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。
Johannes 6
Het Boek
Vijf broden en twee vissen
6 Daarna ging Jezus naar de andere kant van het Meer van Galilea. 2 Een menigte mensen volgde Hem, omdat zij zagen dat Hij de zieken genas. 3 Jezus liep de heuvel op en ging daar met zijn leerlingen zitten. 4 Het was vlak voor Pesach, het Joodse Paasfeest. 5 Toen Jezus al die mensen zag aankomen, vroeg Hij aan Filippus: ‘Waar kunnen wij brood vandaan halen om die mensen te eten te geven?’ 6 Niet dat Jezus eten wilde kopen. Hij was iets anders van plan, maar was alleen benieuwd wat Filippus zou antwoorden. 7 Filippus zei: ‘Al kopen wij voor tweehonderd zilverstukken brood, dan hebben wij nog niet genoeg om iedereen te eten te geven.’ 8 Andreas, de broer van Simon Petrus, mengde zich in het gesprek. 9 ‘Hier is een jongen die vijf gerstebroden en twee gedroogde vissen heeft. Maar wat hebben wij daaraan voor zoveel mensen?’ 10 Jezus zei tegen zijn leerlingen: ‘Laat alle mensen in het gras gaan zitten.’ Toen bleek dat er alleen al zoʼn vijfduizend mannen waren. 11 Toen iedereen zat, nam Jezus de broden, dankte God ervoor en begon het brood uit te delen. Met de vissen deed Hij net zo. En iedereen kon naar behoefte eten. 12 Toen de mensen verzadigd waren, zei Jezus tegen zijn leerlingen: ‘Er is nog heel wat over. Haal het op, want er mag niets blijven liggen.’ 13 De leerlingen hadden twaalf manden nodig om het overschot op te halen. 14 Het drong tot de mensen door dat Hij iets geweldigs had gedaan. ‘Ja,’ zeiden zij, ‘Hij moet de Profeet zijn die in de wereld zou komen!’ 15 Omdat Jezus merkte dat de mensen Hem wilden dwingen hun koning te worden, ging Hij alleen de bergen in.
16 Bij het vallen van de avond daalden zijn leerlingen de berg af en kwamen bij het meer. 17 Toen het al donker was en Jezus nog steeds wegbleef, gingen zij in een boot en staken over naar Kafarnaüm. 18 Plotseling begon het vreselijk te waaien en kwamen er hoge golven op het meer. 19 Nadat zij ongeveer vijf kilometer geroeid hadden, zagen zij Jezus over het water lopen. Hij kwam naar hun boot toe. Zij werden bang, 20 maar Hij zei: ‘Ik ben het! Jullie hoeven niet bang te zijn.’ 21 ‘Kom aan boord,’ zeiden ze. Even later legden zij in Kafarnaüm aan.
22 De volgende morgen kwamen er weer veel mensen naar de plaats waar Jezus het brood had uitgedeeld. Zij dachten dat Hij daar nog zou zijn, omdat zijn leerlingen de vorige dag alleen waren weggevaren. 23 Maar toen zij zagen dat Jezus er niet was, stapten zij in een paar boten die uit Tiberias waren gekomen 24 en staken over naar Kafarnaüm om Jezus te zoeken.
Jezus, het brood dat leven geeft
25 Toen zij Hem daar vonden, vroegen zij: ‘Meester, wanneer bent U hier aangekomen?’ 26 ‘Ik weet wel waarom u Mij zoekt,’ antwoordde Hij. ‘U komt niet om de wonderen die u hebt gezien, maar omdat Ik u volop te eten heb gegeven. 27 Werk niet voor gewoon voedsel, dat vergaat, maar werk voor het voedsel dat blijft en waardoor u eeuwig leven krijgt. Ik, de Mensenzoon, zal u dat geven. Dat heeft God Mij opgedragen.’ 28 Zij vroegen: ‘Hoe kunnen wij doen wat God wil?’ 29 Jezus antwoordde: ‘U moet in Mij geloven. Dat is de wil van God, want Ik ben door Hem gestuurd.’ 30 ‘Bewijs dat dan eens,’ zeiden zij. ‘Geef ons een teken van uw macht. Wat kunt U doen? 31 Onze voorouders hadden in de woestijn steeds te eten. Er staat in de Boeken dat zij van Mozes brood uit de hemel kregen.’ 32 Jezus zei: ‘Dat brood uit de hemel hebben zij niet van Mozes gekregen, maar van mijn Vader. 33 Want het brood van God is Hij die uit de hemel is gekomen. Hij geeft het leven aan deze wereld.’ 34 ‘Here,’ zeiden zij. ‘Dat brood willen wij altijd wel hebben.’ 35 Jezus antwoordde: ‘Ik ben het brood dat leven geeft. Wie bij Mij komt, zal nooit meer honger krijgen. Wie in Mij gelooft, zal nooit meer dorst krijgen. 36 U hebt Mij gezien en toch gelooft u Mij niet. Dat heb Ik u trouwens al eens eerder gezegd.
