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John 6

Jesus feeds 5,000 men and their families

6 Some time after that, Jesus went across Lake Galilee, which is also called Lake Tiberias. 2 A large crowd of people followed him, because of the miracles that he had done. They had seen him make sick people well. 3 Jesus went up a hill and he sat down there with his disciples. 4 It was nearly the time for the Jewish Passover Festival.

5 Jesus looked up. He saw a large crowd of people who were coming towards him. He said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy enough bread to feed all these people?’ 6 Jesus himself already knew what he would do. But he asked Philip this question because he wanted to know what Philip would say. 7 Philip answered, ‘A man could work for eight months to get 200 silver coins. But he still would not have enough money to buy bread for all these people. There would not be enough bread for each person here to have even a little piece.’ 8 Then Andrew, another one of Jesus' disciples, spoke. He was Simon Peter's brother. 9 He said to Jesus, ‘Here is a boy who has five small loaves and two fish. But that will certainly not be enough food for so many people.’

10 Jesus said, ‘Tell the people to sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, so the people sat down. There were about 5,000 men in the crowd. 11 Jesus took the loaves of bread and he thanked God for them. Then he broke the loaves into pieces. He passed them to all the people who were sitting there. Everyone had as much bread as they wanted to eat. Jesus did the same with the fish. 12 When everyone had eaten enough food, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Do not waste anything. Pick up all the little bits of food that people have not eaten.’ 13 So the disciples picked up all the pieces. They filled 12 baskets with the bits of bread that the people had not eaten.

14 The people saw this miracle that Jesus did. So they began to talk about it. They said, ‘Certainly, this man is the Prophet who must come into the world.’ 15 The people wanted to take hold of Jesus so that they could make him their king. But Jesus knew that they wanted to do this. So he went away to the hills again by himself.

Jesus walks on the water

16 When it was evening, Jesus' disciples went down to the lake. 17 They got into a boat and they started to sail towards Capernaum. It had become dark and Jesus still had not come to them. 18 A very strong wind was blowing and the waves became dangerous. 19 The disciples were trying to move the boat through the water. When they had gone about six kilometres they saw Jesus. He was walking on the water and coming near to the boat. They were very afraid. 20 But Jesus said to them, ‘It is I. Do not be afraid.’ 21 So the disciples were happy to let Jesus get into the boat. Immediately, the boat came to the shore where they wanted to be.

The crowd looks for Jesus

22 The crowd of people had stayed on the other side of the lake. The next day, they saw that the only boat had gone. They knew that Jesus' disciples had taken it. They also knew that Jesus had not gone with his disciples. 23 Other boats from Tiberias then arrived near to the place where all the people were. They had eaten the bread there after the Lord Jesus had thanked God for it. 24 The crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were still there. So they got into the boats and they went to Capernaum. They went there to look for Jesus.

Jesus is the bread that gives us life with God

25 The people found Jesus on the other side of the lake. They asked him, ‘Teacher, when did you arrive here?’ 26 Jesus answered, ‘I tell you this: You saw me do miracles that show God's power. But you are not looking for me because of that. No, you are looking for me because you ate the loaves. I gave you all the food that you needed. 27 Do not work only for that kind of food. It soon becomes spoiled. Instead, work to get the food that continues for ever. That kind of food gives you life with God. The Son of Man will give this food to you. God, the Father, has given the Son authority to do this.’

28 Then the people asked him, ‘How can we do the work that God wants us to do?’ 29 Jesus answered, ‘You should believe in the one that God has sent to you. That is the work that God wants you to do.’ 30 So then the people asked him, ‘What miracle will you do? Do one that shows that God has sent you. If we see that, we will believe in you. What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate manna in the wilderness. We know that it says in the Bible, “God gave bread to them from heaven for them to eat.” ’ [ a ]

32 Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you this: It was not Moses who gave bread to you from heaven. No. It is my Father who gives to you the true bread from heaven. 33 God's bread is the one who comes down from heaven. He is the one who gives life to people in the world.’ 34 So they said to him, ‘Sir, please give this bread to us now and always.’

