Jesus mättar fem tusen män

Därefter for Jesus över Galileiska sjön, Tiberias sjö. Mycket folk följde honom, därför att de såg de tecken som han gjorde med de sjuka. Men Jesus gick upp på berget och satte sig där med sina lärjungar. Påsken, judarnas högtid, var nära.

När Jesus lyfte blicken och såg att mycket folk kom till honom, sade han till Filippus: "Var skall vi köpa bröd så att dessa får något att äta?" Det sade han för att pröva honom, ty själv visste han vad han skulle göra. Filippus svarade: "Bröd för två hundra denarer räcker inte för att alla skall få ett stycke var." En annan av hans lärjungar, Andreas, Simon Petrus bror, sade till honom: "Här är en pojke som har fem kornbröd och två fiskar. Men vad förslår det till så många?" 10 Jesus sade: "Låt folket slå sig ner" - det var gott om gräs på det stället - och de slog sig ner. Det var omkring fem tusen män. 11 Jesus tog bröden, tackade Gud[a] och delade ut till dem som var där, likaså av fiskarna, så mycket de ville ha. 12 När de var mätta sade han till sina lärjungar: "Samla ihop de stycken som har blivit över, så att inget blir förstört." 13 De samlade ihop dem och fyllde tolv korgar med de stycken som hade blivit över av de fem kornbröden när de ätit.

14 När folket såg vilket tecken han hade gjort, sade de: "Visst är detta Profeten, som skulle komma till världen." 15 Då Jesus förstod att de tänkte komma för att med våld göra honom till kung, drog han sig undan upp till berget, helt ensam.

Jesus går på vattnet

16 När det hade blivit kväll, gick hans lärjungar ner till sjön 17 och steg i en båt för att fara över till Kapernaum på andra sidan sjön. Det var redan mörkt, och Jesus hade ännu inte kommit till dem. 18 Det blåste hårt och sjön började gå hög. 19 När de hade kommit ungefär tjugofem eller trettio stadier ut, fick de se Jesus komma gående på sjön och närma sig båten, och de blev förskräckta. 20 Men han sade till dem: "Det är jag. Var inte förskräckta!" 21 De skulle just ta upp honom i båten, men då var den redan framme vid den plats dit de var på väg.

Jesus är livets bröd

22 Nästa dag stod folket på andra sidan sjön. De hade sett att det bara hade funnits en båt där och att Jesus inte hade stigit i den och följt med sina lärjungar, utan att de hade gett sig i väg ensamma. 23 Andra båtar kom från Tiberias och lade till nära platsen där de hade ätit brödet, sedan Herren hade uttalat tacksägelsen. 24 När folket såg att Jesus inte var där och inte heller hans lärjungar, steg de i båtarna och kom till Kapernaum och sökte efter Jesus. 25 De fann honom på andra sidan sjön och frågade honom: "Rabbi, när kom du hit?" 26 Jesus svarade dem: "Amen, amen säger jag er: Ni söker mig inte därför att ni har sett tecken, utan därför att ni fick äta av bröden och blev mätta.

27 Arbeta inte för den mat som tar slut utan för den mat som varar och ger evigt liv och som Människosonen skall ge er. På honom har Gud, hans Fader, satt sitt sigill." 28 De frågade honom: "Vad skall vi göra för att utföra Guds gärningar?" 29 Jesus svarade: "Detta är Guds gärning, att ni tror på den som han har sänt." 30 De sade till honom: "Vad gör du för tecken, så att vi kan se det och tro på dig? Vad kan du göra? 31 Våra fäder fick äta manna i öknen, så som det står skrivet: Han gav dem bröd från himlen att äta." [b] 32 Då sade Jesus till dem: "Amen, amen säger jag er: Det är inte Mose som har gett er brödet från himlen, utan det är min Fader som ger er det sanna brödet från himlen. 33 Guds bröd är det bröd som kommer ner från himlen och ger världen liv." 34 De sade till honom: "Herre, ge oss alltid det brödet!" 35 Jesus svarade: "Jag är livets bröd. Den som kommer till mig skall aldrig hungra, och den som tror på mig skall aldrig någonsin törsta. 36 Men jag har sagt er: Ni har sett mig och tror inte. 37 Alla som Fadern ger mig kommer till mig, och den som kommer till mig skall jag aldrig någonsin kasta ut. 38 Ty jag har inte kommit ner från himlen för att göra min vilja utan hans vilja som har sänt mig. 39 Och detta är hans vilja som har sänt mig att jag inte skall förlora någon enda av alla dem som han har gett mig, utan att jag skall låta dem uppstå på den yttersta dagen. 40 Ty detta är min Faders vilja, att var och en som ser Sonen och tror på honom skall ha evigt liv, och jag skall låta honom uppstå på den yttersta dagen."

