耶穌使五千人吃飽

事後,耶穌渡過加利利湖,就是提比哩亞海。 許多人因為見過耶穌治病的神蹟,就跟隨了祂。 耶穌到了山上,與門徒一起坐下來。 那時,猶太人的逾越節快到了。 耶穌舉目看見一大群人向祂走來,就對腓力說:「我們到哪裡去買餅給他們吃呢?」 祂這樣說是想試試腓力,其實祂知道應該怎麼做。

腓力回答說:「就算買二百個銀幣[a]的餅,也不夠他們每人一口啊!」

另外一個門徒——西門·彼得的弟弟安得烈對耶穌說: 「這裡有個小孩子帶了五個大麥餅和兩條魚。不過,這麼多人,這一點東西實在無濟於事。」

10 耶穌說:「你們叫大家坐下。」那地方草很多,眾人便坐下來,當時在場的男人大約有五千。 11 耶穌拿起餅來祝謝後,分給坐著的眾人,然後又照樣分魚,眾人可以隨意吃。 12 他們吃飽後,耶穌對門徒說:「把剩下的零碎收拾起來,免得浪費。」

13 他們便把大家吃剩的那五個大麥餅的零碎收拾起來,裝滿了十二個籃子。 14 大家看見耶穌行的這個神蹟,都說:「這人真是那位要來到世上的先知!」 15 耶穌知道他們想強行立祂作王,便獨自退到山上。

耶穌在湖面上行走

16 傍晚的時候,門徒來到湖邊, 17 上了船,去湖對岸的迦百農。天色已暗,耶穌還沒到他們那裡。 18 忽然,湖面上狂風大作,波濤洶湧。 19 門徒搖櫓,大約行了五六公里,突然看見耶穌在水面上朝他們的船走來,他們很害怕。 20 耶穌對他們說:「是我,不要怕。」 21 於是門徒欣然接祂上船,船立刻到了目的地。

生命之糧

22 第二天,留在對岸的眾人看見那裡只有一條船,耶穌沒有和門徒一起坐船離開。 23 後來有幾條從提比哩亞來的小船停泊在岸邊,靠近主祝謝後讓眾人吃餅的地方。 24 他們發現耶穌和門徒都不在那裡,就乘船到迦百農去找祂。

25 他們在湖對岸找到了耶穌,對祂說:「老師,你什麼時候到這裡來的?」

26 耶穌回答說:「我實實在在地告訴你們,你們找我,並不是因為看見了神蹟,而是因為你們有餅吃,並且吃飽了。 27 不要為那必壞的食物勞苦,要為那存到永生的食物,就是人子要賜給你們的食物勞苦,因為父上帝把這權柄交給了人子。」

28 眾人問祂:「我們要怎樣做,才算是做上帝的工作呢?」

29 耶穌說:「信上帝所差來的那位,就是做上帝的工作。」

30 他們又問:「那麼,你行什麼神蹟讓我們看了可以信你呢?你要做什麼呢? 31 我們的祖先在曠野有嗎哪吃,正如聖經上說,『祂賜下天糧給他們吃。』」

32 耶穌卻說:「我實實在在地告訴你們,不是摩西從天上賜給了你們糧食,而是我父將天上的真糧食賜給你們。 33 因為上帝賜的糧就是從天降下、賜生命給世人的那位。」

34 他們說:「先生,求你把這種糧食天天賜給我們吧。」

35 耶穌說:「我就是生命的糧,到我這裡來的人必定不餓,信我的人必永遠不渴。 36 但我對你們說過,你們雖然親眼看見我,仍然不信。 37 凡父賜給我的人,必到我這裡來。到我這裡來的,我總不丟棄他。 38 因為我從天上下來,不是要成就自己的旨意,而是要成就差我來者的旨意。 39 差我來者的旨意是,祂所賜給我的,我一個也不失掉,在末日我要叫他們復活。 40 因為我父的旨意是要叫一切看見兒子並相信的人得到永生,在末日,我要叫他們復活。」