37 Alle mensen die de Vader Mij geeft, zullen naar Mij toekomen. En als iemand bij Mij komt, zal Ik hem nooit wegsturen. 38 Ik ben niet uit de hemel gekomen om mijn eigen wil te doen, maar de wil van Hem die Mij gestuurd heeft. 39 God wil niet dat Ik één van deze mensen die Hij aan Mij gegeven heeft, verlies, maar dat Ik ze op de laatste dag uit de dood laat opstaan. 40 Mijn Vader wil dat ieder die inziet wie zijn Zoon is en op Hem vertrouwt, eeuwig leven heeft en Ik zal hen op de laatste dag uit de dood opwekken.’
41 De Joden begonnen onrust te stoken, omdat Hij had gezegd: ‘Ik ben het brood dat uit de hemel is gekomen.’ 42 Zij zeiden tegen elkaar. ‘Die man is niemand anders dan Jezus, de zoon van Jozef. Wij kennen zijn vader en moeder! Hoe durft Hij dan te zeggen dat Hij uit de hemel is gekomen?’ 43 ‘Houd op met dat gemopper,’ zei Jezus. 44 ‘Niemand kan bij Mij komen als de Vader hem niet zover brengt. En op de laatste dag zal Ik hem uit de dood opwekken. 45 De profeet Jesaja heeft geschreven: “Zij zullen allemaal door God onderwezen worden.” Ieder die de stem van God hoort en naar Hem luistert, komt bij Mij. 46 Niet dat ooit iemand de Vader heeft gezien. Alleen Hij die van God vandaan komt, heeft Hem gezien.
47 Luister goed: wie in Mij gelooft, heeft eeuwig leven. 48 Ik ben het brood dat leven geeft. 49 Uw voorouders hebben in de woestijn manna gegeten en zijn toch gestorven. 50 Maar met het brood uit de hemel waar Ik over spreek is het anders. Wie hiervan eet, zal niet sterven. 51 Ik ben het levende brood dat uit de hemel is gekomen. Wie van dit brood eet, zal altijd blijven leven. Het brood dat Ik voor het leven van de wereld zal geven, is mijn lichaam.’
52 De Joden kregen hierover ruzie onder elkaar. ‘Hoe kan Hij ons zijn lichaam te eten geven?’ zeiden zij. 53 ‘Ik zeg het nog eens,’ zei Jezus. ‘Als u het vlees van Mij, de Mensenzoon, niet eet en mijn bloed niet drinkt, is er geen leven in u. 54 Maar wie mijn vlees eet en mijn bloed drinkt, heeft eeuwig leven. Zo iemand zal Ik op de laatste dag uit de dood doen opstaan. 55 Want mijn vlees is echt voedsel en mijn bloed is echte drank. 56 Wie mijn vlees eet en mijn bloed drinkt, blijft in Mij en Ik blijf in hem. 57 Ik leef door de kracht van de levende Vader die Mij gestuurd heeft. Als iemand Mij eet, zal hij leven door mijn kracht. 58 Ik ben het brood dat uit de hemel is gekomen. Wie het eet, zal altijd blijven leven. Het is heel ander brood dan uw voorouders vroeger hebben gekregen, want die zijn tenslotte toch gestorven.’
59 Hij zei deze dingen terwijl Hij in een synagoge van Kafarnaüm aan het woord was. 60 Veel van zijn leerlingen hadden moeite met deze woorden en zeiden: ‘Zijn woorden zijn moeilijk te verteren, wie kan dit aanhoren?’ 61 Jezus wist wel dat zij hierover bezig waren en vroeg hun: ‘Erger Ik u met mijn woorden? 62 En als u Mij, de Mensenzoon, naar de hemel ziet teruggaan, wat dan? 63 Het is de Geest die leven geeft, het lichamelijke op zichzelf heeft geen nut. Alles wat Ik u gezegd heb, is Geest en leven. 64 Maar sommigen van u geloven Mij niet.’ Want Jezus wist allang wie Hem niet vertrouwden en wie Hem zou verraden. 65 Hij zei: ‘Daarom heb Ik u gezegd dat niemand bij Mij kan komen als de Vader hem niet zover brengt.’ 66 Vanaf dat moment gingen veel van zijn leerlingen niet meer met Jezus mee. Zij wilden niets meer met Hem te maken hebben.
67 ‘Willen jullie soms ook weggaan?’ vroeg Jezus aan de groep van twaalf. 68 Simon Petrus antwoordde: ‘Naar wie moeten wij toegaan, Here? U spreekt woorden die eeuwig leven geven. 69 Wij geloven en weten dat U de Zoon van God bent.’ 70 Jezus zei: ‘Ik heb jullie alle twaalf uitgekozen, maar een van jullie is een duivel.’ 71 Daarmee bedoelde Hij Judas, de zoon van Simon Iskariot, want die zou Hem later uitleveren.
約 翰 福 音 6
Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version
耶稣让五千人吃饱
6 此后,耶稣渡过加利利湖,此湖也叫提比哩亚湖。 2 许多人因为看到他在病人身上显示的奇迹,都跟在他身后, 3 耶稣上了一座小山,和门徒们坐在一起。 4 这时已经快到犹太人的逾越节了。
5 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?” 6 (耶稣早就知道该怎么做,他这么问只是为了试探腓力。)
7 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。”
8 西门彼得的兄弟安得烈是耶稣的门徒之一,他对耶稣说∶ 9 “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。)
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.
John 6
New International Version
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand(A)
6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs(B) he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside(C) and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival(D) was near.
5 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?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 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!”
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,(F) spoke up, 9 “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)
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