41 Judarna var mycket förargade över att han hade sagt: "Jag är det bröd som har kommit ner från himlen." 42 De sade: "Den här Jesus, är han inte Josefs son, och känner inte vi hans far och mor? Hur kan han då säga: Jag har kommit ner från himlen?" 43 Jesus svarade: "Var inte så upprörda. 44 Ingen kan komma till mig, om inte Fadern som har sänt mig drar honom, och jag skall låta honom uppstå på den yttersta dagen. 45 Det står skrivet hos profeterna: De skall alla ha blivit undervisade av Gud.[c] Var och en som har lyssnat till Fadern och lärt av honom kommer till mig. 46 Inte så att någon skulle ha sett Fadern utom han som är från Gud. Han har sett Fadern. 47 Amen, amen säger jag er: Den som tror har evigt liv. 48 Jag är livets bröd. 49 Era fäder åt manna i öknen, och de dog. 50 Men det bröd som kommer ner från himlen är sådant att den som äter av det inte skall dö. 51 Jag är det bröd som ger liv, det bröd som har kommit ner från himlen. Den som äter av det brödet skall leva i evighet. Och brödet jag ger är mitt kött, för att världen skall leva."

52 Judarna började då tvista med varandra och säga: "Hur kan han ge oss sitt kött att äta?" 53 Jesus svarade: "Amen, amen säger jag er: Om ni inte äter Människosonens kött och dricker hans blod, har ni inte liv i er. 54 Den som äter mitt kött och dricker mitt blod har evigt liv, och jag skall låta honom uppstå på den yttersta dagen. 55 Ty mitt kött är verklig mat och mitt blod är verklig dryck. 56 Den som äter mitt kött och dricker mitt blod förblir i mig och jag i honom. 57 Liksom den levande Fadern har sänt mig, och jag lever därför att Fadern lever, så skall också den som äter mig leva därför att jag lever. 58 Detta är det bröd som har kommit ner från himlen. Det är inte som det bröd fäderna åt och sedan dog. Den som äter detta bröd skall leva i evighet." 59 Detta sade han när han undervisade i synagogan i Kapernaum.

60 Många av hans lärjungar som hörde det sade: "Det här är ett hårt tal. Vem står ut med att höra det?" 61 Jesus förstod att hans lärjungar var upprörda över detta, och han sade till dem: "Tar ni anstöt av det här? 62 Vad skall ni då säga, när ni får se Människosonen stiga upp dit där han redan var? 63 Det är Anden som ger liv, köttet är inte till någon nytta. De ord som jag har talat till er är Ande och liv. 64 Men det är några bland er som inte tror." - Jesus visste från början, vilka som inte trodde och vem det var som skulle förråda honom. - 65 Han sade vidare: "Därför har jag sagt er att ingen kan komma till mig om det inte blir honom givet av Fadern."

66 Efter detta drog sig många av hans lärjungar tillbaka, så att de inte längre följde honom. 67 Jesus sade därför till de tolv: "Inte vill väl också ni gå bort?" 68 Simon Petrus svarade honom: "Herre, till vem skulle vi gå? Du har det eviga livets ord, 69 och vi tror och förstår att du är Guds Helige." 70 Jesus svarade dem: "Har jag inte själv valt ut er tolv? Och en av er är en djävul!" 71 Han menade Judas, Simon Iskariots son. Det var han som skulle förråda honom, och han var en av de tolv.

Footnotes

  1. Johannes 6:11 tackade Gud Se not till Matt 14:19.
  2. Johannes 6:31 2 Mos 16:4f, Ps 78:24.
  3. Johannes 6:45 Jes 54:13, Jer 31:33f.

Five Thousand Fed

After this, Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or [a]Sea of Tiberias).(A) A large crowd was following Him because they had seen the signs (attesting miracles) which He continually performed on those who were sick. And Jesus went up on the mountainside and sat down there with His disciples. Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was approaching.(B) Jesus looked up and saw that a large crowd was coming toward Him, and He said to Philip, “Where will we buy bread for these people to eat?” But He said this to test Philip, because He knew what He was about to do. Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii (200 days’ wages) worth of bread is not enough for each one to receive even a little.” One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, “There is a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down [to eat].” Now [the ground] there was [covered with] an abundance of grass, so the men sat down, about [b]5,000 in number. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to those who were seated; the same also with the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 When they had eaten enough, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and they filled twelve large baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign (attesting miracle) that He had done, they began saying, “This is without a doubt the promised Prophet who is to come into the world!”(C)

Jesus Walks on the Water

15 Then Jesus, knowing that they were going to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountainside by Himself.

16 When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 and they got into a boat and started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had still not come [back] to them. 18 The sea was getting rough and rising high because a strong wind was blowing. 19 Then, when they had rowed [c]three or four miles [and were near the [d]center of the sea], they saw Jesus walking on the sea and approaching the boat; and they were [terribly] frightened. 20 But Jesus said to them, “It is I (I Am); do not be afraid.”(D) 21 Then they were willing to take Him on board the boat, and immediately the boat reached the [shore of the] land to which they were going.

