John 6:34

‘They said therefore to him, “Lord, evermore give us this bread continually”.'

They then simply asked Him to provide them with what He was talking about ‘for evermore'. This reply can be taken in two ways. Firstly as indicating their response in line with what they have thought all along, a desire for a continual supply of food from the Messiah. Or, secondly, as an indication that they recognise His meaning and are humbly responding to His words. There were in fact probably people present there who held each view, the God-seekers and the self-seekers. It is ever so.

‘Lord, give us this bread continually.' John probably wants us to see the second meaning as true for the majority for from this point on the crowds will be forgotten and the concentration will be on the message. Note that here they are using ‘Lord' to mean ‘sir', but it cannot be doubted that John wants his readers to catch the higher meaning and see it as their submission to ‘the Lord'.