Our Lord begins our reflection with these words: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst” (John 6:35). From here our Lord offers us insight into His Divinity and mission. St. John Chrysostom, commenting on this verse, writes: “Our Lord now proceeds to set forth mysteries; and first speaks of His Divinity” (Hom. xlv. 2). The Father has sent Him to call to Himself all whom the Father intended (John 6:37). This is as the Father has willed (John 6:38). And what is the final purpose? Eternal life, “that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it [on] the last day” (John 6:39).
Step by step our Lord is leading His listeners to grasp what it means that He is the bread of life. We are being presented with eternal truths here. Bread is a staple of life. Our Lord does not choose it arbitrarily. One might say that bread exists so that it can be used as part of God’s salvific will. All is part of God’s plan, His will for His Son (cf. 6:38). Our Lord is working to a climax, when He will say, “[T]he bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (John 6:51).
In short, how can anyone believe that Jesus Christ is the “bread of life,” much less that “the bread [He] will give is [His] flesh for the life of the world,” unless one believes Him? The Father’s will is that we come to believe in Him (John 6:40). That faith will open the mind and heart to eternal mysteries, to eternal life, and to the Resurrection (John 6:40).