52 At that, the Jews argued(A) among themselves,(B) “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”

53 So Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man(C) and drink His blood,(D) you do not have life in yourselves. 54 Anyone who eats My flesh and drinks My blood(E) has eternal life, and I will raise(F) him up on the last day, 55 because My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink. 56 The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood lives in Me, and I in him.(G) 57 Just as the living(H) Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live(I) because of Me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven; it is not like the manna[a] your fathers ate—and they died. The one who eats this bread will live forever.”(J)

59 He said these things while teaching in the synagogue(K) in Capernaum.(L)

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

60 Therefore, when many of His disciples heard this, they said, “This teaching is hard! Who can accept[b] it?”

61 Jesus, knowing in Himself(M) that His disciples were complaining about this, asked them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man(N) ascending(O) to where He was before? 63 The Spirit(P) is the One who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning(Q) those who would not[c] believe and the one who would betray(R) Him.) 65 He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me(S) unless it is granted to him by the Father.”

66 From that moment many of His disciples turned back and no longer accompanied Him. 67 Therefore Jesus said to the Twelve,(T) “You don’t want to go away too, do you?”

68 Simon Peter(U) answered, “Lord, who will we go to? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God!”[d](V)

70 Jesus replied to them, “Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve?(W) Yet one of you is the Devil!”(X) 71 He was referring to Judas,(Y) Simon Iscariot’s son,[e][f] one of the Twelve, because he was going to betray(Z) Him.

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Footnotes

  1. John 6:58 Other mss omit the manna
  2. John 6:60 Lit hear
  3. John 6:64 Other mss omit not
  4. John 6:69 Other mss read You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God
  5. John 6:71 Other mss read Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son
  6. John 6:71 Lit Judas, of Simon Iscariot

52 Then the Jews(A) began to argue sharply among themselves,(B) “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(C) of the Son of Man(D) and drink his blood,(E) 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.(F) 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.(G) 57 Just as the living Father sent me(H) 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.”(I) 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

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

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?(L) 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man(M) ascend to where he was before!(N) 63 The Spirit gives life;(O) the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit[a] and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known(P) from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.(Q) 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.”(R)

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

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

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

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

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Footnotes

  1. John 6:63 Or are Spirit; or are spirit