天からのパンであるイエス

その後、イエスはテベリヤ湖とも呼ばれるガリラヤ湖の向こう岸に行かれました。 2-5 大ぜいの群衆が、どこまでもあとについて行きました。イエスが病人を治されるのを見たからです。人々の多くは、過越の祭りのため、エルサレムへ行く途中でした。イエスが丘に登り、弟子たちといっしょに腰をおろされると、大ぜいの群衆も追いかけるように、あとからあとから丘に登って来ます。その様子をながめながら、イエスはピリポにお尋ねになりました。「ピリポ。この人たち全員に食べさせるには、どこからパンを買って来たらいいでしょうか。」 もっとも、これはピリポを試しただけで、どうするかはもう決めておられたのです。 ピリポは、「こんなにたくさんの人では、とても費用が足りません」と答えました。 シモン・ペテロの兄弟アンデレが口をはさみました。 「ここにいる子が、大麦のパンを五つと魚を二匹持っています。でも、こんなに大ぜいでは、何の足しになるでしょう。」 10 イエスは、「さあ、みんなを座らせなさい」とお命じになりました。男だけでも五千人はいたでしょうか。それが全員、草の生えた斜面にどやどやと腰をおろしました。 11 そこでイエスはパンを取り、神に感謝の祈りをささげてから人々にお配りになりました。また魚も、同様になさいました。みんなほしいだけ食べて、満腹しました。 12 イエスは弟子たちに言われました。「さあ、少しもむだにしないよう、パン切れを集めなさい。」 13 残りを集めると、なんと十二のかごにいっぱいになりました。 14 それを見た人々は、どんなにすばらしい奇跡が起こったのか初めて気づき、口々に、「この方こそ待ちに待ったあの預言者だ!」と叫びました。

15 人々は熱狂して、むりやりにでもイエスを王にまつり上げかねない勢いです。イエスはそっと抜け出し、ただ一人、山に登って行かれました。

16 その日の夕方、弟子たちは湖の岸辺に降りて行きました。 17 もう暗くなったのに、イエスはまだ戻られません。そこで舟に乗り込み、カペナウムに向けて湖を渡り始めました。 18-19 ところが、しばらくこいで行くうちに風が出てきました。風はびゅうびゅう吹きまくり、湖も荒れ始めました。それもひどくなる一方です。四、五キロほどもこぎ出したでしょうか。ふと見ると、イエスがむこうから、湖の上を歩いて舟のほうに来られます。弟子たちはあまりの恐ろしさに、ただ震え上がるばかりです。 20 イエスが、「こわがることはありません」と声をおかけになると、 21 やっと気を取り直し、うれしそうにイエスを舟にお乗せしました。舟はほどなく目ざす地に着きました。

22 朝になりました。湖の反対側では、大ぜいの人がイエスに会おうと集まって来ました。昨日、イエスをあとに残し、弟子たちだけが舟で出かけたことを知っていたからです。 23 イエスが感謝の祈りをささげ、みんなでパンを食べた場所の近くに、テベリヤから数隻の小舟が来ていました。 24 しかし、イエスも弟子たちもそこにはいないとわかると、人々はその舟に乗り込み、イエスを捜してカペナウムまで行きました。 25 そしてイエスを見つけると、さっそく、「先生。いったいどうやってここまでおいでになったのですか」と尋ねました。 26 「いいですか。あなたがたがわたしのそばにいたがるのは、わたしを信じているからではありません。パンを食べさせてあげたからです。 27 食べ物のようになくなってしまうものに心を奪われてはいけません。それよりも、永遠のいのちを手に入れる努力をしなさい。それこそ、メシヤ(救い主)のわたしが与えるものです。そのために、父なる神はわたしをお遣わしになったのです。」 28 「神様に満足していただくには、どうしたらいいのでしょうか。」 29 「神が遣わされた者を信じることです。それが、神の望んでおられることです。」 30-31 「あなたがメシヤなら、その証拠に、もっといろいろな奇跡を見せてください。毎日ただでパンを下さるとか……。ちょうど先祖たちが荒野を旅した時、毎日パンを与えられたように。『モーセは天からのパンを彼らに与えた』と聖書には書いてあります。」 32 「そのパンを与えたのは、モーセではありません。わたしの父です。そして今、父はあなたがたに、天からのほんとうのパンを下さるおつもりです。 33 ほんとうのパンとは、神から遣わされて天から来た一人の人のことです。その人が、世の人々にいのちを与えるのです。」 34 「先生。ぜひそのパンを、私たちにも一生の間、いつも下さい。」 35 「わたしが、そのいのちのパンなのです。わたしのところに来る人は、二度と飢えることがありません。わたしを信じる人は、決して渇くことがありません。 36 ところがあなたがたときたら、どうでしょう。前にも言ったように、わたしを見ながら信じないのです。全く困った人たちです。 37 けれども、父がわたしに与えてくださった人は、わたしのところに来ます。わたしは、そういう人を拒むようなことは絶対にしません。 38 わたしが天から下って来たのは、自分の思いのままをするためではなく、神の意思を行うためだからです。 39 神が与えてくださったすべての人を一人も失わないように守り、終わりの日に永遠のいのちを与えて復活させるのです。 40 事実、父は、子を信じる者がみな、永遠のいのちを得、終わりの日に復活することを願っておられるのです。」

