Saviour who reveals God and his love for the world, above all in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Hence the future tense: “will give you”.
This divine–human person will give them the spiritual “food which endures to eternal life”. They have to strive earnestly and with energy, as they do in manual effort, for this food.
“for on him has God the Father set his seal” — A seal is a sign of authority and power. God the Father has given Jesus his authority and power (Jn. 1: 32–34; 3: 34–35). With this authority Jesus gives eternal life to those who strive for the food which “endures to eternal life”.
28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”
This is the crowd’s second question.
“the works of God” — Note the plural. In the Jewish mind the “works of God” were those things that would please God, especially by observing the Law. The crowd’s idea was to please God by doing something special so that they might receive the miraculous material food that would not perish. They ignored that “the Son of man” would give it.
“This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent” — Note the singular, “the work” in contrast to the crowd’s plural “works”. The meaning is that if you wish to please God then believe “in him whom he has sent”.
“believe in him” — This expression is frequent in John’s writings. It means to accept Jesus and his claims, trust him and dedicate oneself to him (Jn. 8: 31–32).
“whom he has sent” — Jesus clarifies that he is this one sent by God: “No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known” (Jn. 1: 18). People must believe that God has sent Jesus to give life to the world and to each individual in it if they are to have access to God.
30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Here is the crowd’s third question, expressed in two forms.
“Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform?” — Jesus had said (v. 26) that they had not understood the sign of the multiplication of the loaves. They challenge him on that and ask him for a sign which they would understand and accept. Then they would believe that he was sent by God the Father.
“Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” — The sign they would accept is the repeat of the multiplication of manna from heaven given in the Old Testament. They quote Psalm 78: 24. Providing manna was regarded as Moses greatest miracle (Ex. 16; Nm. 11).
What they ask for is precisely what Jesus had done when they met with him the day before and he had multiplied the loaves abundantly. They were so impressed they wanted to make him their Messianic King (Jn. 6: 1–15). That enthusiasm seems to have evaporated! Their argument is along these lines: ‘You want us to believe that God sent you into the world. Moses gave our fore parents bread from heaven. True, you multiplied some earthly bread yesterday. If you really want to prove better than Moses get us material bread from heaven, not for today but for our earthly life–span’.
32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.”
“Truly, truly, I say to you” — Jesus is about to make a very solemn pronouncement.
“it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world” — Jesus clarifies three points:
First, it was God who gave the manna, not Moses. The Old Testament referred to it as “bread from heaven” (Ex. 16: 4, 15; Ps. 78: 24; Wis. 16: 20).
Second, God “gave” the manna at a particular time in the past and then it stopped. It was not permanent. Now his Father “gives” (continuing present tense) the “true bread” and this giving will not stop. It is permanent.
Third, the manna was meant to satisfy hunger. Jesus speaks of “the true bread from heaven” which is “the bread of God” who is the giver of life. What makes it “the true bread” is that it already “gives life to the world” (Jn. 3: 15–16; 5: 24). Manna could not do that.
“For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.” — In this sentence, the words “that which comes down from heaven” may be translated as “he who comes down from heaven”. The meaning is the same but expressed impersonally or personally.
“life to the world.” — Manna was given for the children of Israel. This true or authentic bread is to give life to “the [whole] world”. This “life” is “eternal life” (Jn. 3: 14–15) which Jesus was sent to give to the world. This is what they have to “labour” for (v. 26).
“my Father” — Jesus calls God “my Father” (Jn. 2: 16; 5: 17), an extremely close relationship.
There are three points stated in this verse. First, the Father “gives the true bread from heavens”. Second, this “true bread from heaven”, the “bread of God”, is “that which” or “he who comes down from heaven”, the Incarnate Son, Jesus. Third, he “gives life to the world” through the working of the Holy Spirit. This will be made clearer in Jn. 6: 63 and elsewhere.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church has a useful comment: “Jesus does not reveal the Holy Spirit fully, until he himself has been glorified through his Death and Resurrection. Nevertheless, little by little he alludes to him even in his teaching of the multitudes, as when he reveals that his own flesh will be food for the life of the world (Jn. 6: 27, 51, 62–63). He also alludes to the Spirit in speaking to Nicodemus (Jn. 3: 5–8), to the Samaritan woman (Jn. 4: 10; 14: 23–24), and to those who take part in the feast of Tabernacles (Jn. 7: 37–39)”. (CCC 728).
34 They said to him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”
“Lord” — The Greek word “Kyrie” can be translated as either “Lord” or “Sir”. It is most unlikely that the crowd, who manifest that they do not believe in Jesus, would use the word “Lord” which refers to the risen Christ. The Jerusalem Bible translates the word as “Sir”. See the comment on verse 23 above where “Lord” is used by John.
“give us this bread always’” — The crowd reiterates what they said in v. 31, they want bread not for a meal but for “always”. They are so wrapped up in themselves and their material expectations they cannot see any religious or spiritual meaning.
