John: Bread of Life

Jesus' sayings puzzled many people. Those who wanted to learn stayed with him; the rest left. When he called himself 'the bread of life' and spoke about 'eating the flesh of the son of Man' they did not understand. But he was using the miracle of the loaves as an illustration and showing them that their priority ought to be eternal life rather than meeting this world's needs. He pointed to himself as the one who could meet that need, especially his substitutionary death and their need of faith in him.