五餅二魚

這些事以後,耶穌渡過加利利[a],也就是太巴列湖,到對岸去。 有一大群人,因為看到他在病人身上所行的神蹟,就跟隨他。

耶穌上了山,與他的門徒們在那裡坐下。 那時猶太人的逾越節快到了。 耶穌舉目觀看,見一大群人向他走來,就對腓力說:「我們從哪裡買餅給這些人吃呢?」 他說這話是要試試腓力,其實他自己已經知道要做什麼了。

腓力回答:「就是兩百個銀幣[b]的餅,也不夠每個人吃一小塊!」

他的一個門徒,就是西門彼得的弟弟安得烈,對耶穌說: 「這裡有個孩子,帶了五個大麥餅和兩條魚。可是對這麼多人,這些算什麼呢?」

10 耶穌說:「讓他們坐下來。」

那地方草多,他們坐了下來;男人的數目約有五千。 11 耶穌就拿起餅來,祝謝以後,分給那些坐著的人[c],把魚也如此分了,他們要多少就給多少。

12 大家吃飽了以後,耶穌就對他的門徒們說:「把剩下的碎塊收拾起來,免得浪費。」 13 他們就把大家吃剩的那五個大麥餅的碎塊收拾起來,裝滿了十二個籃子。

14 眾人看見耶穌所行的神蹟,就說:「這個人確實是那位要來到世上的先知!」 15 耶穌看出他們要來強迫他做王,就又獨自退到山上去了。

在水面上行走

16 到了晚上,他的門徒們下到湖邊。 17 他們上了船,開始渡過湖往迦百農去。原來天色已經黑了,而耶穌還沒有來到他們那裡。 18 當時,大風吹起,湖水翻騰。 19 他們已經划了約有四、五公里[d],看到耶穌在湖面上行走,逐漸向船靠近,他們就感到懼怕。

20 耶穌對他們說:「是我,不要怕!」 21 門徒們這才願意接他上船。船立刻就到了他們所要去的地方。

生命的糧

22 第二天,留在湖對岸的眾人,知道在那裡除了一條小船之外[e],沒有別的船;而且知道耶穌沒有和他的門徒們一起上船,是門徒們自己去的。 23 有幾條別的小船從太巴列城來,靠近主祝謝後眾人吃餅的地方。 24 這樣,眾人一發現耶穌已經不在那裡,連他的門徒們也不在那裡,就上了船,往迦百農去找耶穌。

25 他們在湖的對岸找到了耶穌,就問他:「拉比,你是什麼時候到這裡來的?」

26 耶穌回答說:「我確確實實地告訴你們:你們找我,並不是因為看見了神蹟,而是因為你們吃餅吃飽了。 27 不要為那會腐敗的食物做工,而要為那存留到永生的食物做工。這食物就是人子要給你們的,因為人子是父神所印證的。」

28 他們問:「我們應該做什麼,才算做神的工作呢?」

29 耶穌回答說:「信神所派來的那一位,就是做神的工作。」

30 他們就問:「那麼,你行個什麼神蹟,好讓我們看了就可以信你呢?你可以做什麼呢? 31 我們的祖先在曠野吃了嗎哪,正如經上所記:『他把從天上來的糧賜給他們吃。』[f]

32 耶穌對他們說:「我確確實實地告訴你們:那從天上來的糧不是摩西賜給你們的,而是我父把從天上來的真糧賜給了你們。 33 要知道,神的糧就是從天上降下來、賜生命給世人的那一位。」

34 他們就對耶穌說:「主啊,請你時常把這糧賜給我們!」

35 耶穌對他們說:「我就是生命的糧。到我這裡來的人,絕不飢餓;信我的人,永不乾渴。 36 但是我告訴過你們,你們雖然看到了我[g],還是不信。 37 凡是父賜給我的人,都會到我這裡來,而到我這裡來的人,我絕不丟棄[h] 38 因為我從天上降下來,不是要行自己的意思,而是要行那派我來者的意思。 39 那派我來者[i]的旨意,就是要我不失去他賜給我的任何人,而且要我在末日使他復活。 40 要知道,我父[j]的旨意正是:所有看見子而信他的人都得到永恆的生命,並且在末日,我將要使他復活。」