35 Then Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread that gives life to people. Anyone who comes to me will never be hungry. Anyone who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 You have seen me, but still you do not believe in me. I have told you that before. 37 Everyone that the Father gives to me will come to me. When anyone comes to me, I will never send that person away. 38 I have not come down from heaven to do what I myself choose to do. No, my Father has sent me. I have come to do what he wants me to do. 39 He has sent me. He does not want me to lose any of the people that he has given to me. Not even one of them. He wants me to raise all of them up to life on the last day. 40 These are the people who will have life for ever with God: everyone who sees the Son and believes in him. I will raise them all up on the last day. That is what my Father wants.’

41 Jesus had said, ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ When he said this, the Jewish leaders there did not like it. So they started to say bad things about Jesus. 42 They said, ‘This is Jesus, the son of Joseph. We know his father and his mother. He should not say that he came down from heaven.’

43 Jesus answered, ‘Stop saying these bad things about me to each other. 44 The Father has sent me. Nobody can come to me unless the Father brings them to me. I will raise those people up on the last day, so that they have life for ever. 45 The prophets wrote in the Bible, “God will teach all the people.” Everyone who hears the Father's message and learns from him will come to me. [ b ] 46 I came from God and I am the only one who has seen the Father. Nobody else has seen him. 47 I tell you this: The person who believes my message has life for ever. 48 I am the bread that causes you to live. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, but they died. 50 This bread that comes down from heaven is different. Anyone who eats this bread will not die. 51 I am the bread that gives life to people. This bread came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live for ever. The bread that I will give is my own body. I will give it so that all people in the world may have life with God.’

52 Then the Jewish leaders became angry and they argued with each other even more. They said, ‘This man cannot give his body to us so that we can eat it!’ 53 Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you this: You must eat the body of the Son of Man and you must drink his blood. Unless you do those things, you do not have true life. 54 Every person needs to eat my body and they need to drink my blood. If they do those things, they have life for ever with God. I will raise them up on the last day. 55 My body is the true food and my blood is the true drink. 56 Anyone who eats my body and drinks my blood lives in me. And I live in them. 57 The Father, who has life, sent me. I live because of him. In the same way, anyone who takes me as their food will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. It is not like the manna that your ancestors ate. They ate it but they died. But the person who eats this bread will live for ever.’

59 Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the Jewish meeting place at Capernaum.

Many disciples go away from Jesus

60 Many of Jesus' disciples did not like these words. They said, ‘This thing that he teaches is too difficult. Nobody can agree with it!’ 61 Jesus himself knew that the disciples did not like his message. He did not need anyone to tell him. He said to them, ‘This seems to make you angry. 62 Think about this: The Son of Man will go up again to the place where he was before. And you will see him go up. Will you agree to that? 63 It is the Spirit that gives you life. People cannot do that. The words that I have spoken to you come from the Spirit. They give you life. 64 But some of you do not believe my message.’

Jesus had known from the beginning which of them would not believe in him. Also, he had always known who would sell him to his enemies. 65 Then Jesus said to them, ‘That is why I told you that only the Father can bring people to me. Nobody can come to me unless the Father makes them able to come.’

66 From that time, many of Jesus' disciples left him. They did not go with him any longer. 67 Then Jesus asked the 12 apostles, ‘Do you want to go away from me, too?’ 68 Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, there is nobody else that we could go to. You speak the words that give us life for ever. 69 We believe that you are the Holy One that God has sent. We are sure about that.’ 70 Jesus replied, ‘I have chosen the 12 of you. But one of you is a servant of Satan!’ 71 He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Judas was one of the 12 apostles, but later he would sell Jesus to Jesus' enemies.

Footnotes

  1. 6:31 See Exodus 16:4 .
  2. 6:45 See Isaiah 54:13 .

Jesus Feeds More Than 5000 ( A )

6 Later, Jesus went across Lake Galilee (also known as Lake Tiberias). 2 A great crowd of people followed him because they saw the miraculous signs he did in healing the sick. 3 Jesus went up on the side of the hill and sat there with his followers. 4 It was almost the time for the Jewish Passover festival.

5 Jesus looked up and saw a crowd of people coming toward him. He said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough bread for all these people to eat?” 6 He asked Philip this question to test him. Jesus already knew what he planned to do.

7 Philip answered, “We would all have to work a month to buy enough bread for each person here to have only a little piece!”

