Jesus uses the term ‘work’ as a metaphor for seeking or striving, and, again characteristic of this gospel, the next response of the people doesn’t follow on logical from Jesus comment so much as hangs on the repetition of a particular term, ‘What must we do to be doing the works of God?’ But within this gospel it is associated with access to God’s heavenly presence (in John 1.51 and John 3.13, 14), Jesus being glorified and lifted up, but paradoxically by his crucifixion (John 8.28, 12.23, 34, John 13.31) and bringing life to others by his death (John 6.53). We do not live by bread alone, but by the very word that comes from God; Jesus is the word of God who has come down; therefore it is Jesus, in both his person and his teaching, who is the bread of life with which God feeds us.