We heard how Jesus was sorry for the crowd because “they were like sheep without a shepherd”, and he taught them. They continued following him around (like sheep?) and he fed them. So of course they keep following him (Jn 6:24-35).
Now he starts to push them to do more than follow like sheep, or people looking for a free meal. He tells them there is more to life than that – they need to aim higher than just the next meal, they need to look to how to live for ever. “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life”.
We then hear how they seem to take this on board: “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” But that’s off base. That crowd, just like we often do do, assumes they are being asked to do something – tell me what I need to do. But Jesus tries to point them (and us) in a different direction. This isn’t something you can do, it’s not about your actions, it’s about your beliefs. What matters is not that you do something, it’s that you believe: “believe in the one he [God] sent”.
Ah, then the question twists… so we’re sophisticated people, we don’t just believe anyone or anything… “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?” We believe in Moses: “He gave them bread from heaven to eat”. Can you stand up to that comparison?
Jesus again has to correct them. It wasn’t Moses who gave the manna, it was God. And I gave you bread (and fish) the other day – but that is just a foretaste of what is to come. The manna in the time of Moses came from heaven, the food I give also comes from heaven. But my food is not the next meal, it is the means to live forever: “I am the bread of life”.
Believe and you will live forever. Really, that’s what it takes. It’s not what you do, it’s what you believe.
Believe in Jesus and you will live forever.