41 猶太人聽見耶穌說自己是從天上降下來的糧,就小聲議論, 42 說:「這不是約瑟的兒子耶穌嗎?祂的父母,我們都認識,祂現在怎麼能說自己是從天上降下來的呢?」

43 耶穌回答他們說:「你們不用議論紛紛。 44 如果不是差我來的父吸引人到我這裡來,沒有人能來。到我這裡來的,在末日,我要叫他復活。 45 先知書上這樣說,『他們都要受上帝的訓誨』,這裡是指凡聽從父的教導又去效法的人,都會到我這裡來。 46 這並不是說有人見過父,唯獨從上帝而來的那位見過父。 47 我實實在在地告訴你們,信我的人有永生, 48 因為我是生命的糧。 49 你們的祖先在曠野吃過嗎哪,還是死了。 50 但這是從天上降下來的糧,人吃了就不死。 51 我就是天上降下來的生命之糧,人吃了這糧,必永遠活著。我將要賜下的糧就是我的肉,是為了讓世人得到生命。」

52 猶太人開始彼此爭論,說:「這個人怎麼能把自己的肉給我們吃呢?」

53 耶穌說:「我實實在在地告訴你們,如果你們不吃人子的肉,不喝人子的血,就沒有生命。 54 吃我肉、喝我血的人有永生,在末日,我要叫他復活。 55 因為我的肉是真糧食,我的血是真飲品, 56 吃我肉、喝我血的人常在我裡面,我也常在他裡面。 57 永活的父差我來,我是靠祂而活。同樣,吃我肉的人也靠我而活。 58 我是從天上降下來的真糧,吃這糧的人必永遠活著,不像你們的祖先,雖然吃過嗎哪,最後還是死了。」

59 這番話是耶穌在迦百農會堂裡教導人的時候講的。

永生之道

60 祂的許多門徒聽了,就議論說:「這話實在難懂,誰能接受呢?」

61 耶穌知道門徒在議論,就說:「這話叫你們失去信心嗎? 62 如果你們看見人子升到祂原來所在的地方,會怎麼樣呢? 63 叫人活著的是靈,肉體毫無作用。我對你們說的話就是靈,就是生命。 64 然而,你們中間有些人不信。」因為耶穌一開始就知道誰不信祂、誰會出賣祂。

65 祂繼續說:「所以我曾對你們說,如果不是我父賜恩,沒有人能到我這裡來。」

66 從此,很多門徒離開了,不再跟從耶穌。

67 於是耶穌問那十二個門徒:「你們也要離開我嗎?」

68 西門·彼得答道:「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上帝的聖者。」

70 耶穌說:「我不是揀選了你們十二個人嗎?但其中有一個是魔鬼。」 71 耶穌這話是指著加略人西門的兒子猶大說的,因為他是十二個門徒之一,後來出賣了耶穌。

Footnotes

  1. 6·7 一個銀幣相當於當時一天的工錢。

耶稣让五千人吃饱

此后,耶稣渡过加利利湖,此湖也叫提比哩亚湖。 许多人因为看到他在病人身上显示的奇迹,都跟在他身后, 耶稣上了一座小山,和门徒们坐在一起。 这时已经快到犹太人的逾越节了。

耶稣抬头看见一大群人向他走来,就问腓力∶“我们得到哪里去买足够这些人吃的面包呢?” (耶稣早就知道该怎么做,他这么问只是为了试探腓力。)

腓力说∶“花一个月工钱买的面包,还不够这些人每人吃一口的呢。”

西门彼得的兄弟安得烈是耶稣的门徒之一,他对耶稣说∶ “这里有个男孩,他有五块大麦面包和两条鱼,可是这对那么多人有什么用处呢?”

