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More than Five Thousand Fed(A)

After this, Jesus went ·across [to the other side of] ·Lake [T the Sea of] Galilee (or, Lake Tiberias). Many people followed him because they saw the ·miracles [L signs; 2:11] he did ·to heal [L for; on behalf of] the sick. Jesus went up on a ·hill [or mountain] and sat down there with his ·followers [disciples]. It was almost the time for the Jewish Passover Feast [C the annual festival that celebrates God’s rescue of Israel from Egypt; Ex. 12; John 2:13].

When Jesus ·looked up [L raised his eyes] and saw a large crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip [C one of the twelve disciples; 1:43], “Where can we buy enough bread for all these people to eat?” (Jesus asked Philip this question to test him, because Jesus already knew what he ·planned [was going] to do.)

Philip answered [L him], “·Someone would have to work almost a year to buy enough bread [L Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not enough; C a denarius was a unit of money worth about a day’s wages] for each person to have only a little piece.”

Another one of his ·followers [disciples], Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, “Here is a boy with five loaves of barley bread and two little fish, but ·that is not enough [L what are these…?] for so many people.”

10 Jesus said, “·Tell [L Make] the people to sit down.” There was plenty of grass there, and about five thousand men sat down there. 11 Then Jesus took the loaves of bread, ·thanked God [L gave thanks] for them, and ·gave [distributed] them to the people who were sitting there. He did the same with the fish, giving as much as the people wanted.

12 When they ·had all had enough to eat [L were filled/satisfied], Jesus said to his ·followers [disciples], “Gather the leftover ·pieces of fish and bread [L pieces] so that nothing is wasted.” 13 So they gathered up the pieces and filled twelve baskets with the pieces left from the five barley loaves [2 Kin. 4:42–44; C Jesus’ miracle surpasses that of Elisha].

14 When the people saw this ·miracle [L sign] that Jesus did, they said, “He must truly be the Prophet [1:21; C probably the “prophet like Moses” of Deut. 18:15–18] who is coming into the world.”

15 Jesus knew that the people ·planned [intended; were about] to come and take him by force and make him their king, so he ·left [withdrew] and went into the ·hills [or mountains] alone.

Jesus Walks on the Water(B)

16 That evening Jesus’ ·followers [disciples] went down to ·Lake Galilee [L the lake/sea]. 17 It was dark now, and Jesus had not yet ·come to [joined] them. The ·followers [disciples] 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 [L the sea/lake rose up]. 19 When they had rowed the boat about ·three or four miles [L twenty-five or thirty stadia; C a stadion was about 600 feet], they saw Jesus walking on the ·water [sea; lake], coming toward the boat. The ·followers [disciples] were afraid, 20 but Jesus said to them, “It is I [or “I am”; C there could be an echo here of Ex. 3:14]. Do not be afraid.” 21 Then they ·were glad [or were willing] to take him into the boat. ·At once [Immediately] the boat came to land at the place where they wanted to go. [C The sea often stands for chaos, and God controls it.]

The People Seek Jesus

22 The next day the ·people [L crowd] who had stayed on the ·other [opposite] side of the ·lake [sea] knew that Jesus had not gone in the boat with his ·followers [disciples] but that they had left ·without him [L alone]. And they ·knew [L saw] that only one boat had been there. 23 But then some boats came from Tiberias [C a major city on the western shore of Lake Galilee] and landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 When the ·people [L crowd] saw that Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] were not there now, they got into boats and went to Capernaum to find Jesus.

Jesus, the Bread of Life

25 When ·the people [L they] found Jesus on the ·other [opposite] side of the ·lake [sea], they asked him, “·Teacher [L Rabbi], when did you come here?”

26 Jesus answered, “·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], you aren’t looking for me because you saw ·me do miracles [L signs]. You are looking for me because you ate the bread and were ·satisfied [filled]. 27 Don’t work for the food that ·spoils [perishes]. Work for the food that ·stays good always and gives eternal life [L endures/remains/abides for eternal life]. The Son of Man [C a title for the Messiah; Dan. 7:13–14] will give you this food, because on him God the Father has ·put his power [L set his seal; C a seal impression signifies ownership and authority; 3:33].”

