Having fed the multitude with a few loaves and fish (John 6:1-15), walked on water to dispel fear in the hearts of His disciples and assure them of His Divine prerogatives (John 6:16-21), alluded to the ancient prefiguration of manna in the desert being fulfilled (John 6:31-33; Exodus 16:13-15), and emphasized His centrality as the Son sent by the Father to do the Father’s will (John 6:38), our Lord is now ready to introduce the heart of His message. “I am the bread of life” (John 6:48).
What our Lord says is truly astounding! “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (John 6:51). Such a sweeping statement, so decisive and overwhelming, requires the acceptance of a premise, namely that Jesus is the Son, as He teaches, who has come to reveal the Father’s will (John 6:37-40).
The teaching is so bold that even the Gospel records the negative reaction of the listeners. “Is this not Jesus, the Son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven?’” (John 6:42). Yet, our Lord retracts nothing. He moderates none of what He said. As we shall see a little further in our reading of Chapter Six, our Lord becomes even more emphatic. He means what He says.