Jesus knew who these people were. He had just been with them the day before on the other side of the lake. Actually the day before they were a part of a crowd of more than five thousand who had come to see him. They had left their homes, and many walked a long distance to see him. And there Jesus performed a miracle. He fed them all. Jesus turned 5 loaves of barley bread, and 2 small fish into enough bread and fish to feed them all until they were full. Many in the crowd believed in Jesus because of this miracle.

And so the day after, some of these people thought that Jesus may have crossed the lake. And so they went across the lake in boats, and found Jesus there.

Jesus said to them ¨I tell you the truth, you aren´t looking for me because you saw me do miracles. You are looking for me because you ate the bread and were satisified¨. (John 6:26)

The reason these people were looking for Jesus is because they wanted more food. Jesus did not want people to seek him for merely bread and fish.

Jesus then says: ¨Don´t work for the food that spoils. Work for the food that stays good always and gives eternal life. The Son of Man will give you this food, because on him God the Father has put his power.¨ (John 6:27)

Jesus said to work for food that stays good, and gives eternal life. You may be wondering what is that work. I was wondering when I read these words from Jesus. I thought ¨well what work is required of us?¨.

And that is the same question these people asked Jesus. They asked ¨what are the things God wants us to do?¨ (John 6:28) Its a good question.

And Jesus gives the answer. Jesus said, ¨The work God wants you to do is this: Believe the One he sent¨. (John 6:29)

Well who is the one that God sent? Jesus is speaking about himself. Because the One that God sent was Jesus, God the Son.

And so the people said ¨What miracle will you do? If we see a miracle, we will believe you. What will you do? (John 6:30)

The funny thing is these people had witnessed the miracle the day before. They had seen how Jesus fed them, and more than 5,000 others. But here they ask for another miracle. Is it possible they are just wanting more bread and fish?

The people continued and said ¨our fathers ate the manna in the desert. This is written in the scriptures: ´He gave them bread from heaven to eat´¨ (John 6:31)

Then Jesus said, ¨I tell you the truth, it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven; it is my Father who is giving you the true bread from heaven. God´s bread is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world¨. (John 6:32-33)

The people said, ¨Sir, give us this bread always. ¨(John 6:34)

It seems that when the people hear the word ¨bread¨, that gets their attention, because that is what they are wanting. But they do not understand what Jesus is saying.

Then Jesus said, ¨I am the bread that gives life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you before, you have seen me and still don´t believe. The Father gives me my people. Every one of them will come to me, and I will always accept them. I came down from heaven to do what God wants me to do, not what I want to do. Here is what the One who sent me wants me to do: I must not lose even one who God gave me, but I must raise them all on the last day. Those who see the Son and believe in him have eternal life, and I will raise them on the last day. This is what my Father wants.¨ (John 6:35-40)

Some people began to complain about Jesus because he said, ¨I am the bread that comes down from heaven.¨ They said, ¨This is Jesus, the son of Joseph. We know his father and mother. How can he say, ´I came down from heaven´?¨ (John 6:41-42)

These people still did not believe in Jesus. They had seen a miracle, and heard him speak, but did not believe.

And this raises another question. What does it mean ¨to believe¨ in Jesus?

I think a good answer to this question is from another part of the book of John. It is when Jesus is speaking to a woman named Martha.

Jesus said to her, ¨I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me will have life even if they die. And everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Martha, do you believe this? (John 11:25-26)

Martha answered, ¨Yes, Lord. I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the One coming to the world.¨ (John 11:27)

Or here is another example. Many of Jesus´followers had just left him, and stopped following him. And then Jesus asks his disciples a question.

Jesus asked the twelve followers, ¨Do you want to leave, too?¨ (John 6:67)

Simon Peter answered him, ¨Lord, where would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One from God.¨ (John 6:68-69)