10 耶稣说∶“让大家坐下来吧。” 那地方遍地是青草,人们席地而坐,大约有五千个男人。 11 耶稣拿起面包,谢恩之后,把面包分给坐在那里的人,同样,他也把鱼分给了他们,任凭他们随便要多少。

12 等人们都吃饱了,耶稣对门徒说∶“把剩下的东西都收拾起来,不要浪费。” 13 门徒们把这些人分吃五块大麦面包后的剩饭收起来,足足装了满满十二筐。

14 人们看到耶稣所行的奇迹,开始说∶“这个人肯定是即将来临到这个世界的先知。” 15 耶稣知道他们要来强迫他做王,便独自一人离开到山里去了。

耶稣在水面行走

16 到了晚上,耶稣的门徒来到湖边。 17 天已经晚了,耶稣还没有过来,他们上了船,起航渡湖到迦百农去。 18 一阵狂风吹过,湖上的浪越来越大, 19 当门徒们划出五、六公里远时,看见耶稣走在湖面上,他走近船时,他们都吓坏了。 20 但是,耶稣对他们说∶“是我,不要害怕。” 21 然后,他们都高兴地把耶稣接进了船,船立刻就到了他们要去的地方。

寻找耶稣

22 第二天,留在湖对岸的人们看到只有一条船在那里,他们意识到耶稣没有和他的门徒们一起走,而是门徒们自己走了。 23 有几只从提比哩亚来的船,在主谢恩后他们吃面包的地方的附近,靠了岸。 24 人们看见耶稣和他的门徒都不在那里,便上船去迦百农找他。

耶稣-生命之粮

25 他们在湖对岸找到耶稣时,对他说∶“拉比(老师),您什么时候到这里的?”

26 耶稣回答他们说∶“我实话告诉你们,你们来找我,不是因为你们看到了奇迹,是因为你们吃了面包,而且吃得心满意足。 27 不要为会腐烂变质的食物而工作,而应该为永不变质和提供永恒生命的食物而工作,即人子赐予的食物,因为上帝已把他认可的封印贴在了人子身上。”

28 他们问∶“我们该怎么去执行上帝要求的事情呢?”

29 耶稣回答∶“上帝要求你们做的事情是:信仰他派来的人。”

30 他们又问∶“您将行什么样的奇迹给我们看,好让我们相信您呢?您将做什么呢? 31 我们的祖先在荒野里吃过吗哪,正如《经》上所记载的∶‘他赐给他们从天而降的面包吃。’”

32 耶稣又对他们说∶“我实话告诉你们:摩西没有赐给你们来自天堂的面包,而是我父把来自天堂的真正的面包赐给了你们。 33 因为,上帝的面包是那位降自天堂、并且给这个世界带来生命的那位。”

34 他们说∶“先生,从今往后,一直给我们这种面包吧。”

35 耶稣说∶“我就是赐予生命的面包,到我这里来的人将不会挨饿,信仰我的人也绝不会干渴。 36 正如我以前告诉过你们的那样,你们已经看见我了,可你们还是不相信。 37 父赐给我的人,都会到我这里来,我绝对不会背弃到我这里来的人。 38 因为我从天堂降临,不是来做我自己想做的事,而是执行派我来的人的意愿。 39 这就是派我来的人的意愿:不失去他(上帝)赐给我的任何人,并在末日里让他们复活。 40 因为我父的愿望是让看到人子并信仰他的人都会得到永生,我将在这个时代的末日里让他们复活。”

41 因为耶稣说“我是来自天上的面包”,所以,犹太人开始对他不满。 42 他们说∶“这个耶稣难道不是约瑟的儿子吗?我们难道不认识他父母吗?他现在怎么能说‘我来自天堂呢?’”

43 耶稣回答他们∶“不要私下抱怨了。 44 如果没有差谴我的父的吸引,没有人能到我这里来。我将在这个时代的末日里,让到我这里来的人复活。 45 先知写道∶‘他们都将受上帝的教导。’所有听从父亲话,并且学习父亲的教诲的人都会到我这里来。 46 (除了来自上帝的那位,没有谁见到过父亲,只有他见过。) 47 我实话告诉你们,相信的人会获永生, 48 我是赋予生命的食粮。 49 你们祖先在荒野里吃过吗哪,但是他们死了。 50 然而,这是来自天堂的面包,人可以吃了它而不会死去。 51 我就是来自天堂的活面包,任何人吃了这面包,都会永生不死。这块饼就是我的肉体,我将为这个世界的生命奉献它。”

52 犹太人彼此争论说∶“他怎么能拿自己的肉体让咱们吃呢?”

