The miracle Jesus had performed in feeding the multitude, furnished him a forcible figure by which to illustrate his work upon earth. He declared that, as temporal bread imparts health and strength to the body, so will faith in Christ, and obedience to his teachings, give spiritual vigor to the soul, and life everlasting. But the Jews, determined to misinterpret his words, now engaged in angry contention, asking, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” They affected to understand his words in the same literal sense as did Nicodemus, when he asked, “How can a man be born when he is old?” They comprehended the meaning of Jesus, but were not willing to acknowledge it. They thought it a favorable opportunity to prejudice the people against him, by presenting his words to them in the most unfavorable light. “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from Heaven; not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead; he that eateth of this bread shall live forever.” {2SP 282.1}

Det mirakel, som Jesus havde udført, da han bespiste mængden, benyttede han som et tydeligt billede af sit værk på jorden. Han erklærede, at ligesom brød giver legemet sundhed og styrke, således vil troen på Kristus og lydighed mod hans lære give sjælen åndelig kraft og liv. Men jøderne havde fast besluttet at misfortolke hans ord og begyndte nu at kives indbyrdes: "Hvorledes kan denne give os sit kød at spise?" De foregav, at de forstod hans ord bogstavelig ligesom Nikodemus, da han spurgte: "Hvorledes kan et menneske fødes, når han er gammel?" De forstod Jesu mening, men de var ikke villige til at indrømme det. De mente, at denne var en gunstig lejlighed til at opirre folket imod ham, idet de fremstillede hans ord for dem i det ugunstigste lys. "Jesus sagde da til dem: "Sandelig, sandelig siger jeg eder: hvis I ikke spiser Menneskesønnens kød og drikker hans blod, har I ikke liv i jer. Den, som æder mit kød og drikker mit blod, har evigt liv, og jeg skal oprejse ham på den yderste dag. Thi mit kød er sand mad, og mit blod er sand drik. Den, som æder mit kød og drikker mit blod, han bliver i mig, og jeg i ham. Ligesom den levende Fader udsendte mig, og jeg lever i kraft af Faderen, således skal den, der æder mig, leve i kraft af mig. Dette er det brød, som er kommet ned fra Himmelen; (283) ikke som det, jeres fædre spiste, og de døde dog. Den, som æder dette brød, skal leve til evig tid." (Joh 6,53-58)