41 這時候,一些猶太人因為耶穌說『我是從天上降下來的糧』,就私下議論他, 42 並說:「這不就是約瑟的兒子耶穌嗎?我們不都認識他的父母嗎?現在他怎麼說『我是從天上降下來的』呢?」

43 耶穌就對他們說:「你們不要彼此議論了。 44 如果不是派我來的父引領他,沒有人能到我這裡來;到我這裡來的,在末日我還要使他復活。 45 先知書上記著:『他們都將成為神所教導的人。』[k]任何人聽了並領會了從父而來的教導,就會到我這裡來。 46 這並不是說,有誰看到父;只有從神而來的那一位,他才看到父。

47 「我確確實實地告訴你們:信我[l]的人,就有永恆的生命。 48 我就是生命的糧。 49 你們的祖先在曠野吃了嗎哪,還是死了。 50 那從天上降下來、讓人吃了而不死的糧,就在這裡。 51 我就是從天上降下來的生命的糧。人如果吃了這糧,就將活著,直到永遠。我要賜的糧就是我的肉身,是為了世人的生命所賜的[m]。」

52 於是那些猶太人彼此爭論,說:「這個人怎麼能把自己的肉身給我們吃呢?」

53 耶穌說:「我確確實實地告訴你們:如果你們不吃人子的肉,不喝人子的血,你們裡面就沒有生命。 54 吃我肉、喝我血的人,就有永恆的生命,在末日我還要使他復活; 55 因為我的肉是真食物,我的血是真飲物。 56 吃我肉、喝我血的人,住在我裡面,我也住在他裡面。 57 永生的父怎樣差派了我,我又因父而活,照樣,以我為食的人也將因我而活。 58 這才是從天上降下來的糧,不像嗎哪。你們的[n]祖先吃過嗎哪還是死了,而吃這糧的人就將活著,直到永遠。」

59 這些話是耶穌在迦百農教導人的時候,在會堂裡說的。

許多門徒離開耶穌

60 他的門徒當中有許多人聽了,就說:「這話實在嚴厲,誰能聽呢?」

61 耶穌自己裡面知道他的門徒們為這話私下議論,就對他們說:「這話絆倒你們[o]嗎? 62 所以,如果你們看見人子升到他原先所在的地方,你們會怎麼樣呢? 63 賜人生命的是靈[p],肉體沒有什麼用。我對你們說的話就是靈,就是生命。 64 然而你們當中有一些不信的人。」原來,耶穌從起初就知道哪些人不[q]信,也知道哪一個人要出賣他。 65 耶穌又說:「所以我告訴過你們:如果不是蒙父所賜,沒有人能到我這裡來。」

66 從此耶穌的門徒中有許多人離開回到背後的事上,不再與他同行。 67 耶穌就對十二使徒[r]說:「你們也不會想離開吧?」

68 西門彼得回答:「主啊,你有永恆生命的話語,我們還去歸從誰呢? 69 我們已經相信,也知道你就是神的那位聖者。[s]

70 耶穌對他們說:「我不是揀選了你們十二使徒嗎?可是你們當中有一個是魔鬼。」 71 耶穌說的是加略西門的兒子[t]猶大;這個人雖然是十二使徒中的一個,後來卻要出賣耶穌。

Footnotes

  1. 約翰福音 6:1 湖——原文直譯「海」。
  2. 約翰福音 6:7 兩百個銀幣——原文為「200得拿利」。1得拿利=約1日工資的羅馬銀幣。
  3. 約翰福音 6:11 分給那些坐著的人——有古抄本作「分給門徒們,門徒們又分給那些坐著的人」。
  4. 約翰福音 6:19 四、五公里——原文為「25-30視距」。1視距=185公尺。
  5. 約翰福音 6:22 除了一條小船之外——有古抄本作「除了耶穌的門徒們上的那一條小船之外」。
  6. 約翰福音 6:31 《出埃及記》16:4;《詩篇》78:24。
  7. 約翰福音 6:36 有古抄本沒有「我」。
  8. 約翰福音 6:37 丟棄——原文直譯「趕出去」。
  9. 約翰福音 6:39 有古抄本附「——父」。
  10. 約翰福音 6:40 我父——有古抄本作「那派我來者」。
  11. 約翰福音 6:45 《以賽亞書》54:13。
  12. 約翰福音 6:47 有古抄本沒有「我」。
  13. 約翰福音 6:51 有古抄本沒有「所賜的」。
  14. 約翰福音 6:58 有古抄本沒有「嗎哪。你們的」。
  15. 約翰福音 6:61 絆倒你們——或譯作「使你們覺得反感」。
  16. 約翰福音 6:63 靈——或譯作「聖靈」。
  17. 約翰福音 6:64 有古抄本沒有「不」。
  18. 約翰福音 6:67 使徒——輔助詞語。
  19. 約翰福音 6:69 你就是神的那位聖者。——有古抄本作「你就是基督,永生神的兒子。」
  20. 約翰福音 6:71 兒子——輔助詞語。

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand(A)

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

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?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

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!”