28 The people asked Jesus, “What ·are the things God wants us to do [L should we do to work the works of God]?”

29 Jesus answered, “·The work God wants you to do is this [L This is the work of God]: Believe the One he sent.”

30 So ·the people [L they] asked, “What ·miracle will you do? If we see a miracle, we will believe you [L sign will you do that we might see and believe you?]. What ·will you do [work will you perform]? 31 Our ·ancestors [forefathers; L fathers] ate the manna [C a flaky breadlike food that God provided the Israelites in the wilderness; Ex. 16:13–36] in the ·desert [wilderness]. ·This is written in the Scriptures [L As it is written]: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat [compare Ex. 16:4; Neh. 9:15; Ps. 78:24].’

32 [L Therefore; So; Then] Jesus said to them, “·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], it was not Moses who gave you bread from heaven; it is my Father who is giving you the true bread from heaven. 33 [L For] God’s bread is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 [L Therefore] ·the people [L they] said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”

35 Then Jesus said to them, “I am the ·bread that gives life [T bread of life]. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you before, you have seen me and still don’t believe. 37 ·The Father gives me the people who are mine. Every one of them will come to me [L All/Everything the Father gives me will come to me], and I will ·always accept them [not reject them; L not cast them out]. 38 [L For] I came down from heaven to do ·what God wants me to do [L the will of him who sent me], not ·what I want to do [L my own will]. 39 Here is ·what the One who sent me wants me to do [L the will of him who sent me]: I must not lose even one whom God gave me, but I must raise them all on the last day. 40 Those who see the Son and believe in him have eternal life, and I will raise them on the last day. This is ·what my Father wants [L the will of my Father].”

41 ·Some people [The Jewish leaders; L The Jews] began to ·complain [grumble; murmur] about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that comes down from heaven.” 42 They said, “·This is [L Is this not…?] Jesus, the son of Joseph. We know his father and mother. How can he [L now] say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”

43 But Jesus ·answered [responded], “Stop ·complaining to each other [grumbling/murmuring among yourselves]. 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 that person up on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God [Is. 54:13].’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 ·No one has [or Not that anyone has] seen the Father except the One who is from God; only he has seen the Father. [C Some interpreters put the previous sentence in parentheses as a side comment made by the author.] 47 ·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the ·bread that gives life [T bread of life]. 49 Your ·ancestors [forefathers; L fathers] ate the manna [see 6:31] in the ·desert [wilderness], but still they died. 50 Here is the bread that comes down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will never die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give up so that the world may have life.”

52 Then the ·Jewish leaders [L Jews] began to ·argue [dispute; quarrel] among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 [L So] Jesus said to them, “·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], you must eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood. Otherwise, you won’t have ·real life [L life] in you. 54 Those who ·eat [feed on; C Jesus uses a different Greek word for “eat” in vv. 54–57 than in the previous verses; but the difference is probably stylistic] my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day. 55 [L For] My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who ·eat [feed on] my flesh and drink my blood ·live [remain; abide] in me, and I ·live [remain; abide] in them. 57 The living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father. So whoever ·eats [feeds on] me will live because of me. 58 I am not like the bread your ·ancestors [forefathers; L fathers] ate [C the manna; 6:31]. They ate that bread and still died. I am the bread that came down from heaven, and whoever ·eats [feeds on] this bread will live forever.” 59 Jesus said all these things while he was teaching in the synagogue [C a local congregation of Jews] in Capernaum [2:12].

The Words of Eternal Life

60 When the ·followers [disciples; C a broader circle of followers, not the twelve disciples] of Jesus heard this, many of them said, “This teaching [C that Jesus is the bread of life; 6:25–59] is ·hard [difficult; offensive]. Who can ·accept [obey; L hear] it?”

