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

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^(E) and gives life to the world.”

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

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am^(G) the bread of life.^(H) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes^(I) in me will never be thirsty.^(J)

⁵³ Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh^(A) of the Son of Man^(B) and drink his blood,^(C) 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.^{(D) 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.^{(E) 57} Just as the living Father sent me^(F) 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.”^{(G) 59} He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

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

⁶³ The Spirit gives life;^(A) the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit^[a] and life.