There seems to be some confusion about boats and crossings in the transitional passage from the feeding of the 5000 story to a short narrative discourse on signs in the gospel reading today. The first sentence remarks that Jesus walked across the sea of Tiberias on his own powers, which is not unlikely: if Jesus could feed 5000 with a few loaves and fish, he certainly could walk on water if he wanted to. The discussion is also confusedly situated in Capernaum which actually is not "across the sea" at all (so no one would have had to get into boats to go anywhere) – so there is some confusion by St. John as to exactly where this next scene happened and how everyone arrived there: but what happened there is clear.
Jesus said to the people – you are following after me because you have seen a sign, because you have been fed by the bread I gave you. Then he tells them to spiritually work for the food that does not perish (ordinary bread), the bread that is bread for spiritual and eternal life: the very bread of his flesh and blood (the Holy Eucharist) that he would soon give to them to eat throughout the ages!
Then he encapsulates today's message: this is the work of God: that you believe in the one he sent: ME! And if you believe in me you will receive amazing gifts both now and forever (like the gift of Eucharist) so that you can act out your belief and you can enjoy the peace and joy that comes from believing and helping others!
In the first reading Stephen, the deacon, was defending the very infant Christian faith against radical conservative Jews whose consciences were being pricked to the core: they were losing ground listening to Stephen's inspired, flawless and wise defense: so they planted person's who falsely accuse Stephen of blasphemy against Moses and God, saying also that he says things against this holy place and the law! We have heard him claim that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us. And then it adds: all those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel: Stephen was completely undaunted and was no doubt beholding the face of the Risen Lord Jesus while all this was going on: Jesus and his Spirit strengthen those who must withstand persecution on their behalf with an amazing amount of stamina!
The real law of God is the one that Jesus fulfilled, not changed; the real law of God is summed up in self-sacrificial loving service to all, rather than following legal prescriptions in a cold, calculated, clinical sort of way; the real law of God is the Person of the warm-hearted, merciful, loving shepherd of the sheep: JESUS THE CHRIST!
Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!
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