约翰福音 6
Chinese New Version (Traditional)
給五千人吃飽的神蹟(A)
6 這些事以後，耶穌渡過加利利海，就是提比里亞海。 2 有一大群人，因為看見了他在病人身上所行的神蹟，就跟隨了他。 3 耶穌上了山，同門徒坐在那裡。 4 那時猶太人的逾越節近了。 5 耶穌舉目觀看，見一大群人向他走過來，就對腓力說：“我們從哪裡買餅給這些人吃呢？” 6 他說這話，是要試驗腓力，因他自己早已知道要怎樣作。 7 腓力回答：“就算二百銀幣買的餅，每人分一點，也是不夠的。” 8 有一個門徒，就是西門．彼得的弟弟安得烈，對耶穌說： 9 “這裡有個小孩子，帶著五個大麥餅、兩條魚；只是分給這麼多人，有甚麼用呢？” 10 耶穌吩咐他們：“你們叫眾人坐下。”原來那地方的草很多，眾人就坐下，單是男人的數目約有五千。 11 耶穌拿起餅來，祝謝了，就分給坐著的人；分魚也是這樣，都是隨著他們所要的。 12 他們吃飽了之後，耶穌對門徒說：“把剩下的零碎收拾起來，免得浪費。” 13 門徒就把眾人吃剩那五個大麥餅的零碎收拾起來，裝滿了十二個籃子。 14 眾人看見耶穌所行的神蹟，就說：“這真是那要到世上來的先知。” 15 耶穌知道群眾要來強迫他作王，就獨自又退到山上去了。
耶穌在海面上行走(B)
16 到了晚上，他的門徒下到海邊去。 17 他們上了船，要渡海往迦百農去。那時天已經黑了，耶穌還沒有到他們那裡。 18 忽然海上起了狂風，波浪翻騰。 19 門徒搖櫓約行了五六公里，看見耶穌在海面上行走，漸漸靠近船，就害怕起來。 20 耶穌對他們說：“是我，不要怕。” 21 他們這才把他接上船，船就立刻到了他們要去的地方。
耶穌是生命的食物
22 第二天，站在海那邊的群眾，看見只有一隻小船留在那裡，並且知道耶穌沒有和他的門徒一同上船，門徒是自己去的； 23 不過有幾隻從提比里亞來的船停在那裡，靠近他們在主祝謝以後吃餅的地方。 24 群眾見耶穌和門徒都不在那裡，就上船往迦百農去找耶穌。 25 他們在對岸找到了耶穌，就問他：“拉比，你幾時到這裡來的？” 26 耶穌回答：“我實實在在告訴你們，你們找我，不是因為看見了神蹟，而是因為吃了餅又吃飽了。 27 不要為那必朽壞的食物操勞，卻要為那存到永生的食物操勞，就是人子所要賜給你們的，因為人子是父 神所印證的。” 28 眾人又問他：“我們應該作甚麼，才算是作 神的工作呢？” 29 耶穌回答：“信 神所差來的，就是作 神的工了。” 30 於是他們就說：“你要行甚麼神蹟，讓我們看了就信你呢？你到底能作甚麼呢？ 31 我們的祖宗在曠野吃過嗎哪，正如經上所記：‘他把從天上來的食物賜給他們吃。’” 32 耶穌對他們說：“我實實在在告訴你們，不是摩西把那從天上來的食物賜給你們，而是我父把天上來的真食物賜給你們； 33 因為 神的食物就是從天上降下來，把生命賜給世人的那一位。”
34 他們對耶穌說：“主啊，求你常把這食物賜給我們。” 35 耶穌說：“我就是生命的食物，到我這裡來的，必定不餓；信我的，永遠不渴。 36 但我告訴你們，你們雖然見了我，還是不信。 37 凡是父賜給我的人，必到我這裡來；到我這裡來的，我決不丟棄他， 38 因為我從天上降下來，不是要行自己的意思，而是要行那差我來者的旨意。 39 那差我來者的旨意就是：他所賜給我的人，我連一個也不失落，並且在末日我要使他們復活。 40 因為我父的旨意，是要使所有看見了子而信的人有永生，並且在末日我要使他們復活。”
41 猶太人因為耶穌說“我是從天上降下來的食物”，就紛紛議論他。 42 他們說：“這不是約瑟的兒子耶穌嗎？他的父母我們不都認識嗎？他現在怎麼說‘我是從天上降下來的’呢？” 43 耶穌回答：“你們不要彼此議論。 44 如果不是差我來的父吸引人，就沒有人能到我這裡來；到我這裡來的，在末日我要使他復活。 45 先知書上記著：‘眾人都必受 神的教導。’凡聽見從父那裡來的教訓而又學習的，必到我這裡來。 46 這不是說有人見過父；只有從 神那裡來的那一位，他才見過父。 47 我實實在在告訴你們，信的人有永生。 48 我就是生命的食物， 49 你們的祖宗在曠野吃過嗎哪，還是死了。 50 這是從天上降下來的食物，使人吃了就不死。 51 我就是從天上降下來生命的食物，人若吃了這食物，就必活到永遠。我要賜的食物就是我的肉，是為了世人的生命而賜的。”
