In this passage, Jesus draws heavily on the story from Exodus of manna in the desert. As the disciples press Jesus to give them concrete evidence of his identity, they point to God’s gift of manna to the Israelites as an example. Jesus counters this with an unexpected answer. He has more than bread to offer them; he has salvation in the form of his own body. However, the disciples have yet to witness the Crucifixion and Resurrection, so Jesus’ words don’t make much sense to them. They want Jesus to offer them something to save them in the wilderness. That is exactly what he’s doing—and more—but they can’t yet see it.

In the same way the manna in Exodus appeared to rain down from above, Jesus descended to the earth as a human. He is the bread that has come down to offer sustenance for starving people. While manna offered salvation in the form of food, Jesus offers salvation to those who feel helpless and hopeless.

In verse 58, Jesus points out that while the manna saved the Israelites from famine, they still lived as finite humans who died of old age. Jesus states that the bread he offers is even greater than the bread offered in Exodus. Not only will it fulfill needs on earth; it will offer a life not yet imagined—a life where hunger is not a concern. The manna of the Israelites is a landmark of God’s faithfulness, so for Jesus to assert that he can offer the same gifts of the manna and more is revolutionary. Jesus offers not only life but life everlasting to those who are faithful.