…And when they found him across the sea they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?" Jesus answered them and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal." So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?" Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent." (Jn 6:22-29)
Jesus had fed the people. He had walked on the water. He thought that the people would have got the message after seeing these events. These events were communicating to the people that there was a new Passover and a new Exodus. New Exodus and new Passover were taking place right in front of their eyes. But the people did not get the message.
Jesus had done something remarkable. People were excited. But the people came to him wanting more of them. Jesus rebuked them for their wrong motivation. They were very earthly. They wanted to make him an earthly king. People had worldly agendas. Jesus was/is indeed a king. But the type and manner of his kingship is totally different from what the people wanted.
The sign (feeding the five thousand) was meant to lead them to the true food (Jesus himself). People were worried about what Jesus could do. But Jesus was trying to communicate to the people who he was. Only when we know who Jesus is then only he will do what we want.