52 於是，猶太人彼此爭論，說：“這個人怎能把他的肉給我們吃呢？” 53 耶穌就對他們說：“我實實在在告訴你們，你們若不吃人子的肉，不喝人子的血，就沒有生命在你們裡面。 54 吃我肉、喝我血的，就有永生，在末日我要使他復活； 55 因為我的肉是真正的食物，我的血是真正的飲料。 56 吃我肉、喝我血的人，就住在我裡面，我也住在他裡面。 57 正如永活的父差遣了我，我也因父活著；照樣，吃我肉的人也必因我而活。 58 這就是從天上降下來的食物，不像嗎哪，你們的祖宗吃過，還是死了；吃這食物的，必活到永遠。” 59 這些話是耶穌在迦百農會堂裡教導人的時候說的。
永生之道
60 他的門徒中，有許多人聽了，就說：“這話很難，誰能接受呢？” 61 耶穌心裡知道門徒為了這事議論紛紛，就對他們說：“這話使你們動搖嗎？ 62 如果你們看見人子升到他原來所在的地方，又怎樣呢？ 63 使人活的是靈，肉體是無濟於事的。我對你們所說的話是靈、是生命。 64 然而你們中間卻有不信的人。”原來從起初耶穌就知道那些不信的是誰，那要把他出賣的又是誰。 65 耶穌跟著說：“所以我對你們說過，如果不是父所賜的，沒有人能到我這裡來。”
66 從此，他的門徒中有許多人退去了，不再與他同行。 67 於是耶穌對十二門徒說：“你們也想離去嗎？” 68 西門．彼得回答：“主啊，你有永生之道，我們還跟從誰呢？ 69 我們已經相信，並且知道你是 神的聖者。” 70 耶穌說：“我不是揀選了你們十二個人嗎？但你們中間有一個是魔鬼。” 71 耶穌這話是指著加略人西門的兒子猶大說的，因為他雖然是十二門徒之一，卻要出賣耶穌。
约翰福音 6
Chinese New Version (Simplified)
给五千人吃饱的神迹(A)
6 这些事以后，耶稣渡过加利利海，就是提比里亚海。 2 有一大群人，因为看见了他在病人身上所行的神迹，就跟随了他。 3 耶稣上了山，同门徒坐在那里。 4 那时犹太人的逾越节近了。 5 耶稣举目观看，见一大群人向他走过来，就对腓力说：“我们从哪里买饼给这些人吃呢？” 6 他说这话，是要试验腓力，因他自己早已知道要怎样作。 7 腓力回答：“就算二百银币买的饼，每人分一点，也是不够的。” 8 有一个门徒，就是西门．彼得的弟弟安得烈，对耶稣说： 9 “这里有个小孩子，带着五个大麦饼、两条鱼；只是分给这么多人，有甚么用呢？” 10 耶稣吩咐他们：“你们叫众人坐下。”原来那地方的草很多，众人就坐下，单是男人的数目约有五千。 11 耶稣拿起饼来，祝谢了，就分给坐着的人；分鱼也是这样，都是随着他们所要的。 12 他们吃饱了之后，耶稣对门徒说：“把剩下的零碎收拾起来，免得浪费。” 13 门徒就把众人吃剩那五个大麦饼的零碎收拾起来，装满了十二个篮子。 14 众人看见耶稣所行的神迹，就说：“这真是那要到世上来的先知。” 15 耶稣知道群众要来强迫他作王，就独自又退到山上去了。
耶稣在海面上行走(B)
16 到了晚上，他的门徒下到海边去。 17 他们上了船，要渡海往迦百农去。那时天已经黑了，耶稣还没有到他们那里。 18 忽然海上起了狂风，波浪翻腾。 19 门徒摇橹约行了五六公里，看见耶稣在海面上行走，渐渐靠近船，就害怕起来。 20 耶稣对他们说：“是我，不要怕。” 21 他们这才把他接上船，船就立刻到了他们要去的地方。
耶稣是生命的食物
22 第二天，站在海那边的群众，看见只有一只小船留在那里，并且知道耶稣没有和他的门徒一同上船，门徒是自己去的； 23 不过有几只从提比里亚来的船停在那里，靠近他们在主祝谢以后吃饼的地方。 24 群众见耶稣和门徒都不在那里，就上船往迦百农去找耶稣。 25 他们在对岸找到了耶稣，就问他：“拉比，你几时到这里来的？” 26 耶稣回答：“我实实在在告诉你们，你们找我，不是因为看见了神迹，而是因为吃了饼又吃饱了。 27 不要为那必朽坏的食物操劳，却要为那存到永生的食物操劳，就是人子所要赐给你们的，因为人子是父 神所印证的。” 28 众人又问他：“我们应该作甚么，才算是作 神的工作呢？” 29 耶稣回答：“信 神所差来的，就是作 神的工了。” 30 于是他们就说：“你要行甚么神迹，让我们看了就信你呢？你到底能作甚么呢？ 31 我们的祖宗在旷野吃过吗哪，正如经上所记：‘他把从天上来的食物赐给他们吃。’” 32 耶稣对他们说：“我实实在在告诉你们，不是摩西把那从天上来的食物赐给你们，而是我父把天上来的真食物赐给你们； 33 因为 神的食物就是从天上降下来，把生命赐给世人的那一位。”
