1After 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)2And a large crowd was following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing on the sick.3Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. (Joh 6:15)4Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. (Joh 2:13; Joh 5:1; Joh 7:2; Joh 11:55)5Lifting 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)6He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.7Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii[1] worth of bread would not be enough for each of them to get a little.” (Mr 6:37)8One 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)10Jesus 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)11Jesus 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)12And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the leftover fragments, that nothing may be lost.”13So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.14When 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)15Perceiving 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)
Jesus Walks on Water
16When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,17got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.18The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.19When 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.20But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” (Lu 24:38)21Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
I Am the Bread of Life
22On 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)23Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. (Joh 6:11)24So 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)25When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” (Joh 1:38)26Jesus 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)27Do 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)28Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” (1Co 15:58; Re 2:26)29Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” (Joh 3:17; 1Jo 3:23)30So 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)31Our 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)32Jesus 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.33For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (Joh 6:50)34They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” (Joh 4:15; Joh 4:33)35Jesus 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)36But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.37All 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)38For 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)39And 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)40For 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)41So 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)42They 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)43Jesus answered them, “Do not grumble among yourselves.44No 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)45It 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)46not 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)47Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. (Joh 3:36)48I am the bread of life. (Joh 6:35)49Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. (Joh 6:31; Joh 6:58)50This 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)51I 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)52The 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)53So 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)54Whoever 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)55For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.56Whoever 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)57As 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)58This 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)59Jesus[4] said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum. (Joh 6:24)
The Words of Eternal Life
60When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” (Joh 6:64; Joh 6:66)61But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? (Joh 2:24)62Then 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)63It 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)64But 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)65And 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)66After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him. (Joh 6:60; Joh 6:64)67So Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?” (Joh 6:70)68Simon 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)69and 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)70Jesus 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)71He 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)
John 6
New International Version
Jesus feeds the five thousand
1Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias),2and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing those who were ill.3Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples.4The Jewish Passover Festival was near.5When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming towards him, he said to Philip, ‘Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?’6He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.7Philip answered him, ‘It would take more than half a year’s wages[1] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!’8Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up,9‘Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?’10Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there).11Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.12When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, ‘Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.’13So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.14After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, ‘Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.’15Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Jesus walks on the water
16When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake,17where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them.18A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.19When they had rowed about three or four miles,[2] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.20But he said to them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid.’21Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.22The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realised that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.23Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.24Once the crowd realised that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
Jesus the bread of life
25When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, ‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’26Jesus answered, ‘Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.27Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.’28Then they asked him, ‘What must we do to do the works God requires?’29Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.’30So they asked him, ‘What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do?31Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”[3]’ (Ex 16:4; Ne 9:15; Ps 78:24; Ps 78:25)32Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.33For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.’34‘Sir,’ they said, ‘always give us this bread.’35Then Jesus declared, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.36But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.37All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.38For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.39And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.40For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.’41At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’42They said, ‘Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, “I came down from heaven”?’43‘Stop grumbling among yourselves,’ Jesus answered.44‘No-one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.45It is written in the Prophets: “They will all be taught by God.” Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. (Isa 54:13)46No-one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.47Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.48I am the bread of life.49Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die.51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live for ever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.’52Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’53Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.55For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.57Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.58This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live for ever.’59He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Many disciples desert Jesus
60On hearing it, many of his disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?’61Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, ‘Does this offend you?62Then what if you see the Son of Man ascend to where he was before!63The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you – they are full of the Spirit[4] and life.64Yet there are some of you who do not believe.’ For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.65He went on to say, ‘This is why I told you that no-one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.’66From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.67‘You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve.68Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.69We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.’70Then Jesus replied, ‘Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!’71(He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)
John 6
King James Version
1After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.2And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.3And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.4And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.5When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?6And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.7Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.8One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,9There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?10And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand.11And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.12When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.13Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.14Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.15When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.16And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,17And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.18And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.19So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.20But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.21Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.22The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone;23(Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)24When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.25And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.27Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.28Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.30They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.32Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.39And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.41The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.42And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?43Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.45It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.46Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.48I am that bread of life.49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.59These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.60Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?61When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?62What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?63It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.64But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.65And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.66From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.67Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?68Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.69And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.70Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?71He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.
John 6
New International Reader’s Version
Jesus feeds the five thousand
1Some time after this, Jesus crossed over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. It is also called the Sea of Tiberias.2A large crowd of people followed him. They had seen the signs he had done by healing ill people.3Then Jesus went up on a mountainside. There he sat down with his disciples.4The Jewish Passover Feast was near.5Jesus 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?’6He asked this only to test Philip. He already knew what he was going to do.7Philip 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!’8Another 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?’10Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down. About 5,000 men were there.11Then 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.12When all of them had enough to eat, Jesus spoke to his disciples. ‘Gather the leftover pieces,’ he said. ‘Don’t waste anything.’13So they gathered what was left over from the five barley loaves. They filled 12 baskets with the pieces left by those who had eaten.14The 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.’15But Jesus knew that they planned to come and force him to be their king. So he went away again to a mountain by himself.
Jesus walks on the water
16When evening came, Jesus’ disciples went down to the Sea of Galilee.17There they got into a boat and headed across the lake towards Capernaum. By now it was dark. Jesus had not yet joined them.18A strong wind was blowing, and the water became rough.19They rowed about 3 or 4 miles. Then they saw Jesus coming towards the boat. He was walking on the water. They were frightened.20But he said to them, ‘It is I. Don’t be afraid.’21Then they agreed to take him into the boat. Right away the boat reached the shore where they were heading.22The 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.23Then some boats arrived from Tiberias. It was near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord gave thanks.24The crowd realised that Jesus and his disciples were not there. So they got into boats and went to Capernaum to look for Jesus.
Jesus is the bread of life
25They found him on the other side of the lake. They asked him, ‘Rabbi, when did you get here?’26Jesus 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.27Do 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.’28Then they asked him, ‘What does God want from us? What works does he want us to do?’29Jesus answered, ‘God’s work is to believe in the one he has sent.’30So they asked him, ‘What sign will you give us? What will you do so we can see it and believe you?31Long 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)32Jesus 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.33The 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.’35Then 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.36But it is just as I told you. You have seen me, and you still do not believe.37Everyone the Father gives me will come to me. I will never send away anyone who comes to me.38I 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.39The 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.40My 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.’41Then the Jews there began to complain about Jesus. That was because he said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’42They 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.45It 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)46No one has seen the Father except the one who has come from God. Only he has seen the Father.47What I’m about to tell you is true. Everyone who believes has life for ever.48I am the bread of life.49Long ago your people ate the manna in the desert, and they still died.50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven. A person can eat it and not die.51I 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.’52Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves. They said, ‘How can this man give us his body to eat?’53Jesus 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.54Anyone who eats my body and drinks my blood has eternal life. I will raise them up on the last day.55My body is real food. My blood is real drink.56Anyone who eats my body and drinks my blood remains in me. And I remain in them.57The living Father sent me, and I live because of him. In the same way, those who feed on me will live because of me.58This 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.’59He said this while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Many disciples leave Jesus
60Jesus’ disciples heard this. Many of them said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?’61Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining about his teaching. So he said to them, ‘Does this upset you?62Then what if you see the Son of Man go up to where he was before?63The 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.64But 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.65So he continued speaking. He said, ‘This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father helps them.’66From 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.68Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, who can we go to? You have the words of eternal life.69We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.’70Then Jesus replied, ‘Didn’t I choose you, the 12 disciples? But one of you is a devil!’71He 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.