61 Knowing that his ·followers [disciples] were ·complaining [grumbling] about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this teaching ·bother [offend] you? 62 Then ·will it also bother you to [L what if you] see the Son of Man ·going back [L going up; ascending] to the place ·where he came from [L where he was before; C heaven]? 63 It is the Spirit that gives life. The flesh ·doesn’t give life [L is useless; counts for nothing]. The words I told you ·are spirit, and they give life [or are from the Spirit who gives life]. 64 But some of you don’t believe.” ([L For] Jesus knew from the beginning who did not believe and who would ·turn against [betray] him.) 65 Jesus said, “That is the reason I said, ·‘If the Father does not bring a person to me, that one cannot come.’ [L ‘No one can come to me unless the Father enables/grants him.’]

66 After Jesus said this, many of his ·followers [disciples] ·left him [L turned back to previous things] and ·stopped following [L no longer walked with] him.

67 Jesus asked ·the twelve followers [the Twelve], “Do you want to leave, too?”

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

70 Then Jesus answered them, “·I chose [L Did I not choose…?] all twelve of you, but one of you is ·a devil [or the Devil; C Jesus equates the work of Judas with the work of Satan; compare Mark 8:33].”

71 Jesus was talking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Judas was one of the twelve, but later he was going to ·turn against [betray] Jesus.

Alimentación de los cinco mil(A)

Después de esto, Jesús se dirigió al otro lado del lago de Galilea, el lago de Tiberias. Y una gran multitud lo seguía, porque veía las señales que hacía en los enfermos. Entonces Jesús subió a un monte, y se sentó allí con sus discípulos. Ya estaba cerca la pascua, la fiesta de los judíos. Cuando Jesús alzó la vista y vio que una gran multitud se acercaba a él, le dijo a Felipe: «¿Dónde compraremos pan, para que éstos coman?» Pero decía esto para ponerlo a prueba, pues él ya sabía lo que estaba por hacer. Felipe le respondió: «Ni doscientos denarios de pan bastarían para que cada uno de ellos recibiera un poco.» Andrés, que era hermano de Simón Pedro y uno de sus discípulos, le dijo: «Aquí está un niño, que tiene cinco panes de cebada y dos pescados pequeños; pero ¿qué es esto para tanta gente?» 10 Entonces Jesús dijo: «Hagan que la gente se recueste.» Había mucha hierba en aquel lugar, y se recostaron como cinco mil hombres. 11 Jesús tomó aquellos panes, y luego de dar gracias los repartió entre los discípulos, y los discípulos entre los que estaban recostados. Esto mismo hizo con los pescados, y les dio cuanto querían. 12 Cuando quedaron saciados, les dijo a sus discípulos: «Recojan los pedazos que sobraron, para que no se pierda nada.» 13 Entonces ellos los recogieron, y con los pedazos que sobraron de los cinco panes de cebada a los que habían comido, llenaron doce cestas. 14 Al ver aquellos hombres la señal que Jesús había hecho, dijeron: «Verdaderamente, éste es el profeta que había de venir al mundo.»

15 Cuando Jesús se dio cuenta de que iban a venir para apoderarse de él y hacerlo rey, volvió a retirarse al monte él solo.

Jesús camina sobre el agua(B)

16 Al anochecer sus discípulos bajaron al lago, 17 y en una barca comenzaron a cruzar el lago hacia Cafarnaún. Ya estaba oscuro, y Jesús no había venido a reunirse con ellos. 18 Y el lago se agitaba con un gran viento que soplaba. 19 Habrían remado unos veinticinco o treinta estadios, cuando vieron a Jesús caminar sobre el lago y acercarse a la barca. Y tuvieron miedo. 20 Pero él les dijo: «Yo soy; no teman.» 21 Entonces ellos gustosamente lo recibieron en la barca, y ésta llegó enseguida a la tierra adonde iban.

