In the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus addressed the crowds who had gathered to hear Him speak. Many of the people who had been among the 5000 — those who were miraculously fed — were in attendance. Jesus quickly escalates the conversation by identifying Himself as the Messiah by saying that He has been given the Father’s seal (anointed by God) and been sent by Him into the world. Upon hearing this the people ask for a sign to accompany such a bold claim. They say, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat’” (Jn 6:30-31). To which Jesus responds, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from Heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world…I am the Bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst” (Jn 6:32-33, 35). At this point the people begin to murmur amongst themselves. Jesus was saying some pretty radical things, but He didn’t stop there.

Continuing to build upon His teaching Jesus says, “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eat of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh” (Jn 6:49-51). But Jesus kept going. In verse 64 there is a dramatic shift in Jesus’ language that conveys the seriousness of His teaching. Instead of using the typical Greek word for eat (esthio), Jesus switches to the Greek word trogo which means to “chew” or “gnaw.” That’s a big difference that wasn’t lost on the Jews. After hearing this teaching, “Many of his disciple drew back and no longer walked with Him” (Jn 6:66). Jesus teaching on the Eucharist was simply too hard for them to grasp. It’s clear that they did not believe that Jesus could do what He said He could. Even though they had seen Him multiply the loaves and the fish and feed the hungry crowd of 5000 people.

Interestingly, the apostles do not abandon Jesus when He asks, “Do you also want to leave?” (Jn 6:67). Peter, the spokesman for the apostles, proclaims, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God” (Jn 6:67-69).

Although Jesus’ teaching is difficult, the apostles continue to follow the Lord, because they have seen with their own eyes the power of God. In just one day, they had seen Him feed a large crowd with limited food and walk on water. Jesus had definitively revealed Himself to them as the Messiah and new Moses by performing miraculous deeds that were greater than the works of Moses. By the time Jesus presents His teaching on the Eucharist He has already proven that nothing in the created universe is outside of His control. After feeding 5000 people with a handful of scraps and walking on water, giving Himself to us under the guise of bread and wine is nothing but consistent with His other mighty deeds.

So we return to our initial question, “Do you believe that I can do this?” The apostles, by their witness, answered this question with a resounding “Yes!” What’s your answer?