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John 6

New International Reader’s Version



1 Some time after this, Jesus crossed over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. It is also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A large crowd of people followed him. They had seen the signs he had done by healing ill people. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside. There he sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Feast was near. 5 Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him. So he said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?’ 6 He asked this only to test Philip. He already knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, ‘Suppose we were able to buy enough bread for each person to have just a bite. That would take more than half a year’s pay!’ 8 Another of his disciples spoke up. It was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He said, 9 ‘Here is a boy with five small loaves of barley bread. He also has two small fish. But how far will that go in such a large crowd?’ 10 Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down. About 5,000 men were there. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves and gave thanks. He handed out the bread to those who were seated. He gave them as much as they wanted. And he did the same with the fish. 12 When all of them had enough to eat, Jesus spoke to his disciples. ‘Gather the leftover pieces,’ he said. ‘Don’t waste anything.’ 13 So they gathered what was left over from the five barley loaves. They filled 12 baskets with the pieces left by those who had eaten. 14 The people saw the sign that Jesus did. Then they began to say, ‘This must be the Prophet who is supposed to come into the world.’ 15 But Jesus knew that they planned to come and force him to be their king. So he went away again to a mountain by himself. 



16 When evening came, Jesus’ disciples went down to the Sea of Galilee. 17 There they got into a boat and headed across the lake towards Capernaum. By now it was dark. Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing, and the water became rough. 19 They rowed about 3 or 4 miles. Then they saw Jesus coming towards the boat. He was walking on the water. They were frightened. 20 But he said to them, ‘It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ 21 Then they agreed to take him into the boat. Right away the boat reached the shore where they were heading. 22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the lake realised something. They saw that only one boat had been there. They knew that Jesus had not got into it with his disciples. And they knew that the disciples had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats arrived from Tiberias. It was near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord gave thanks. 24 The crowd realised that Jesus and his disciples were not there. So they got into boats and went to Capernaum to look for Jesus. 



25 They found him on the other side of the lake. They asked him, ‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’ 26 Jesus answered, ‘What I’m about to tell you is true. You are not looking for me because you saw the signs I did. You are looking for me because you ate the loaves until you were full. 27 Do not work for food that spoils. Work for food that lasts for ever. That is the food the Son of Man will give you. For God the Father has put his seal of approval on him.’ 28 Then they asked him, ‘What does God want from us? What works does he want us to do?’ 29 Jesus answered, ‘God’s work is to believe in the one he has sent.’ 30 So they asked him, ‘What sign will you give us? What will you do so we can see it and believe you? 31 Long ago our people ate the manna in the desert. It is written in Scripture, “The Lord gave them bread from heaven to eat.” ’ (Ex 16:4; Ne 9:15; Ps 78:24; Ps 78:25) 32 Jesus said to them, ‘What I’m about to tell you is true. It is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven. It is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 The bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven. He gives life to the world.’ 34 ‘Sir’, they said, ‘always give us this bread.’ 35 Then Jesus said, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry. And whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But it is just as I told you. You have seen me, and you still do not believe. 37 Everyone the Father gives me will come to me. I will never send away anyone who comes to me. 38 I have not come down from heaven to do what I want to do. I have come to do what the one who sent me wants me to do. 39 The one who sent me doesn’t want me to lose anyone he has given me. He wants me to raise them up on the last day. 40 My Father wants all who look to the Son and believe in him to have eternal life. I will raise them up on the last day.’ 41 Then the Jews there began to complain about Jesus. That was because he said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ 42 They said, ‘Isn’t this Jesus, the son of Joseph? Don’t we know his father and mother? How can he now say, “I came down from heaven”?’ 43 ‘Stop complaining among yourselves,’ Jesus answered. 44 ‘No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me brings them. Then I will raise them up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets, “God will teach all of them.” Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. (Isa 54:13) 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who has come from God. Only he has seen the Father. 47 What I’m about to tell you is true. Everyone who believes has life for ever. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Long ago your people ate the manna in the desert, and they still died. 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven. A person can eat it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Everyone who eats some of this bread will live for ever. This bread is my body. I will give it for the life of the world.’ 52 Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves. They said, ‘How can this man give us his body to eat?’ 53 Jesus said to them, ‘What I’m about to tell you is true. You must eat the Son of Man’s body and drink his blood. If you don’t, you have no life in you. 54 Anyone who eats my body and drinks my blood has eternal life. I will raise them up on the last day. 55 My body is real food. My blood is real drink. 56 Anyone who eats my body and drinks my blood remains in me. And I remain in them. 57 The living Father sent me, and I live because of him. In the same way, those who feed on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Long ago your people ate manna and died. But whoever eats this bread will live for ever.’ 59 He said this while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. 



60 Jesus’ disciples heard this. Many of them said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?’ 61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining about his teaching. So he said to them, ‘Does this upset you? 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man go up to where he was before? 63 The Holy Spirit gives life. The body means nothing at all. The words I have spoken to you are full of the Spirit. They give life. 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.’ Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe. And he had known who was going to hand him over to his enemies. 65 So he continued speaking. He said, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father helps them.’ 66 From this time on, many of his disciples turned back. They no longer followed him. 67 ‘You don’t want to leave also, do you?’ Jesus asked the 12 disciples. 68 Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, who can we go to? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.’ 70 Then Jesus replied, ‘Didn’t I choose you, the 12 disciples? But one of you is a devil!’ 71 He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Judas was one of the 12 disciples. But later he was going to hand Jesus over to his enemies. 

