After feeding the 5000 physically, Jesus fed them spiritually by presenting the “bread of life” discourse. In this teaching, Jesus referred to Himself as “the bread of heaven” four times (John 6:32, 41, 50, 58), “the bread of life” two times (John 6:35, 48), and the “bread of God” (John 6:33) as well as the “living bread” (John 6:51) each one time. Why did Jesus associate His identity with bread?
35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”
– John 6:35-40