La gente busca a Jesús

22 Al día siguiente, la gente que estaba al otro lado del lago vio que allí no había habido más que una sola barca, y que Jesús no había entrado en ella con sus discípulos, sino que éstos se habían ido solos. 23 Pero otras barcas habían arribado de Tiberias, cerca del lugar donde habían comido el pan después de haber dado gracias el Señor. 24 Cuando la gente vio que ni Jesús ni sus discípulos estaban allí, entraron en las barcas y fueron a Cafarnaún, para buscar a Jesús.

Jesús, el pan de vida

25 Cuando lo hallaron al otro lado del lago, le dijeron: «Rabí, ¿cuándo llegaste acá?» 26 Jesús les respondió: «De cierto, de cierto les digo que ustedes no me buscan por haber visto señales, sino porque comieron el pan y quedaron satisfechos. 27 Trabajen, pero no por la comida que perece, sino por la comida que permanece para vida eterna, la cual el Hijo del Hombre les dará; porque a éste señaló Dios el Padre.» 28 Entonces le dijeron: «¿Y qué debemos hacer para poner en práctica las obras de Dios?» 29 Jesús les respondió: «Ésta es la obra de Dios: que crean en aquel que él ha enviado.» 30 Le dijeron entonces: «Pero ¿qué señal haces tú, para que veamos y te creamos? ¿Qué es lo que haces? 31 Nuestros padres comieron el maná en el desierto,(C) tal y como está escrito: “Pan del cielo les dio a comer.”»(D) 32 Y Jesús les dijo: «De cierto, de cierto les digo, que no fue Moisés quien les dio el pan del cielo, sino que es mi Padre quien les da el verdadero pan del cielo. 33 Y el pan de Dios es aquel que descendió del cielo y da vida al mundo.» 34 Le dijeron: «Señor, danos siempre este pan.»

35 Jesús les dijo: «Yo soy el pan de vida. El que a mí viene, nunca tendrá hambre; y el que en mí cree, no tendrá sed jamás. 36 Pero yo les he dicho que, aunque me han visto, no creen. 37 Todo lo que el Padre me da, vendrá a mí; y al que a mí viene, no lo echo fuera. 38 Porque no he descendido del cielo para hacer mi voluntad, sino la voluntad del que me envió. 39 Y ésta es la voluntad del que me envió: Que de todo lo que él me dio, yo no pierda nada, sino que lo resucite en el día final. 40 Y ésta es la voluntad de mi Padre: Que todo aquel que ve al Hijo, y cree en él, tenga vida eterna; y yo lo resucitaré en el día final.»

41 Los judíos murmuraban acerca de él, porque había dicho: «Yo soy el pan que descendió del cielo.» 42 Y decían: «¿Acaso no es éste Jesús, el hijo de José, cuyo padre y madre nosotros conocemos? Entonces ¿cómo puede decir: “Del cielo he descendido”?» 43 Jesús les respondió: «No estén murmurando entre ustedes. 44 Ninguno puede venir a mí, si el Padre que me envió no lo trae. Y yo lo resucitaré en el día final. 45 En los profetas está escrito: “Y todos serán enseñados por Dios.”(E) Así que, todo aquel que ha oído al Padre, y ha aprendido de él, viene a mí. 46 No es que alguno haya visto al Padre, sino el que vino de Dios; éste sí ha visto al Padre. 47 De cierto, de cierto les digo: El que cree en mí, tiene vida eterna. 48 Yo soy el pan de vida. 49 Los padres de ustedes comieron el maná en el desierto, y murieron. 50 Éste es el pan que desciende del cielo, para que el que coma de él, no muera. 51 Yo soy el pan vivo que descendió del cielo. Si alguno come de este pan, vivirá para siempre; y el pan que yo daré es mi carne, la cual daré por la vida del mundo.»