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,(F) spoke up, “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

Feeding the Five Thousand(A)

After (B)these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of (C)Tiberias. Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were (D)diseased.[a] And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.

(E)Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. (F)Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to (G)Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.

Philip answered Him, (H)“Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”

One of His disciples, (I)Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, (J)but what are they among so many?”

10 Then Jesus said, “Make the people 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 them [b]to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” 13 Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly (K)the Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Jesus Walks on the Sea(L)

15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him (M)king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

16 (N)Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19 So when they had rowed about [c]three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were (O)afraid. 20 But He said to them, (P)“It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

The Bread from Heaven

22 On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except [d]that one [e]which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— 23 however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— 24 when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, (Q)seeking Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”

26 Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. 27 (R)Do not labor for the food which perishes, but (S)for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, (T)because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”

28 Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”

29 Jesus answered and said to them, (U)“This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”

30 Therefore they said to Him, (V)“What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do? 31 (W)Our fathers ate the manna in the desert; as it is written, (X)‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’

32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but (Y)My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 (Z)Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”

35 And Jesus said to them, (AA)“I am the bread of life. (AB)He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never (AC)thirst. 36 (AD)But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet (AE)do not believe. 37 (AF)All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and (AG)the one who comes to Me I will [f]by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, (AH)not to do My own will, (AI)but the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, (AJ)that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, (AK)that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

Rejected by His Own

41 The Jews then [g]complained about Him, because He said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” 42 And they said, (AL)“Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

43 Jesus therefore answered and said to them, [h]“Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 (AM)No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me (AN)draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, (AO)‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ (AP)Therefore everyone who [i]has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. 46 (AQ)Not that anyone has seen the Father, (AR)except He who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Most assuredly, I say to you, (AS)he who believes [j]in Me has everlasting life. 48 (AT)I am the bread of life. 49 (AU)Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50 (AV)This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread (AW)which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and (AX)the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.”

52 The Jews therefore (AY)quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?”

53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless (AZ)you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 (BA)Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is [k]food indeed, and My blood is [l]drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood (BB)abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 (BC)This is the bread which came down from heaven—not (BD)as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

59 These things He said in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Turn Away

60 (BE)Therefore many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a [m]hard saying; who can understand it?”

61 When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples [n]complained about this, He said to them, “Does this [o]offend you? 62 (BF)What then if you should see the Son of Man ascend where He was before? 63 (BG)It is the Spirit who gives life; the (BH)flesh profits nothing. The (BI)words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. 64 But (BJ)there are some of you who do not believe.” For (BK)Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He said, “Therefore (BL)I have said to you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted to him by My Father.”

66 (BM)From that time many of His disciples went [p]back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?”

68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have (BN)the words of eternal life. 69 (BO)Also we have come to believe and know that You are the [q]Christ, the Son of the living God.”

70 Jesus answered them, (BP)“Did I not choose you, the twelve, (BQ)and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of (BR)Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for it was he who would (BS)betray Him, being one of the twelve.

Footnotes

  1. John 6:2 sick
  2. John 6:11 NU omits to the disciples, and the disciples
  3. John 6:19 Lit. 25 or 30 stadia
  4. John 6:22 NU omits that
  5. John 6:22 NU omits which His disciples had entered
  6. John 6:37 certainly not
  7. John 6:41 grumbled
  8. John 6:43 Stop grumbling
  9. John 6:45 M hears and has learned
  10. John 6:47 NU omits in Me
  11. John 6:55 NU true food
  12. John 6:55 NU true drink
  13. John 6:60 difficult
  14. John 6:61 grumbled
  15. John 6:61 make you stumble
  16. John 6:66 Or away; lit. to the back
  17. John 6:69 NU Holy One of God.