53 耶稣说∶“我实话告诉你们,如果你们不吃人子的肉、喝他的血,你们就不会有生命。 54 吃我的肉、喝我的血的人,会获得永恒的生命,而且在这个时代的末日里,我将让他复活。 55 因为我的肉体是真正的粮食,我的血液是真正的饮料。 56 吃我的肉、喝我的血的人,我中有他,他中有我。 57 正如活着的父亲派我来,我因为父亲而活一样,那么吃了我的人,也因为我而活。 58 这是来自天堂的面包,不像我们的祖先吃了吗哪,后来还是死掉了,吃了这面包的人,会永远活着。” 59 这番话是耶稣在迦百农一个会堂里传教时说的。

很多门徒离开耶稣

60 耶稣的许多门徒听了这话,说道∶“这些教导难以接受,谁能听他的呢?”

61 耶稣知道他们在嘀咕什么,便对他们说∶“这些教导令你们感到不安了吗? 62 如果你们看到人子升天回到他原来的地方去,又会怎么样呢? 63 圣灵赋予生命,肉体毫无用处。我对你们说的话就是圣灵,它们赋予生命。不过你们当中有些人不相信。” 64 (耶稣一开始就知道那些不相信他的人,也知道那个要出卖他的人。)接着他说: 65 “这就是我为什么告诉你们,除非是父亲使人有可能到我这里来,否则没有人能够到我这里来。”

66 从此,耶稣的许多门徒不再跟随他了。

67 耶稣问十二个使徒∶“你们也想离开吗?”

68 西门彼得回答说∶“主,我们到哪儿去呢?您有赋予永生的话, 69 我们信仰您,我们知道您是来自上帝的圣人。”

70 耶稣回答说∶“难道不是我挑选了你们十二个人吗?可是你们之中有一个却是魔鬼!” 71 (他指的是加略人西门的儿子犹大,尽管他是十二使徒之一,后来,他出卖了耶稣。)

More Than 5,000 People Fed

After this, Jesus went across Lake Galilee (or, Lake Tiberias). Many people followed him because they saw the miracles he did to heal the sick. Jesus went up on a hill and there sat down with his followers. It was almost the time for the Jewish Passover Feast.

Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him. He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for all these people to eat?” (Jesus asked Philip this question to test him. Jesus already knew what he planned to do.)

Philip answered, “Someone would have to work almost a year to buy enough bread for each person here to have only a little piece.”

Another follower there was Andrew. He was Simon Peter’s brother. Andrew said, “Here is a boy with five loaves of barley bread and two little fish. But that is not enough for so many people.”

10 Jesus said, “Tell the people to sit down.” This was a very grassy place. There were about 5,000 men who sat down there. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves of bread. He thanked God for the bread and gave it to the people who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish. He gave them as much as they wanted.

12 They all had enough to eat. When they had finished, Jesus said to his followers, “Gather the pieces of fish and bread that were not eaten. Don’t waste anything.” 13 So they gathered up the pieces that were left. They filled 12 large baskets with the pieces that were left of the five barley loaves.

14 The people saw this miracle that Jesus did. They said, “He must truly be the Prophet[a] who is coming into the world.”

15 Jesus knew that the people planned to come and take him by force and make him their king. So he left and went into the hills alone.

Jesus Walks on the Water

16 That evening Jesus’ followers went down to Lake Galilee. 17 It was dark now and Jesus had not yet come to them. The followers got into a boat and started across the lake to Capernaum. 18 By now a strong wind was blowing, and the waves on the lake were getting bigger. 19 They rowed the boat about three or four miles. Then they saw Jesus walking on the water, coming toward the boat. The followers were afraid. 20 But Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. It is I.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat. At once the boat came to land at the place where they wanted to go.

The People Seek Jesus

22 The next day came. Some people had stayed on the other side of the lake. They knew that Jesus had not gone in the boat with his followers but that they had left without him. And they knew that only one boat had been there. 23 But then some boats came from Tiberias. They landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 The people saw that Jesus and his followers were not there now. So they got into boats and went to Capernaum. They wanted to find Jesus.