52 Los judíos discutían entre sí, y decían: «¿Y cómo puede éste darnos a comer su carne?» 53 Jesús les dijo: «De cierto, de cierto les digo: Si no comen la carne del Hijo del Hombre, y beben su sangre, no tienen vida en ustedes. 54 El que come mi carne y bebe mi sangre, tiene vida eterna; y yo lo resucitaré en el día final. 55 Porque mi carne es verdadera comida, y mi sangre es verdadera bebida. 56 El que come mi carne y bebe mi sangre, permanece en mí, y yo en él. 57 Así como el Padre viviente me envió, y yo vivo por el Padre, así también el que me come también vivirá por mí. 58 Éste es el pan que descendió del cielo. No es como el pan que comieron los padres de ustedes, y murieron; el que come de este pan, vivirá eternamente.» 59 Jesús dijo estas cosas en la sinagoga, cuando enseñaba en Cafarnaún.

Palabras de vida eterna

60 Al oír esto, muchos de sus discípulos dijeron: «Dura es esta palabra; ¿quién puede escucharla?» 61 Jesús, al darse cuenta de que sus discípulos murmuraban acerca de esto, les dijo: «¿Esto les resulta escandaloso? 62 ¿Pues qué pasaría si vieran al Hijo del Hombre ascender adonde antes estaba? 63 El espíritu es el que da vida; la carne para nada aprovecha. Las palabras que yo les he hablado son espíritu y son vida. 64 Pero hay algunos de ustedes que no creen.» Y es que Jesús sabía desde el principio quiénes eran los que no creían, y quién lo entregaría, 65 así que dijo: «Por eso les he dicho que ninguno puede venir a mí, si el Padre no se lo concede.»

66 A partir de entonces muchos de sus discípulos dejaron de seguirlo, y ya no andaban con él. 67 Entonces, Jesús dijo a los doce: «¿También ustedes quieren irse?» 68 Simón Pedro le respondió: «Señor, ¿a quién iremos? Tú tienes palabras de vida eterna. 69 Y nosotros hemos creído, y sabemos, que tú eres el Cristo, el Hijo del Dios viviente.»(F) 70 Jesús les respondió: «¿Y acaso no los he escogido yo a ustedes doce, y uno de ustedes es un diablo?» 71 Y se refería Jesús a Judas Iscariote, hijo de Simón, porque éste era uno de los doce, y era el que lo iba a entregar.

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

Five Thousand Men Fed

After these things (A)Jesus went away to the other side of (B)the Sea of Galilee (or (C)Tiberias). A large crowd was following Him, because they were watching the [a](D)signs which He was performing on those who were sick. But (E)Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. Now (F)the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. So Jesus, after raising His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, *said to (G)Philip, “Where are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?” But He was saying this only to (H)test him, for He Himself knew what He intended to do. (I)Philip answered Him, “(J)Two hundred [b]denarii worth of bread is not enough for them, for each to receive just a little!” One of His (K)disciples, (L)Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, *said to Him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two (M)fish; but what are these for so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people recline to eat.” Now there was (N)plenty of grass in the place. So the men reclined, about [c](O)five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and (P)after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were reclining; likewise also of the (Q)fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, He *said to His (R)disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve (S)baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Therefore when the people saw the [d]sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the (T)Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Jesus Walks on the Water

15 So Jesus, aware that they [e]intended to come and take Him by force (U)to make Him king, (V)withdrew again to (W)the mountain by Himself, alone.

16 Now when evening came, His (X)disciples went down to the sea, 17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea (Y)to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 In addition, the sea began getting rough, because a strong wind was blowing. 19 Then, when they had rowed about [f]twenty-five or thirty stadia, they *saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat; and they were frightened. 20 But He *said to them, “It is I; [g](Z)do not be afraid.” 21 So they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

22 The next day (AA)the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there except one, and that Jesus (AB)had not gotten into the boat with His disciples, but that His disciples had departed alone. 23 Other small boats came from (AC)Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the (AD)Lord (AE)had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats and (AF)came to Capernaum, looking for Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “(AG)Rabbi, when did You get here?”