34 他们对耶稣说：“主啊，求你常把这食物赐给我们。” 35 耶稣说：“我就是生命的食物，到我这里来的，必定不饿；信我的，永远不渴。 36 但我告诉你们，你们虽然见了我，还是不信。 37 凡是父赐给我的人，必到我这里来；到我这里来的，我决不丢弃他， 38 因为我从天上降下来，不是要行自己的意思，而是要行那差我来者的旨意。 39 那差我来者的旨意就是：他所赐给我的人，我连一个也不失落，并且在末日我要使他们复活。 40 因为我父的旨意，是要使所有看见了子而信的人有永生，并且在末日我要使他们复活。”
41 犹太人因为耶稣说“我是从天上降下来的食物”，就纷纷议论他。 42 他们说：“这不是约瑟的儿子耶稣吗？他的父母我们不都认识吗？他现在怎么说‘我是从天上降下来的’呢？” 43 耶稣回答：“你们不要彼此议论。 44 如果不是差我来的父吸引人，就没有人能到我这里来；到我这里来的，在末日我要使他复活。 45 先知书上记着：‘众人都必受 神的教导。’凡听见从父那里来的教训而又学习的，必到我这里来。 46 这不是说有人见过父；只有从 神那里来的那一位，他才见过父。 47 我实实在在告诉你们，信的人有永生。 48 我就是生命的食物， 49 你们的祖宗在旷野吃过吗哪，还是死了。 50 这是从天上降下来的食物，使人吃了就不死。 51 我就是从天上降下来生命的食物，人若吃了这食物，就必活到永远。我要赐的食物就是我的肉，是为了世人的生命而赐的。”
52 于是，犹太人彼此争论，说：“这个人怎能把他的肉给我们吃呢？” 53 耶稣就对他们说：“我实实在在告诉你们，你们若不吃人子的肉，不喝人子的血，就没有生命在你们里面。 54 吃我肉、喝我血的，就有永生，在末日我要使他复活； 55 因为我的肉是真正的食物，我的血是真正的饮料。 56 吃我肉、喝我血的人，就住在我里面，我也住在他里面。 57 正如永活的父差遣了我，我也因父活着；照样，吃我肉的人也必因我而活。 58 这就是从天上降下来的食物，不像吗哪，你们的祖宗吃过，还是死了；吃这食物的，必活到永远。” 59 这些话是耶稣在迦百农会堂里教导人的时候说的。
永生之道
60 他的门徒中，有许多人听了，就说：“这话很难，谁能接受呢？” 61 耶稣心里知道门徒为了这事议论纷纷，就对他们说：“这话使你们动摇吗？ 62 如果你们看见人子升到他原来所在的地方，又怎样呢？ 63 使人活的是灵，肉体是无济于事的。我对你们所说的话是灵、是生命。 64 然而你们中间却有不信的人。”原来从起初耶稣就知道那些不信的是谁，那要把他出卖的又是谁。 65 耶稣跟着说：“所以我对你们说过，如果不是父所赐的，没有人能到我这里来。”
66 从此，他的门徒中有许多人退去了，不再与他同行。 67 于是耶稣对十二门徒说：“你们也想离去吗？” 68 西门．彼得回答：“主啊，你有永生之道，我们还跟从谁呢？ 69 我们已经相信，并且知道你是 神的圣者。” 70 耶稣说：“我不是拣选了你们十二个人吗？但你们中间有一个是魔鬼。” 71 耶稣这话是指着加略人西门的儿子犹大说的，因为他虽然是十二门徒之一，却要出卖耶稣。
约翰福音 6
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Simplified)
耶稣使五千人吃饱
6 事后，耶稣渡过加利利湖，就是提比哩亚海。 2 许多人因为见过耶稣治病的神迹，就跟随了祂。 3 耶稣到了山上，与门徒一起坐下来。 4 那时，犹太人的逾越节快到了。 5 耶稣举目看见一大群人向祂走来，就对腓力说：“我们到哪里去买饼给他们吃呢？” 6 祂这样说是想试试腓力，其实祂知道应该怎么做。
7 腓力回答说：“就算买二百个银币[a]的饼，也不够他们每人一口啊！”
8 另外一个门徒——西门·彼得的弟弟安得烈对耶稣说： 9 “这里有个小孩子带了五个大麦饼和两条鱼。不过，这么多人，这一点东西实在无济于事。”
10 耶稣说：“你们叫大家坐下。”那地方草很多，众人便坐下来，当时在场的男人大约有五千。 11 耶稣拿起饼来祝谢后，分给坐着的众人，然后又照样分鱼，众人可以随意吃。 12 他们吃饱后，耶稣对门徒说：“把剩下的零碎收拾起来，免得浪费。”
13 他们便把大家吃剩的那五个大麦饼的零碎收拾起来，装满了十二个篮子。 14 大家看见耶稣行的这个神迹，都说：“这人真是那位要来到世上的先知！” 15 耶稣知道他们想强行立祂做王，便独自退到山上。
耶稣在湖面上行走
