Jesus, the Bread of Life

²⁵ The people found Jesus on the other side of the lake. They asked him, “Teacher, when did you come here?”

²⁶ He answered, “Why are you looking for me? Is it because you saw miraculous signs? The truth is, you are looking for me because you ate the bread and were satisfied. ²⁷ But earthly food spoils and ruins. So don’t work to get that kind of food. But work to get the food that stays good and gives you eternal life. The Son of Man will give you that food. He is the only one qualified by God the Father to give it to you.”

²⁸ The people asked Jesus, “What does God want us to do?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “The work God wants you to do is this: to believe in the one he sent.”

³⁰ So the people asked, “What miraculous sign will you do for us? If we can see you do a miracle, then we will believe you. What will you do? ³¹ Our ancestors were given manna to eat in the desert. As the Scriptures say, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’^[a]”

³² Jesus said, “I can assure you that Moses was not the one who gave your people bread from heaven. But my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. ³³ God’s bread is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ The people said, “Sir, from now on give us bread like that.”

³⁵ Then Jesus said, “I am the bread that gives life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who believes in me will ever be thirsty. ³⁶ I told you before that you have seen me, and still you don’t believe. ³⁷ The Father gives me my people. Every one of them will come to me. I will always accept them. ³⁸ I came down from heaven to do what God wants, not what I want. ³⁹ I must not lose anyone God has given me. But I must raise them up on the last day. This is what the one who sent me wants me to do. ⁴⁰ Everyone who sees the Son and believes in him has eternal life. I will raise them up on the last day. This is what my Father wants.”