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John 6

English Standard Version



1 After this Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. (Mt 4:18; Mt 14:13; Mr 6:32; Lu 9:10; Joh 21:1) 2 And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. (Joh 6:15) 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. (Joh 2:13; Joh 5:1; Joh 7:2; Joh 11:55) 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a large crowd was coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” (Lu 6:20; Joh 1:44) 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii[1] worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” (Mr 6:37) 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, (Joh 1:40; Joh 1:44) 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are they for so many?” (2Ki 4:42) 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, about five thousand in number. (Mr 6:39) 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. So also the fish, as much as they wanted. (Mt 15:36; Joh 6:23) 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign that he had done, they said, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world!” (Mt 11:3; Mt 21:11; Joh 1:21; Joh 4:19; Joh 7:40; Joh 11:27) 15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. (Mt 8:18; Mt 14:22; Mr 6:45; Joh 6:3; Joh 12:12) 



16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[2] they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” (Lu 24:38) 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. 



22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. (Joh 21:8) 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. (Joh 6:11) 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. (Mt 14:34; Mr 6:53; Joh 6:17; Joh 6:59) 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” (Joh 1:38) 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. (Joh 6:2; Joh 6:24) 27 Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.” (Isa 55:2; Eze 9:4; Da 7:13; Joh 3:33; Joh 5:36; Joh 6:35; Joh 6:50; Joh 6:54; Joh 6:58; Joh 10:36; Ro 4:11; 1Co 9:2; 2Ti 2:19) 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” (1Co 15:58; Re 2:26) 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (Joh 3:17; 1Jo 3:23) 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? (Mt 12:38) 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” (Ex 16:15; Nu 11:7; Ne 9:15; Ps 78:24; Ps 105:40; Joh 6:49; Joh 6:58; 1Co 10:3) 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (Joh 6:50) 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” (Joh 4:15; Joh 4:33) 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. (Mt 11:28; Joh 4:14; Joh 5:40; Joh 6:41; Joh 6:48; Joh 6:51; Joh 6:58; Joh 7:37; Re 7:16) 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. (Joh 6:39; Joh 10:28; Joh 10:29; Joh 17:2; Joh 17:6; Joh 17:9; Joh 17:12; Joh 17:24) 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. (Joh 3:13; Joh 4:34; Joh 5:30) 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. (Mt 18:14; Joh 6:37; Joh 6:40; Joh 6:44; Joh 6:54; Joh 10:28; Joh 11:25; Joh 17:12; Joh 18:9; 1Co 6:14) 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.” (Joh 3:15; Joh 4:14; Joh 6:27; Joh 6:47; Joh 6:54; Joh 12:45; Joh 14:17; Joh 14:19) 41 So the Jews grumbled about him, because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” (Joh 6:33; Joh 6:35; Joh 6:38) 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” (Mt 13:55; Joh 1:45; Joh 7:27) 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. (Jer 31:3; Ho 11:4; Joh 4:23; Joh 6:39; Joh 6:65; Joh 12:32) 45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me— (Isa 54:13; Jer 31:33; Joh 6:37; 1Co 2:13; 1Th 4:9; Heb 8:10; 1Jo 2:20) 46 not that anyone has seen the Father except he who is from God; he has seen the Father. (Joh 1:18; Joh 3:32; Joh 7:29; Joh 8:38) 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. (Joh 3:36) 48 I am the bread of life. (Joh 6:35) 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. (Joh 6:31; Joh 6:58) 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. (Joh 6:33; Joh 6:51; Joh 6:58) 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” (Lu 22:19; Joh 1:14; Joh 3:13; Joh 6:53; Joh 6:57) 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (Joh 3:9; Joh 6:60; Joh 9:16; Joh 10:19) 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. (Joh 6:27; Joh 20:31) 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. (Joh 6:39; Joh 6:40) 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. (Joh 15:4; 1Jo 3:24; 1Jo 4:13; 1Jo 4:15) 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. (Mt 16:16; Joh 3:17; Joh 5:26; Joh 11:25; Re 1:18) 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread[3] the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” (Joh 6:31; Joh 6:33; Joh 6:49) 59 Jesus[4] said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. (Joh 6:24) 



60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (Joh 6:64; Joh 6:66) 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? (Joh 2:24) 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? (Mr 16:19; Joh 3:13; Joh 6:27; Joh 17:5) 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. (Joh 3:6; Joh 6:68; 1Co 15:45; 2Co 3:6) 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) (Joh 6:61; Joh 6:66; Joh 6:71; Joh 13:11) 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.” (Joh 3:27; Joh 6:44) 66 After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. (Joh 6:60; Joh 6:64) 67 So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” (Joh 6:70) 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, (Joh 12:50; Joh 17:8; Ac 5:20) 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” (Mr 1:24; Joh 1:49; Joh 11:27; 1Jo 4:16) 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve? And yet one of you is a devil.” (Joh 6:67; Joh 13:2; Joh 13:18; Joh 13:27; Joh 17:12) 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray him. (Joh 6:64; Joh 6:67; Joh 13:26) 

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