16 傍晚的时候，门徒来到湖边， 17 上了船，去湖对岸的迦百农。天色已暗，耶稣还没到他们那里。 18 忽然，湖面上狂风大作，波涛汹涌。 19 门徒摇橹，大约行了五六公里，突然看见耶稣在水面上朝他们的船走来，他们很害怕。 20 耶稣对他们说：“是我，不要怕。” 21 于是门徒欢然接祂上船，船立刻到了目的地。
生命之粮
22 第二天，留在对岸的众人看见那里只有一条船，耶稣没有和门徒一起坐船离开。 23 后来有几条从提比哩亚来的小船停泊在岸边，靠近主祝谢后让众人吃饼的地方。 24 他们发现耶稣和门徒都不在那里，就乘船到迦百农去找祂。
25 他们在湖对岸找到了耶稣，对祂说：“老师，你什么时候到这里来的？”
26 耶稣回答说：“我实实在在地告诉你们，你们找我，并不是因为看见了神迹，而是因为你们有饼吃，并且吃饱了。 27 不要为那必坏的食物劳苦，要为那存到永生的食物，就是人子要赐给你们的食物劳苦，因为父上帝把这权柄交给了人子。”
28 众人问祂：“我们要怎样做，才算是做上帝的工作呢？”
29 耶稣说：“信上帝所差来的那位，就是做上帝的工作。”
30 他们又问：“那么，你行什么神迹让我们看了可以信你呢？你要做什么呢？ 31 我们的祖先在旷野有吗哪吃，正如圣经上说，‘祂赐下天粮给他们吃。’”
32 耶稣却说：“我实实在在地告诉你们，不是摩西从天上赐给了你们粮食，而是我父将天上的真粮食赐给你们。 33 因为上帝赐的粮就是从天降下、赐生命给世人的那位。”
34 他们说：“先生，求你把这种粮食天天赐给我们吧。”
35 耶稣说：“我就是生命的粮，到我这里来的人必定不饿，信我的人必永远不渴。 36 但我对你们说过，你们虽然亲眼看见我，仍然不信。 37 凡父赐给我的人，必到我这里来。到我这里来的，我总不丢弃他。 38 因为我从天上下来，不是要成就自己的旨意，而是要成就差我来者的旨意。 39 差我来者的旨意是，祂所赐给我的，我一个也不失掉，在末日我要叫他们复活。 40 因为我父的旨意是要叫一切看见儿子并相信的人得到永生，在末日，我要叫他们复活。”
41 犹太人听见耶稣说自己是从天上降下来的粮，就小声议论， 42 说：“这不是约瑟的儿子耶稣吗？祂的父母，我们都认识，祂现在怎么能说自己是从天上降下来的呢？”
43 耶稣回答他们说：“你们不用议论纷纷。 44 如果不是差我来的父吸引人到我这里来，没有人能来。到我这里来的，在末日，我要叫他复活。 45 先知书上这样说，‘他们都要受上帝的训诲’，这里是指凡听从父的教导又去效法的人，都会到我这里来。 46 这并不是说有人见过父，唯独从上帝而来的那位见过父。 47 我实实在在地告诉你们，信我的人有永生， 48 因为我是生命的粮。 49 你们的祖先在旷野吃过吗哪，还是死了。 50 但这是从天上降下来的粮，人吃了就不死。 51 我就是天上降下来的生命之粮，人吃了这粮，必永远活着。我将要赐下的粮就是我的肉，是为了让世人得到生命。”
52 犹太人开始彼此争论，说：“这个人怎么能把自己的肉给我们吃呢？”
53 耶稣说：“我实实在在地告诉你们，如果你们不吃人子的肉，不喝人子的血，就没有生命。 54 吃我肉、喝我血的人有永生，在末日，我要叫他复活。 55 因为我的肉是真粮食，我的血是真饮品， 56 吃我肉、喝我血的人常在我里面，我也常在他里面。 57 永活的父差我来，我是靠祂而活。同样，吃我肉的人也靠我而活。 58 我是从天上降下来的真粮，吃这粮的人必永远活着，不像你们的祖先，虽然吃过吗哪，最后还是死了。”
59 这番话是耶稣在迦百农会堂里教导人的时候讲的。
永生之道
60 祂的许多门徒听了，就议论说：“这话实在难懂，谁能接受呢？”
61 耶稣知道门徒在议论，就说：“这话叫你们失去信心吗？ 62 如果你们看见人子升到祂原来所在的地方，会怎么样呢？ 63 叫人活着的是灵，肉体毫无作用。我对你们说的话就是灵，就是生命。 64 然而，你们中间有些人不信。”因为耶稣一开始就知道谁不信祂、谁会出卖祂。
65 祂继续说：“所以我曾对你们说，如果不是我父赐恩，没有人能到我这里来。”
66 从此，很多门徒离开了，不再跟从耶稣。
67 于是耶稣问那十二个门徒：“你们也要离开我吗？”
68 西门·彼得答道：“主啊！你有永生之道，我们还跟从谁呢？ 69 我们已经相信并且知道你是上帝的圣者。”
70 耶稣说：“我不是拣选了你们十二个人吗？但其中有一个是魔鬼。” 71 耶稣这话是指着加略人西门的儿子犹大说的，因为他是十二个门徒之一，后来出卖了耶稣。
Footnotes
- 6:7 一个银币相当于当时一天的工钱。
John 6
New Catholic Bible
The Bread of Life[a]
Chapter 6
Signs of Salvation
Jesus Feeds the Crowds.[b] 1 After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias, 2 and a large crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he performed on the sick. 3 Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down there with his disciples. 4 The Jewish feast of Passover was approaching.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for them to eat?” 6 He said this to test him, because Jesus himself knew what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages[c] would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, 9 “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what help will they be among so many?”
10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to the people who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 When they all had eaten enough, he said to the disciples, “Gather up the fragments that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves left by those who had eaten.
14 When the people saw the sign he had performed, they began to say, “This is indeed the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Then Jesus realized that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, so he again withdrew to the mountain by himself.
16 Jesus Walks on the Water.[d] When evening came, the disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and set out across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 The sea then became rough because a strong wind had started to blow.
19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and approaching the boat, and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, “It is I.[e] Do not be afraid!” 21 They were ready to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately reached the shore toward which they were heading.
