22The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake realized something. They saw that only one boat had been there. They knew that Jesus had not gotten into it with his disciples. And they knew that the disciples had gone away alone.

23Then some boats from Tiberias landed. It was near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord gave thanks. 24The crowd realized that Jesus and his disciples were not there. So they got into boats and went to Capernaum to look for Jesus.

Jesus Is the Bread of Life

25They found him on the other side of the lake. They asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

26Jesus answered, “What I’m about to tell you is true. You are not looking for me because you saw miraculous signs. You are looking for me because you ate the loaves until you were full. 27Do not work for food that spoils. Work for food that lasts forever. That is the food the Son of Man will give you. God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.”

28Then they asked him, “What does God want from us? What works does he want us to do?”

29Jesus answered, “God’s work is to believe in the One he has sent.”

30So they asked him, “What miraculous sign will you give us? What will you do so we can see it and believe you? 31Long ago our people ate the manna in the desert. It is written in Scripture, ‘The Lord gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” (Exodus 16:4; Nehemiah 9:15; Psalm 78:24, 25)

32Jesus said to them, “What I’m about to tell you is true. It is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven. It is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33The bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven. He gives life to the world.”

34“Sir,” they said, “give us this bread from now on.”

35Then Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever go hungry. And no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty.