“众人问他(即耶稣)说,我们当行什么,才算作神的工呢。(Then they said to him,‘What must we do to perform the works of God?’)耶稣回答说,信神所差来的,这就是作神的工。(Jesus answered them,‘This is the work of God,that you believe in him whom he has sent.’《约翰福音:6:28-29》)”
“他们又说,你行什么神迹,叫我们看见就信你。你到底作什么事呢。(So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing?)我们的祖宗在旷野吃过吗哪,如经上写着说,他从天上赐下粮来给他们吃。(Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 《约翰福音:6:30-31》)”
对此,耶稣进一步启示人们:“我实实在在的告诉你们,那从天上来的粮,不是摩西赐给你们的,乃是我父将天上的真粮赐给你们。(Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.)因为神的粮,就是那从天上降下来赐生命给世界的。(For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.《约翰福音:6:32-33》)”
耶稣告诉大家:地上有粮,天上也同样有粮。神的粮降给人,是因为人要追求真理的缘故。听后,犹太人有所心动:“他们说,主阿,常将这粮赐给我们。(They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”《约翰福音:6:34》)”
耶稣见众人误解,干脆点破谜底:“我就是生命的粮。到我这里来的,必定不饿。信我的,永远不渴。(I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.)只是我对你们说过,你们已经看见我,还是不信。(But I said to you that you have been seen me and yet do not believe.《约翰福音:6:35-36》)”