²² The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake^(A) 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.^{(B) 23} Then some boats from Tiberias^(C) landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.^{(D) 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,^(E) when did you get here?”

²⁶ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me,^(F) not because you saw the signs^(G) 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^(H) to eternal life,^(I) which the Son of Man^(J) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal^(K) 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^(A) in the one he has sent.”^(B)

10 Brothers and sisters, my heart’s desire^(A) and prayer to God for the Israelites is that they may be saved. ² For I can testify about them that they are zealous^(B) for God, but their zeal is not based on knowledge. ³ Since they did not know the righteousness of God and sought to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness.^{(C) 4} Christ is the culmination of the law^(D) so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes.^(E)

⁵ Moses writes this about the righteousness that is by the law: “The person who does these things will live by them.”^{[a](F) 6} But the righteousness that is by faith^(G) says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’”^[b](H) (that is, to bring Christ down) ⁷ “or ‘Who will descend into the deep?’”^[c](I) (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).^{(J) 8} But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,”^[d](K) that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: ⁹ If you declare^(L) with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,”^(M) and believe^(N) in your heart that God raised him from the dead,^(O) you will be saved.^{(P) 10} For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

⁸ For it is by grace^(A) you have been saved,^(B) through faith^(C)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works,^(D) so that no one can boast.^{(E) 10} For we are God’s handiwork,^(F) created^(G) in Christ Jesus to do good works,^(H) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.^(A)

¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

Show me your faith without deeds,^(B) and I will show you my faith^(C) by my deeds.^{(D) 19} You believe that there is one God.^(E) Good! Even the demons believe that^(F)—and shudder.

²⁰ You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless^[a]?^(G)

²⁰ Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law;^(A) rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.^(B)

Righteousness Through Faith

²¹ But now apart from the law the righteousness of God^(C) has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.^{(D) 22} This righteousness^(E) is given through faith^(F) in^[a] Jesus Christ^(G) to all who believe.^(H) There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,^{(I) 23} for all have sinned^(J) and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and all are justified^(K) freely by his grace^(L) through the redemption^(M) that came by Christ Jesus. ²⁵ God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,^[b](N) through the shedding of his blood^(O)—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished^(P)— ²⁶ he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.

³⁰ So they asked him, “What sign^(A) then will you give that we may see it and believe you?^(B) What will you do? ³¹ Our ancestors ate the manna^(C) in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’^[a]”^(D)

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^(E) and gives life to the world.”

Manna and Quail

16 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin,^(A) which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt.^{(B) 2} In the desert the whole community grumbled^(C) against Moses and Aaron. ³ The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt!^(D) There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food^(E) we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”^(F)

⁴ Then the Lord said to Moses, “I will rain down bread from heaven^(G) for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test^(H) them and see whether they will follow my instructions. ⁵ On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice^(I) as much as they gather on the other days.”

⁶ So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt,^{(J) 7} and in the morning you will see the glory^(K) of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling^(L) against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?”^{(M) 8} Moses also said, “You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling^(N) against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord.”^(O)

⁹ Then Moses told Aaron, “Say to the entire Israelite community, ‘Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.’”

¹⁰ While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory^(P) of the Lord appearing in the cloud.^(Q)

³⁴ “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”^(A)

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am^(B) the bread of life.^(C) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes^(D) in me will never be thirsty.^{(E) 36} But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. ³⁷ All those the Father gives me^(F) will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven^(G) not to do my will but to do the will^(H) of him who sent me.^{(I) 39} And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me,^(J) but raise them up at the last day.^{(K) 40} For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son^(L) and believes in him shall have eternal life,^(M) and I will raise them up at the last day.”