8 Another follower there was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Andrew said, 9 “Here is a boy with five loaves of barley bread and two little fish. But that is not enough for so many people.”

10 Jesus said, “Tell everyone to sit down.” This was a place with a lot of grass, and about 5000 men sat down there. 11 Jesus took the loaves of bread and gave thanks for them. Then he gave them to the people who were waiting to eat. He did the same with the fish. He gave them as much as they wanted.

12 They all had plenty to eat. When they finished, Jesus said to his followers, “Gather the pieces of fish and bread that were not eaten. Don’t waste anything.” 13 So they gathered up the pieces that were left. The people had started eating with only five loaves of barley bread. But the followers filled twelve large baskets with the pieces of food that were left.

14 The people saw this miraculous sign that Jesus did and said, “He must be the Prophet [ a ] who is coming into the world.”

15 Jesus knew that the people planned to come get him and make him their king. So he left and went into the hills alone.

Jesus Walks on Water ( B )

16 That evening Jesus’ followers went down to the lake. 17 It was dark now, and Jesus had not yet come back to them. They got into a boat and started going across the lake to Capernaum. 18 The wind was blowing very hard. The waves on the lake were becoming bigger. 19 They rowed the boat about three or four miles. [ b ] Then they saw Jesus. He was walking on the water, coming to the boat. They were afraid. 20 But he said to them, “Don’t be afraid. It’s me.” 21 When he said this, they were glad to take him into the boat. And then the boat reached the shore at the place they wanted to go.

The People Look for Jesus

22 The next day came. Some people had stayed on the other side of the lake. They knew that Jesus did not go with his followers in the boat. They knew that the followers had left in the boat alone. And they knew it was the only boat that was there. 23 But then some boats from Tiberias came and landed near the place where the people had eaten the day before. This was where they had eaten the bread after the Lord gave thanks. 24 The people saw that Jesus and his followers were not there now. So they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to find Jesus.

Jesus, the Bread of Life

25 The people found Jesus on the other side of the lake. They asked him, “Teacher, when did you come here?”

26 He answered, “Why are you looking for me? Is it because you saw miraculous signs? The truth is, you are looking for me because you ate the bread and were satisfied. 27 But earthly food spoils and ruins. So don’t work to get that kind of food. But work to get the food that stays good and gives you eternal life. The Son of Man will give you that food. He is the only one qualified by God the Father to give it to you.”

28 The people asked Jesus, “What does God want us to do?”

29 Jesus answered, “The work God wants you to do is this: to believe in the one he sent.”

30 So the people asked, “What miraculous sign will you do for us? If we can see you do a miracle, then we will believe you. What will you do? 31 Our ancestors were given manna to eat in the desert. As the Scriptures say, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ [ c ] ”

32 Jesus said, “I can assure you that Moses was not the one who gave your people bread from heaven. But my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 God’s bread is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 The people said, “Sir, from now on give us bread like that.”

35 Then Jesus said, “I am the bread that gives life. No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who believes in me will ever be thirsty. 36 I told you before that you have seen me, and still you don’t believe. 37 The Father gives me my people. Every one of them will come to me. I will always accept them. 38 I came down from heaven to do what God wants, not what I want. 39 I must not lose anyone God has given me. But I must raise them up on the last day. This is what the one who sent me wants me to do. 40 Everyone who sees the Son and believes in him has eternal life. I will raise them up on the last day. This is what my Father wants.”

41 Some Jews began to complain about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that comes down from heaven.” 42 They said, “This is Jesus. We know his father and mother. He is only Joseph’s son. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

43 But Jesus said, “Stop complaining to each other. 44 The Father is the one who sent me, and he is the one who brings people to me. I will raise them up on the last day. Anyone the Father does not bring to me cannot come to me. 45 It is written in the prophets: ‘God will teach them all.’ [ d ] People listen to the Father and learn from him. They are the ones who come to me. 46 I don’t mean that there is anyone who has seen the Father. The only one who has ever seen the Father is the one who came from God. He has seen the Father.

47 “I can assure you that anyone who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread that gives life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna God gave them in the desert, but it didn’t keep them from dying. 50 Here is the bread that comes down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will never die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my body. I will give my body so that the people in the world can have life.”