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.
In verse 31 the crowd quoted from Psalm 78 and said that manna was the “bread from heaven”. In verse 32, Jesus pointed out to them that his Father “gives” the “true bread from heaven”. This “true bread”, the “bread of God”, is the bread that gives life. He now proceeds to explain the meaning of “bread of life”.
“Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life” — “I am” is a most special expression. When Moses saw the burning bush and heard the voice of God, he asked God to reveal his name. “I am who am” was the answer (Ex. 3: 14). When Jesus uses the expression “I am” he reveals himself as divine (Jn. 4: 26; 6: 35, 48, 51; 8: 12, 24, 28, 58; 11: 25; 13: 19; 18: 5–6, 8). When a predicate is added, Jesus tells what he does. Here he is saying, ‘I, the divine, am the one who nourishes with divine life’. As he proclaimed in verse 33, “For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives [divine] life to the world.”
“he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst” — Jesus now explains what he means by “the bread of life”. When commenting on John 6: 5 (17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B) it was pointed out that the word “come” has a unique meaning for John in his Gospel. It means believing in Jesus (Jn. 3: 21; 5: 40; 6: 5, 37, 45; 7: 37). “He who comes to me” and “he who believes in me” mean the same. It is by faith that we approach, join and dedicate ourselves to Jesus.
Food is a vital necessity for people; without food they die. Just as material food is essential for the life of the body so spiritual food is essential for the life of the soul which has to be nourished. How? Deuteronomy 8: 3 gives the well known answer: “man does not live by bread alone, but … by everything [or “every word”] that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord” (see also Wis. 16: 20, 26). The spiritual food that sustains our spiritual life is the word of God that comes through Jesus in his teaching and revelation. He is “the bread of life”.
C APPLICATION
What does this Passage tell us about Jesus? There are three points: (i) God is his Father. (ii) He has been sent into the world by him. (iii) He is the “bread of life” that gives God’s life to the world.
What he expects in return is that people believe in him.
John likes to play on words. We have some perfect examples in today’s passage. We look at his use of “bread” employed ten times, once on its own and then in correlatives (loaves, manna, food) or different expressions (Bread from Heaven, True Bread from Heaven, Bread of God and Bread of Life). Jesus reveals himself as the true bread from heaven, the bread that gives life which will satisfy the deepest human hunger.
He had multiplied five loaves and two fish for an extremely large crowd to show how he can nourish materially as a sign of his ability to nourish spiritually.
A second word used by John is “labour” or “work”. There is, first of all, the normal understanding of what we undertake to do for one reason or another, generally to sustain life in us. In the Old Testament “works” referred to creation, the Exodus and the salvific acts of the Father. In John’s Gospel Jesus refers seventeen times to his miracles as “works”. There are wider implications as, for example, the whole ministry of Jesus (Jn. 17: 4) and also his words are “works” (Jn. 14: 10).
A third word is “signs”, that is, miracles which people receive with understanding (Jn. 2: 11; 4: 54). Not all who witnessed miracles accepted them as signs of who Jesus is (Jn. 12: 37). The proper reaction to miracles worked by Jesus as signs is to come to accept Jesus because of who he is and his relationship with his Father (Jn. 2: 11; 5: 36; 10: 37–38; 11: 41–42).
Words, in addition to being works, also are signs. We are nourished by Jesus’ words which means by his teaching, his revelation, what he has been given or authorized to say by his Father (Jn. 4: 32–35; 7: 16–18; 8: 28–29, 38; 12: 49–50; 14: 10; 15: 23–24).
Reflect on the reaction of the large crowd to the miraculous work of multiplying bread. They were impressed. At first they saw a spiritual meaning — the miracle–worker must be the prophet promised by Moses, the Messiah–King. Their spiritual interpretation was not serious; their real interest was in what Jesus could do for them materially. By the following day they had forgotten the spiritual aspect. They had returned to their former materialism.
As dialogue with Jesus progressed, the crowd thought that there was some work which they might be able to do to obtain bread for ever. Jesus pointed out to them that faith in him as “sent” from heaven by his Father was the essential work. Faith means accepting Jesus as sent by God, submitting to God working in and committing or dedicating oneself to Jesus. The perfection of this commitment is practical love. The danger can be that some work without faith in Jesus, the crowd, or have faith without doing anything else.
The invisible God has revealed himself in his Incarnate Son, Jesus, through whom he has revealed his will. This will is that people should have access to him through Jesus and share his divine, eternal life both here and for eternity. Jesus accomplishes his role by words and deeds (works). This passage, following on and explaining the miracle of the multiplication of bread, shows us Jesus exercising his role. The crowd asked for a sign that they might believe in him. His answer was simple: I am the sign! He is God’s gift to the world. He came to share God’s eternal life. People need to accept the gift and commit themselves to Jesus, the Way, and what he stands for.