Jesus, the Bread of Life for Believers[f]
Earthly Food and Heavenly Bread.[g] The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea realized that there had only been one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples; rather, the disciples had left by themselves. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.25 When the people found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
you came looking for me
not because you have seen signs
but because you ate the loaves
and your hunger was satisfied.
27 Do not work for food that perishes
but for the food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you.
For it is on him
that God the Father has set his seal.”
28 Then they asked him, “What must we do if we are to carry out the works of God?” 29 Jesus replied,
“This is the work of God:
to believe in the one whom he has sent.”
30 They asked him further, “What sign can you give us that we can see and come to believe in you? What work will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate manna in the desert. As it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven[h] to eat.’ ” 32 Jesus replied,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
it was not Moses
who gave you the bread from heaven.
It is my Father
who 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 The Bread of Life.[i]“Sir,” they begged him, “give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus answered them,
“I am[j] the bread of life.
Whoever comes to me will never be hungry,
and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
36 But I said to you that you have seen me
and yet you do not believe.
37 All that the Father gives me
will come to me,
and anyone who comes to me
I will never turn away.
38 For I have come down from heaven
not to do my own will
but the will of him who sent me.
39 “And this is the will of him who sent me:
that I should lose nothing
of all that he has given me,
but that I should raise it up
on the last day.
40 This indeed is the will of my Father:
that all who see the Son
and believe in him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise them up
on the last day.”
41 Faith, a Gift of God.[k] Then the Jews murmured 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? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
43 “Stop murmuring among yourselves!” Jesus said.
44 “No one can come to me
unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me,
and I will raise up that person on the last day.
45 It is written in the Prophets,
‘They will all be taught by God.’
Everyone who has listened to my Father
and learned from him comes to me.
46 Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father.
47 “Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
My Flesh for the Life of the World[l]
48 “I am the bread of life.
49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness,
and yet they died.
50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven,
so that one may eat it and not die.
51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven.
Whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my flesh, for the life of the world.”
52 Then the Jews started to argue among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 Jesus said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man
and drink his blood,
you do not have life within you.
54 Whoever feeds upon my flesh
and drinks my blood
has eternal life,
and I will raise him up on the last day.
55 For my flesh is real food,
and my blood is real drink.
56 “Whoever feeds upon my flesh and drinks my blood
dwells in me and I dwell in him.
57 Just as the living Father sent me
and I have life because of the Father,
so whoever feeds upon me will live because of me.
58 This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate
and nevertheless died,
the one who feeds upon this bread
will live forever.”
59 The Holy One of God.[m] Jesus said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. 60 After hearing his words, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard saying. Who can accept it?” 61 Aware of the complaints of his disciples, Jesus said to them,
“Does this shock you?
62 What then if you were to behold the Son of Man
ascend to where he was before?
63 It is the spirit that gives life;
the flesh[n] can achieve nothing.
The words that I have spoken to you
are spirit and life.
64 But there are some among you
who do not believe.”
For from the very beginning Jesus knew who did not believe, and who would betray him. 65 He said,
“This is why I told you
that no one can come to me
unless it is granted to him by my Father.”
66 After this, many of his disciples turned away and no longer remained with him. 67 Then Jesus said to the Twelve, “Do you also wish to leave?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”
70 Jesus replied, “Did I not choose you twelve? Yet one of you is a devil.” 71 He was speaking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Although he was one of the Twelve, he would be the one who would betray him.
Footnotes
- John 6:1 The Jewish Passover is near at hand, and with it the days on which unleavened bread is eaten as a sign of renewal; the action also recalls the manna that fed the Hebrews in the wilderness. It is in this context that the evangelist places Jesus’ act of feeding the hungry crowd. The whole action is a sign and foreshadowing of a new Passover and a true life-giving food. Jesus himself, in his person, is the bread of life that God offers to humanity. In order to receive this bread that makes a person live forever, one must believe in the Word.
- John 6:1 This is one of the rare passages in which all four Gospels are clearly parallel. At this point, John introduces the discourse on the bread of life. The sign of the loaves is seen as a symbol of the food given to mankind in the Word of God and especially in the Eucharist.
- John 6:7 Two hundred days’ wages: literally: two hundred denarii. A denarius was the average wage for a day’s work (see Mt 20:2).
