²² The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake^(A) 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.^{(B) 23} Then some boats from Tiberias^(C) landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.^{(D) 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,^(E) when did you get here?”

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

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

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^(R) and gives life to the world.”

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

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

⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.^{(A) 48} I am the bread of life.^{(B) 49} Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.^{(C) 50} But here is the bread that comes down from heaven,^(D) which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread^(E) that came down from heaven.^(F) Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”^(G)

⁵² Then the Jews^(H) began to argue sharply among themselves,^(I) “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^(J) of the Son of Man^(K) and drink his blood,^(L) 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.^{(M) 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.^{(N) 57} Just as the living Father sent me^(O) 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.”^(P)

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

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

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

⁷⁰ Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you,^(F) the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”^{(G) 71} (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot,^(H) who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)^(I)