52 Then the Jews began to argue among themselves. They said, “How can this man give us his body to eat?”

53 Jesus said, “Believe me when I say that you must eat the body of the Son of Man, and you must drink his blood. If you don’t do this, you have no real life. 54 Those who eat my body and drink my blood have eternal life. I will raise them up on the last day. 55 My body is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my body and drink my blood live in me, and I live in them.

57 “The Father sent me. He lives, and I live because of him. So everyone who eats me will live because of me. 58 I am not like the bread that your ancestors ate. They ate that bread, but they still died. I am the bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.”

59 Jesus said all this while he was teaching in the synagogue in the city of Capernaum.

Many Followers Leave Jesus

60 When Jesus’ followers heard this, many of them said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?”

61 Jesus already knew that his followers were complaining about this. So he said, “Is this teaching a problem for you? 62 Then what will you think when you see the Son of Man going up to where he came from? 63 It is the Spirit that gives life. The body is of no value for that. But the things I have told you are from the Spirit, so they give life. 64 But some of you don’t believe.” (Jesus knew the people who did not believe. He knew this from the beginning. And he knew the one who would hand him over to his enemies.) 65 Jesus said, “That is why I said, ‘Anyone the Father does not help to come to me cannot come.’”

66 After Jesus said these things, many of his followers left and stopped following him.

67 Jesus asked the twelve apostles, “Do you want to leave too?”

68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, where would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe in you. We know that you are the Holy One from God.”

70 Then Jesus answered, “I chose all twelve of you. But one of you is a devil.” 71 He was talking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Judas was one of the twelve apostles, but later he would hand Jesus over to his enemies.

Footnotes

  1. John 6:14 Prophet They probably meant the prophet that God told Moses he would send. See Deut. 18:15-19.
  2. John 6:19 three or four miles Literally, “25 or 30 stadia, ” about 5 or 6 km.
  3. John 6:31 Quote from Ps. 78:24 .
  4. John 6:45 Quote from Isa. 54:13 .

6 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias.

2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.

3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples.

4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

5 When 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?

6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do.

7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.

8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him,

9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?

10 And 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.

11 And 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.

12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost.

13 Therefore 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.

14 Then 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.

15 When 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.

16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,

17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.

18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.

19 So 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.

20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.

21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.

22 The 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:)

24 When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus.

25 And when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26 Jesus 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.

27 Labour 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.

28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.

30 They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may see, and believe thee? what dost thou work?

31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

32 Then 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.

33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.

34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

35 And 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.

36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.

37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.

38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.

39 And 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.

40 And 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.

41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven.

42 And 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?

43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

45 It 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.

46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father.

47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.

48 I am that bread of life.

49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead.

50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die.

51 I 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.

52 The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat?

53 Then 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.

54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

57 As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

58 This 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.

59 These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before?

63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

64 But 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.

65 And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father.

66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?

68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

69 And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.

70 Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

71 He spake of Judas Iscariot the son of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.

Five Thousand Men Fed

6 After these things ( A ) Jesus went away to the other side of ( B ) the Sea of Galilee ( or ( C ) Tiberias). 2 A large crowd was following Him, because they were watching the [ a ] ( D ) signs which He was performing on those who were sick. 3 But ( E ) Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. 4 Now ( F ) the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. 5 So Jesus, after raising His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, *said to ( G ) Philip, “Where are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?” 6 But He was saying this only to ( H ) test him, for He Himself knew what He intended to do. 7 ( I ) Philip answered Him, “ ( J ) Two hundred [ b ] denarii worth of bread is not enough for them, for each to receive just a little!” 8 One of His ( K ) disciples, ( L ) Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, *said to Him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two ( M ) fish; but what are these for so many people ?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people recline to eat .” Now there was ( N ) plenty of grass in the place. So the men reclined, about [ c ] ( O ) five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and ( P ) after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were reclining; likewise also of the ( Q ) fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, He *said to His ( R ) disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve ( S ) baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Therefore when the people saw the [ d ] sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the ( T ) Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Jesus Walks on the Water

15 So Jesus, aware that they [ e ] intended to come and take Him by force ( U ) to make Him king, ( V ) withdrew again to ( W ) the mountain by Himself, alone.