- John 6:16 This account is connected with the preceding passage in the oldest tradition. Like the miracle of the loaves, it shows the absolute mastery Jesus exercises over creatures. For the disciples it is an invitation to believe without reserve: with Jesus present, they will lack nothing, and nothing can put them in peril.
- John 6:20 It is I: literally, “I AM,” the formula that reveals the name of the Lord in the Old Testament (see Ex 3:14; Isa 41:4, 10, 14; 43:1-3, 10, 13). Hence, the evangelist is alluding to Jesus as the Son of God. See note on Jn 4:26.
- John 6:22 Jesus’ gestures and actions are always signs of God; in them is expressed something of the mystery of Christ. Thus, the fourth evangelist places on the lips of Jesus a discourse that unveils the mystery. Here, then, is the deep meaning of the miracle of the loaves: Jesus is the Messenger of God, the true Bread handed over to gain life with God for the whole world.
22
Thus, it is announced that the words of Jesus are food for people, and that the life of Jesus is given on the cross for the salvation of all. But the Christian addressees of the fourth Gospel could not read this discourse without interpreting it as already announcing the rite inaugurated at the Last Supper (Mt 26:26), the Eucharist, memorial of the body handed over, of the blood shed, of the sacrifice of the cross.
Therefore, this discourse can be read on two levels. The author of the Gospel certainly wanted it so read: the word of God instructs one in the ways of God and the word of God is the bread of life that nourishes the spiritual hunger of God’s people. - John 6:22 There is a hunger for everlasting life, a hunger for God! And there is a bread of God, a food that gives everlasting life to those who believe in Jesus. The miracle of the manna was a symbol of this food (Ex 16:4, 13-15).
- John 6:31 Bread from heaven: see Ex 16:4, 15, 32-34; Ps 78:24. There was a belief that the manna had been hidden by Jeremiah (see 2 Mac 2:5-8) and would reappear at Passover in Messianic times.
- John 6:34 Jesus makes an astonishing affirmation: there is a Bread of God for us, and it is a person. Jesus himself fulfills his Father’s plan for us; in Jesus, God is present so that we may have true life. To receive God’s Bread is to believe in Jesus and accept him as the Son of God to receive through him the life his Father intends for us. What an astonishing gift! Jesus does not allow himself to be worshiped as a god or a hero; he says of himself that he came to satisfy the hunger of people and to fulfill our life. Every other food is only a diversion for our essential hunger. Jesus is the Bread that satisfies this hunger.
- John 6:35 I am . . . : this is the first of seven self-descriptions of Jesus introduced by “I am” (see Jn 8:12; and 9:5; 10:7, 9; 10:11, 14; 11:25; 14:6; 15:1, 5). These echo Ex 3:14 (see notes on Jn 4:26 and 6:20).
- John 6:41 During the period in the wilderness, the Hebrews doubted the Lord and “grumbled” against him; the memory of this had remained as a warning for all time (see Ex 16; Num 11; Ps 106:25).
When the fourth Gospel speaks of “the Jews,” the reference is to this mentality, this attitude of rejection, rather than to people as a whole or even to their leaders. - John 6:48 In what sense does Jesus do the Father’s will? By giving his life. He does not use the word “sacrifice,” but the terms “flesh” and “blood” express that idea in a very realistic way. In this gift, the life of the Father is given to human beings and becomes their everlasting life. That is a strong statement, and yet the objection of the Jews, who take it in the most material sense, does not lead to any toning down of it. On the contrary!
- John 6:59 After the success of the multiplication of loaves, scandal arises. The “flesh” (v. 63)—that is, people with their petty desires and thoughts—could not but be shocked by a revelation as absolute as the one they have just heard (that Jesus is the living Bread come down from heaven). Many of his disciples as well as some other people stopped following him, and Judas was already thinking of handing him over.
Only the Spirit gives people the will to believe that the Father speaks in Jesus. It is the Spirit who inspires Peter’s profession of faith (see Mt 16:16; Mk 8:29; Lk 9:20). But the Spirit would not be given in fullness until after Jesus’ Resurrection (see Jn 7:39).
In regard to Jesus, there is a division among the people. This division and Peter’s profession of faith mark a parting of the ways in the life of Jesus. The time of revelation to the disciples has begun and from now on the conflict with the official religion will develop irreconcilably. - John 6:63 Flesh: the human being with its desires and thoughts.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.
Chinese Contemporary Bible Copyright © 1979, 2005, 2007, 2011 by Biblica® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
