OUR FATHER WHO GAVE HIS SON AS THE BREAD OF LIFE

The persistent crowd crossed the lake and traced the whereabouts of the Lord Jesus and they tried to calculate how He got to Capernaum so quickly because He had not left with the boat but was already there when they arrived.

The Lord, speaking to the crowd of people who had followed Him, advised them to reconsider what they were seeking. Instead of striving to hunt Him down because of the benefits He provided like food, Jesus told them to seek food that results in eternal life that He, the Son of Man, would give them. 

To this, they asked Jesus what they needed to do that would qualify them for the bread of life and Jesus told them that they needed to believe in the whom God sent and had Godˋs seal of approval. 

25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 

26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

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

The people listening to Jesus who had followed Him across the lake and had tracked Him down in the city were hungry for the things of God and they pressed Jesus for more answers.

30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”

32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”

Jesus explained to them that in the same way their ancestors received bread from heaven in the desert, He himself was the bread sent down from heaven and those who were drawn to Him and believed in Him would be partakers in eternal life by the bread that Jesus alone could give them.

The people implored Jesus to give them the bread unto eternal life.

Amen.

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