³¹ Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi,^(A) eat something.”

³² But he said to them, “I have food to eat^(B) that you know nothing about.”

³³ Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”

³⁴ “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will^(C) of him who sent me and to finish his work.^{(D) 35} Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.^{(E) 36} Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests^(F) a crop for eternal life,^(G) so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. ³⁷ Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’^(H) is true. ³⁸ I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

Many Samaritans Believe

³⁹ Many of the Samaritans from that town^(I) believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”^{(J) 40} So when the Samaritans came to him, they urged him to stay with them, and he stayed two days. ⁴¹ And because of his words many more became believers.

Jesus the Bread of Life

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

²⁶ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me,^(B) not because you saw the signs^(C) 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^(D) to eternal life,^(E) which the Son of Man^(F) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal^(G) 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^(H) in the one he has sent.”^(I)

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

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^(N) and gives life to the world.”

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

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am^(P) the bread of life.^(Q) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes^(R) in me will never be thirsty.^{(S) 36} But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. ³⁷ All those the Father gives me^(T) will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven^(U) not to do my will but to do the will^(V) of him who sent me.^{(W) 39} And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me,^(X) but raise them up at the last day.^(Y)