Having been fed with the few loaves and fish, the crowd follows our Lord across the sea from Tiberius to Capernaum (John 6:23-24). We gather from the description in the Gospel of St. John that the crowd is hungry and determined. Our Lord has certainly captured their attention with the multiplication of loaves and fish. Now, having attracted them with what they know, He will move them into something entirely new. One word gives us a clue as to what that new teaching might be.
In verse 23, a word appears that was mentioned before in reference to the marvelous multiplication of loaves (John 6:11) — that word in English is “thanks,” in Greek a verb form of εύχαριστέω, transliterated eucharisteo. The bread was multiplied “when the Lord gave thanks” (John 6:23). We must always remember the earliest surviving manuscripts of the New Testament are written in Greek, not English. This word will denote what the early Christian community will celebrate when they recall the gift of the Lord’s Body and Blood at the Last Supper (cf. I Corinthians 11:23-26)—Eucharist.
“Do not work for food that perishes,” our Lord will tell the crowd, “but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you” (John 6:27). Our Lord will raise the satisfaction of their hunger to new heights. His teaching will serve as a crucible to test belief in Him and will lay the foundation for the ultimate revelation of Himself as food for eternal life. In this we give thanks.