41 ユダヤ人たちはイエスが、「わたしは天から下って来たパンです」とはっきり言われたので、ぶつぶつ文句を言い始めました。 42 「たかがヨセフの息子イエスではないか。父親も母親もよく知っている。なのに『わたしは天から下って来た』などと、とんでもないことを言って」と、彼らはつぶやきました。 43 そこで、イエスはお答えになりました。「わたしの言ったことで文句を言い合うのはやめなさい。 44 わたしをお遣わしになった父が引き寄せてくださらない限り、だれもわたしのところへは来られません。わたしのところに来る者を一人残らず、わたしは終わりの日に復活させるのです。 45 聖書には、『彼らはみな神によって教えられる』イザヤ54・13と書いてあります。父の語ることばを聞き、父から真理を学んだ人たちは、わたしのところへ来ます。 46 実際に父を見た者は一人もいません。ただわたしだけが、この目で父を見たのです。

47 よく言っておきます。わたしを信じている人はだれでも、すでに永遠のいのちを得ているのです。 48 わたしがいのちのパンなのです。 49 あなたがたの先祖は、荒野で、空から降って来たパンを食べましたが、結局はみな死んでしまいました。 50 けれども、天から下って来たパンは違います。それを食べる人は永遠のいのちをいただくのです。 51 わたしが、その天から下って来たいのちのパンなのです。このパンを食べる人はだれでも永遠に生きます。このパンは、人類の救いのためにささげるわたしの体なのです。」

52 ユダヤ人たちは、イエスがいったい何を言っているのかと、あれこれ議論し始めました。「なんてことを言うんだ。自分の体を食べさせるなんて、そんなことができるはずないじゃないか。」 53 そこでイエスは、続けてお話しになりました。「よく言っておきます。メシヤの肉を食べ、その血を飲まなければ、永遠のいのちを得ることはできません。 54 わたしの肉を食べ、わたしの血を飲む人はみな、永遠のいのちを持ちます。わたしは終わりの日にその人を復活させます。 55 わたしの肉はほんとうの食べ物、わたしの血はほんとうの飲み物です。 56 わたしの肉を食べ、わたしの血を飲む人はみな、わたしのうちにとどまり、わたしもその人のうちにとどまります。 57 わたしは、わたしをお遣わしになった、いのちなる神の力によって生きています。同じように、わたしを食べる人は、わたしによって生きるのです。 58 わたしは天から下って来たほんとうのパンです。このパンを食べる人はみな、永遠に生きます。空から降って来たパンを食べたのに、やがて死んでしまった先祖たちのように、死ぬことはありません。」 59 〔以上は、イエスがカペナウムの会堂でなさった話です。〕

60 これには、弟子たちでさえ思わず、「なんとむずかしい話だ。さっぱりわからない」ともらすほどでした。 61 それに気づいたイエスは、彼らに言われました。「こんなことでつまずくのですか。 62 そんなことでは、メシヤ(救い主)のわたしが天に帰るのを見たら、いったいどう思うことでしょう。 63 いいですか。ただ聖霊だけが永遠のいのちを与えてくださいます。肉体的にこの世に生まれただけでは、永遠のいのちはいただけません。今わたしがあなたがたに話したのは、まさにこのことで、どうしたら、ほんとうの霊のいのちをいただけるかということなのです。 64 だが残念なことに、あなたがたの中には、わたしを信じない者がいます。」イエスは初めから、信じない者はだれか、裏切る者はだれかを知っておられたのです。 65 イエスは先をお続けになりました。「『父が引き寄せてくださらない限り、だれもわたしのところへは来られません』と言ったのは、そういう意味なのです。」

66 この時から、多くの弟子たちがイエスから離れ、もはや行動を共にしなくなりました。 67 そこでイエスは、十二人の弟子たちに、「まさか、あなたがたは行ってしまわないでしょうね」とお尋ねになりました。 68 シモン・ペテロが即座に答えました。「何をおっしゃるんです、先生。あなたをさしおいて、ほかの人のところへ行くわけがないじゃありませんか。永遠のいのちを与えることばを握っているのは、あなただけなんですから。 69 私たちはそのことばを信じていますし、あなたが神のきよい御子だということも知っています。」 70 「あなたがた十二人を選んだのはわたしです。しかし、なんということでしょう。悪魔が一人まぎれ込んでいます。」 71 イエスが言われたのは、イスカリオテのシモンの子ユダのことでした。ユダは十二人の弟子の一人でありながら、イエスを裏切ろうとしていたのです。

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

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.