Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

²⁵ When they found him beside the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

Bread from heaven

²⁶ This was Jesus’ reply.

“I’m telling you the solemn truth,” he said. “You aren’t looking for me because you saw signs, but because you ate as much bread as you could. ²⁷ You shouldn’t be working for perishable food, but for food that will last to the life of God’s coming age—the food which the son of man will give you, the person whom God the father has stamped with the seal of his approval.”

²⁸ “What should we be doing,” they asked him, “so that we can be doing the work God wants?”

²⁹ “This is the work God wants of you,” replied Jesus, “that you believe in the one he sent.”

³⁰ “Well, then,” they said to him, “what sign are you going to do, so that we can see it and believe you? What work are you doing? ³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; it says in the Bible that ‘he gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”

³² “I’m telling you the solemn truth,” Jesus replied. “It wasn’t Moses who gave you the bread from heaven. It was my father who gave you the true bread from heaven. ³³ God’s bread, you see, is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ “Master,” they said, “give us this bread—give it to us always!”

³⁵ “I am the bread of life,” replied Jesus. “Anyone who comes to me will never be hungry! Anyone who believes in me will never be thirsty!”