16 Now when evening came, His ( X ) disciples went down to the sea, 17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea ( Y ) to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 In addition, the sea began getting rough, because a strong wind was blowing. 19 Then, when they had rowed about [ f ] twenty-five or thirty stadia, 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; [ g ] ( Z ) do not be afraid.” 21 So they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

22 The next day ( AA ) the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there except one, and that Jesus ( AB ) had not gotten into the boat with His disciples, but that His disciples had departed alone. 23 Other small boats came from ( AC ) Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the ( AD ) Lord ( AE ) had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats and ( AF ) came to Capernaum, looking for Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “ ( AG ) Rabbi, when did You get here?”

Words to the People

26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you ( AH ) seek Me, not because you saw [ h ] ( AI ) signs, but because you ate some of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not ( AJ ) work for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for ( AK ) eternal life, which ( AL ) the Son of Man will give you, for on Him the Father, God, ( AM ) has set His [ i ] seal.” 28 Therefore they said to Him, “What are we to do, so that we may accomplish the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is ( AN ) the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He ( AO ) has sent.” 30 So they said to Him, “ ( AP ) What then are You doing as a ( AQ ) sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work are You performing? 31 ( AR ) Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘ ( AS ) He gave them bread out of heaven to eat .’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is [ j ] that which ( AT ) comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always ( AU ) give us this bread.”

35 Jesus said to them, “ ( AV ) I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me ( AW ) will never be thirsty. 36 But ( AX ) I said to you that you have indeed seen Me, and yet you do not believe. 37 ( AY ) Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out. 38 For ( AZ ) I have come down from heaven, ( BA ) not to do My own will, but ( BB ) the will of Him who ( BC ) sent Me. 39 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of ( BD ) everything that He has given Me I will ( BE ) lose nothing, but will ( BF ) raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who ( BG ) sees the Son and ( BH ) believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will ( BI ) raise him up on the last day.”

Words to the Jews

41 ( BJ ) So then the Jews were complaining about Him because He said, “I am the bread that ( BK ) came down out of heaven.” 42 And they were saying, “ ( BL ) Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother ( BM ) we know? How does He now say, ‘ ( BN ) I have come down out of heaven’ ?” 43 Jesus answered and said to them, “Stop complaining among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me ( BO ) draws him; and I will ( BP ) raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written ( BQ ) in the Prophets: ‘ ( BR ) And they shall all be ( BS ) taught of God .’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. 46 ( BT ) Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who believes ( BU ) has eternal life. 48 ( BV ) I am the bread of life. 49 ( BW ) Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that ( BX ) comes down out of heaven, so that anyone may eat from it and ( BY ) not die. 51 ( BZ ) I am the living bread that ( CA ) came down out of heaven; if anyone eats from this bread, ( CB ) he will live forever; and the bread which I will give ( CC ) for the life of the world also is ( CD ) My flesh.”

52 ( CE ) Then the Jews ( CF ) began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of ( CG ) the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will ( CH ) raise him up on the last day. 55 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood ( CI ) remains in Me, and I in him. 57 Just as the ( CJ ) living Father ( CK ) sent Me, and I live because of the Father, the one who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread that ( CL ) came down out of heaven, not as ( CM ) the fathers ate and died; the one who eats this bread ( CN ) will live forever.”

Words to the Disciples

59 These things He said ( CO ) in the synagogue as He taught ( CP ) in Capernaum.

60 So then many of His ( CQ ) disciples, when they heard this , said, “ ( CR ) This statement is very [ k ] unpleasant; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, ( CS ) aware that His disciples were complaining about this, said to them, “Is this [ l ] ( CT ) offensive to you? 62 What then if you see ( CU ) the Son of Man ( CV ) ascending to where He was before? 63 ( CW ) It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; ( CX ) the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life. 64 But there are ( CY ) some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus ( CZ ) knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and ( DA ) who it was who would [ m ] betray Him. 65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have ( DB ) told you that no one can come to Me unless ( DC ) it has been granted him from the Father.”

