John 6:27

Jesus had previously spoken to the Samaritan woman about living water (John 4:10; John 4:14), and now He spoke to these Galileans about food that endures. He was, as previously, contrasting physical and spiritual nourishment. Consequently the descriptions that follow contain a mixture of literal and metaphorical language. Jesus wanted His hearers to view the spiritual aspects of His mission as more important than its physical aspects.

The people apparently understood His reference to bread that endures to eternal life as meaning physical bread that does not become stale and moldy. As the Son of Man, Jesus claimed to be able to give this food because God the Father had set His seal of approval on Jesus. The Father had authorized the Son to act for Him (cf. John 5:32-47). This was one of the functions of a seal in Jesus’ culture, and God setting His seal on something or someone was a common expression for it being true. [Note: Edersheim, 2:28-29.] Jesus was speaking of Himself as the food (John 6:35; John 6:53). The Son would give this food and eternal life, but the people had a responsibility to work for it too.