Words to the People

26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you (AH)seek Me, not because you saw [h](AI)signs, but because you ate some of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not (AJ)work for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for (AK)eternal life, which (AL)the Son of Man will give you, for on Him the Father, God, (AM)has set His [i]seal.” 28 Therefore they said to Him, “What are we to do, so that we may accomplish the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is (AN)the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He (AO)has sent.” 30 So they said to Him, “(AP)What then are You doing as a (AQ)sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work are You performing? 31 (AR)Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘(AS)He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I 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 bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is [j]that which (AT)comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always (AU)give us this bread.”

35 Jesus said to them, (AV)I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me (AW)will never be thirsty. 36 But (AX)I said to you that you have indeed seen Me, and yet you do not believe. 37 (AY)Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out. 38 For (AZ)I have come down from heaven, (BA)not to do My own will, but (BB)the will of Him who (BC)sent Me. 39 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of (BD)everything that He has given Me I will (BE)lose nothing, but will (BF)raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who (BG)sees the Son and (BH)believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will (BI)raise him up on the last day.”

Words to the Jews

41 (BJ)So then the Jews were complaining about Him because He said, “I am the bread that (BK)came down out of heaven.” 42 And they were saying, “(BL)Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother (BM)we know? How does He now say, (BN)I have come down out of heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered and said to them, “Stop complaining among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me (BO)draws him; and I will (BP)raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written (BQ)in the Prophets: ‘(BR)And they shall all be (BS)taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. 46 (BT)Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who believes (BU)has eternal life. 48 (BV)I am the bread of life. 49 (BW)Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that (BX)comes down out of heaven, so that anyone may eat from it and (BY)not die. 51 (BZ)I am the living bread that (CA)came down out of heaven; if anyone eats from this bread, (CB)he will live forever; and the bread which I will give (CC)for the life of the world also is (CD)My flesh.”

52 (CE)Then the Jews (CF)began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of (CG)the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will (CH)raise him up on the last day. 55 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood (CI)remains in Me, and I in him. 57 Just as the (CJ)living Father (CK)sent Me, and I live because of the Father, the one who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread that (CL)came down out of heaven, not as (CM)the fathers ate and died; the one who eats this bread (CN)will live forever.”

Words to the Disciples

59 These things He said (CO)in the synagogue as He taught (CP)in Capernaum.

60 So then many of His (CQ)disciples, when they heard this, said, “(CR)This statement is very [k]unpleasant; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, (CS)aware that His disciples were complaining about this, said to them, “Is this [l](CT)offensive to you? 62 What then if you see (CU)the Son of Man (CV)ascending to where He was before? 63 (CW)It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; (CX)the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life. 64 But there are (CY)some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus (CZ)knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and (DA)who it was who would [m]betray Him. 65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have (DB)told you that no one can come to Me unless (DC)it has been granted him from the Father.”

Peter’s Confession of Faith

66 As a result of this many of His (DD)disciples (DE)left, and would no longer walk with Him. 67 So Jesus said to (DF)the twelve, “You do not want to leave also, do you?” 68 (DG)Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have (DH)words of eternal life. 69 And we have already believed and have come to know that You are (DI)the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, (DJ)Did I Myself not choose you, (DK)the twelve? And yet one of you is (DL)a devil.” 71 Now He meant Judas (DM)the son of Simon Iscariot; for he, (DN)one of (DO)the twelve, [n]was going to betray Him.

Footnotes

  1. John 6:2 I.e., confirming miracles
  2. John 6:7 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
  3. John 6:10 I.e., 5,000 men plus women and children, cf. Matt 14:21
  4. John 6:14 I.e., confirming miracle
  5. John 6:15 Or were about
  6. John 6:19 Possibly 3-4 miles or 4.8-6.4 km; a Roman stadion perhaps averaged 607 ft. or 185 m
  7. John 6:20 Or stop being afraid
  8. John 6:26 I.e., confirming miracles
  9. John 6:27 I.e., of identification or authenticity
  10. John 6:33 Or He who comes
  11. John 6:60 Or hard
  12. John 6:61 Or shocking
  13. John 6:64 Or hand Him over
  14. John 6:71 Or was intending to