Peter’s Confession of Faith

66 As a result of this many of His ( DD ) disciples ( DE ) left, and would no longer walk with Him. 67 So Jesus said to ( DF ) the twelve, “You do not want to leave also, do you?” 68 ( DG ) Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have ( DH ) words of eternal life. 69 And we have already believed and have come to know that You are ( DI ) the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, “ ( DJ ) Did I Myself not choose you, ( DK ) the twelve? And yet one of you is ( DL ) a devil.” 71 Now He meant Judas ( DM ) the son of Simon Iscariot; for he, ( DN ) one of ( DO ) the twelve, [ n ] was going to betray Him.

Footnotes

  1. John 6:2 I.e., confirming miracles
  2. John 6:7 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
  3. John 6:10 I.e., 5,000 men plus women and children, cf. Matt 14:21
  4. John 6:14 I.e., confirming miracle
  5. John 6:15 Or were about
  6. John 6:19 Possibly 3-4 miles or 4.8-6.4 km; a Roman stadion perhaps averaged 607 ft. or 185 m
  7. John 6:20 Or stop being afraid
  8. John 6:26 I.e., confirming miracles
  9. John 6:27 I.e., of identification or authenticity
  10. John 6:33 Or He who comes
  11. John 6:60 Or hard
  12. John 6:61 Or shocking
  13. John 6:64 Or hand Him over
  14. John 6:71 Or was intending to

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand ( A )

6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs ( B ) he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside ( C ) and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival ( D ) was near.

5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, ( E ) “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages [ a ] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, ( F ) 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?” ( G )

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, ( H ) and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14 After the people saw the sign ( I ) Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” ( J ) 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king ( K ) by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. ( L )

Jesus Walks on the Water ( M )

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where 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. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, [ b ] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; ( N ) and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” ( O ) 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake ( P ) realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. ( Q ) 23 Then some boats from Tiberias ( R ) landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. ( S ) 24 Once the crowd realized 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

25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi, ( T ) when did you get here?”

26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, ( U ) not because you saw the signs ( V ) I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures ( W ) to eternal life, ( X ) which the Son of Man ( Y ) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal ( Z ) of approval.”

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe ( AA ) in the one he has sent.” ( AB )

30 So they asked him, “What sign ( AC ) then will you give that we may see it and believe you? ( AD ) What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna ( AE ) in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ [ c ] ” ( AF )

32 Jesus 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. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven ( AG ) and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.” ( AH )

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am ( AI ) the bread of life. ( AJ ) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes ( AK ) in me will never be thirsty. ( AL ) 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me ( AM ) will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven ( AN ) not to do my will but to do the will ( AO ) of him who sent me. ( AP ) 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, ( AQ ) but raise them up at the last day. ( AR ) 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son ( AS ) and believes in him shall have eternal life, ( AT ) and I will raise them up at the last day.”

41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, ( AU ) whose father and mother we know? ( AV ) How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’ ?” ( AW )

43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, ( AX ) and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ [ d ] ( AY ) Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; ( AZ ) only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life. ( BA ) 48 I am the bread of life. ( BB ) 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died. ( BC ) 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, ( BD ) which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread ( BE ) that came down from heaven. ( BF ) Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” ( BG )

52 Then the Jews ( BH ) began to argue sharply among themselves, ( BI ) “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh ( BJ ) of the Son of Man ( BK ) and drink his blood, ( BL ) you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. ( BM ) 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. ( BN ) 57 Just as the living Father sent me ( BO ) and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” ( BP ) 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

60 On hearing it, many of his disciples ( BQ ) said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” ( BR )

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you? ( BS ) 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man ( BT ) ascend to where he was before! ( BU ) 63 The Spirit gives life; ( BV ) the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit [ e ] and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known ( BW ) from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. ( BX ) 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.” ( BY )

66 From this time many of his disciples ( BZ ) turned back and no longer followed him.

67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. ( CA )

68 Simon Peter answered him, ( CB ) “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. ( CC ) 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” ( CD )

70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, ( CE ) the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” ( CF ) 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, ( CG ) who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.) ( CH )

Footnotes

  1. John 6:7 Greek take two hundred denarii
  2. John 6:19 Or about 5 or 6 kilometers
  3. John 6:31 Exodus 16:4; Neh. 9:15; Psalm 78:24,25
  4. John 6:45 Isaiah 54:13
  5. John 6:63 Or are Spirit ; or are spirit
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