Jesus, the Bread of Life

25 The people found Jesus on the other side of the lake. They asked him, “Teacher, when did you come here?”

26 Jesus answered, “Are you looking for me because you saw me do miracles? No! I tell you the truth. You are looking for me because you ate the bread and were satisfied. 27 Earthly food spoils and ruins. So don’t work to get that kind of food. But work to get the food that stays good always and gives you eternal life. The Son of Man will give you that food. God the Father has shown that he is with the Son of Man.”

28 The people asked Jesus, “What are the things God wants us to do?”

29 Jesus answered, “The work God wants you to do is this: to believe in the One that God sent.”

30 So the people asked, “What miracle will you do? If we can see a miracle, then we will believe you. What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the desert. This is written in the Scriptures: ‘God gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”[b]

32 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth. Moses was not the one who gave you bread from heaven. But my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 God’s bread is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 The people said, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Then Jesus said, “I am the bread that gives life. He who comes to me will never be hungry. He who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you before, you have seen me, and still you don’t believe. 37 The Father gives me the people who are mine. Every one of them will come to me, and I will always accept them. 38 I came down from heaven to do what God wants me to do. I did not come to do what I want to do. 39 I must not lose even one of those that God has given me, but I must raise them up on the last day. This is what the One who sent me wants me to do. 40 Everyone who sees the Son and believes in him has eternal life. I will raise him up on the last day. This is what my Father wants.”

41 The Jews began to complain about Jesus. They complained because he said, “I am the bread that comes down from heaven.” 42 The Jews said, “This is Jesus. We know his father and mother. He is only Joseph’s son. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

43 But Jesus answered, “Stop complaining to each other. 44 The Father is the One who sent me. No one can come to me unless the Father draws him to me. And I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘God will teach all the people.’[c] Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the One who is from God. Only he has seen the Father. 47 I tell you the truth. He who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread that gives life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert. But still they died. 50 Here is the bread that comes down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will never die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh. I will give my flesh so that the people in the world may have life.”

52 Then the Jews began to argue among themselves. They said, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth. You must eat the flesh of the Son of Man. And you must drink his blood. If you don’t do this, then you won’t have real life in you. 54 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. I will raise him up on the last day. 55 My flesh is true food. My blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me, and I live in him. 57 The Father sent me. The Father lives, and I live because of the Father. So he who eats me will live because of me. 58 I am not like the bread our ancestors ate. They ate that bread, but still they died. I am the bread that came down from heaven. He who eats this bread will live forever.” 59 Jesus said all these things while he was teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

The Words of Eternal Life

60 The followers of Jesus heard this. Many of them said, “This teaching is hard. Who can accept it?”

61 Jesus knew that his followers were complaining about this. So he said, “Does this teaching bother you? 62 Then will it also bother you to see the Son of Man going back to the place where he came from? 63 It is not the flesh that gives a person life. It is the spirit that gives life. The words I told you are spirit, and so they give life. 64 But some of you don’t believe.” (Jesus knew who did not believe. He knew this from the beginning. And he knew who would turn against him.) 65 Jesus said, “That is the reason I said, ‘If the Father does not let a person come to me, then he cannot come.’”

66 After Jesus said this, many of his followers left him. They stopped following him.

67 Jesus asked the 12 followers, “Do you want to leave, too?”

68 Simon Peter answered Jesus, “Lord, who would we go to? You have the words that give eternal life. 69 We believe in you. We know that you are the Holy One from God.”

70 Then Jesus answered, “I chose all 12 of you. But 1 of you is a devil.”

71 Jesus was talking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Judas was 1 of the 12. But later he was going to turn against Jesus.

Footnotes

  1. 6:14 Prophet They probably meant the prophet that God told Moses he would send (Deuteronomy 18:15–19).
  2. 6:31 ‘God gave . . . eat.’ Quotation from Psalm 78:24.
  3. 6:45 ‘God . . . people.’ Quotation from Isaiah 54:13.