22 The next day the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea realized that there had been only one small boat there, and that Jesus had not boarded the boat with His disciples, but that His disciples had gone away alone. 23 [Now some] other small boats from [e]Tiberias had come in near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they boarded the small boats themselves and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”

Words to the People

26 Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, you have been searching for Me, not because you saw the signs (attesting miracles), but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures [and leads] to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you; for God the Father has authorized Him and put His seal on Him.” 28 Then they asked Him, “What are we to do, so that we may habitually be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered, “This is the work of God: that you believe [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent.” 30 So they said to Him, “What sign (attesting miracle) will You do that we may see it and believe You? What [supernatural] work will You do [as proof]? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written [in Scripture], ‘He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’”(E) 32 Then Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true [f]bread out of heaven. 33 For the Bread of God is He who comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.”

35 Jesus replied to them, [g]I am the Bread of Life. The one who comes to Me will never be hungry, and the one who believes in Me [as Savior] will never be thirsty [for that one will be sustained spiritually]. 36 But as I told you, you have seen Me and still you do not believe. 37 All that My Father gives Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, never reject anyone who follows Me]. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but that I [give new life and] raise it up at the last day. 40 For this is My Father’s will and purpose, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him [as Savior] will have eternal life, and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day.”

Words to the Jews

41 Now the Jews murmured and found fault with Him because He said, “I am the Bread that came down out of heaven.” 42 They kept saying, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does He now [have the arrogance to] say, ‘I have come down out of heaven’?” 43 So Jesus answered, “Stop murmuring among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him [giving him the desire to come to Me]; and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they will all be taught of God.’ Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father, comes to Me.(F) 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He [who was with the Father and] who is from God; He [alone] has seen the Father. 47 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, he who believes [in Me as Savior—whoever adheres to, trusts in, relies on, and has faith in Me—already] has eternal life [that is, now possesses it]. 48 I am the Bread of Life [the Living Bread which gives and sustains life]. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the Bread that comes down out of heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the Living Bread that came down out of heaven. If anyone eats of this Bread [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior], he will live forever. And the Bread that I will give for the life of the world is My flesh (body).”

52 Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” 53 And Jesus said to them, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood [unless you believe in Me as Savior and believe in the saving power of My blood which will be shed for you], you do not have life in yourselves. 54 The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior] has eternal life [that is, now possesses it], and I will raise him up [from the dead] on the last day. 55 For My flesh is true [spiritual] food, and My blood is true [spiritual] drink. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior] remains in Me, and I [in the same way remain] in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, even so the one who feeds on Me [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior] will also live because of Me. 58 This is the Bread which came down out of heaven. It is not like [the manna that] our fathers ate and they [eventually] died; the one who eats this Bread [believes in Me, accepts Me as Savior] will live forever.”

Words to the Disciples

59 He said these things in a synagogue while He was teaching in Capernaum.

60 When many of His disciples heard this, they said, “This is a difficult and harsh and offensive statement. Who can [be expected to] listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, aware that His disciples were complaining about it, asked them, “Does this cause you to stumble and take offense? 62 What then [will you think] if you see the Son of Man ascending to [the realm] where He was before? 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh conveys no benefit [it is of no account]. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life [providing eternal life]. 64 But [still] there are some of you who do not believe and have faith.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65 And He was saying, “This is the reason why I have told you that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him [that is, unless he is enabled to do so] by the Father.”

Peter’s Confession of Faith

66 As a result of this [h]many of His disciples abandoned Him, and no longer walked with Him. 67 So Jesus said to the twelve [disciples], “You do not want to leave too, do you?” 68 Simon Peter answered, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You [alone] have the words of eternal life [you are our only hope]. 69 We have believed and confidently trusted, and [even more] we have come to know [by personal observation and experience] that You are the Holy One of God [the Christ, the Son of the living God].” 70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve [disciples]? And yet one of you is a devil (ally of Satan).” 71 Now He was speaking of Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot; for he, one of the twelve [disciples], was about to betray Him.

Footnotes

  1. John 6:1 Probably the official Roman name of the Sea of Galilee.
  2. John 6:10 With this number of men, the total number of people may have exceeded 10,000. The disciples did not have enough money to buy so much food, and the small villages in the area would not have had a sufficient quantity of bread to sell to them.
  3. John 6:19 Lit 25 or 30 stadia.
  4. John 6:19 The Sea of Galilee is approximately thirteen miles long and eight miles wide.
  5. John 6:23 A city located on the NW shore of the Sea of Galilee (or Sea of Tiberius). The city was built by Herod Antipas to serve as his capital city and named in honor of the Roman Emperor.
  6. John 6:32 I.e. salvation and everlasting life through Christ.
  7. John 6:35 Jesus uses the words “I am” over twenty times in this Gospel. Especially memorable are those places where “I am” is followed by a metaphor that declares His deity and His relationship to mankind as Savior (this is the first of seven such references); see 8:12 (Light); 10:9 (Door); 10:11 (Good Shepherd); 11:25 (Resurrection); 14:6 (Way, Truth, Life); 15:5 (Vine).
  8. John 6:66 This does not refer to the original twelve disciples (cf v 67), but to many others who had followed Him and claimed to be His disciples to this point. They were the unbelievers of v 64; Judas is the only one of the twelve singled out. The Greek word mathetes, i.e. “disciple” simply means “learner” and does not necessarily designate a believer.

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.

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.