John 6:56-69

Contemporary English Version

⁵⁶ If you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you are one with me, and I am one with you.

⁵⁷ The living Father sent me, and I have life because of him. Now everyone who eats my flesh will live because of me. ⁵⁸ The bread that comes down from heaven isn't like what your ancestors ate. They died, but whoever eats this bread will live forever.

⁵⁹ Jesus was teaching in a synagogue in Capernaum when he said these things.

The Words of Eternal Life

⁶⁰ Many of Jesus' disciples heard him and said, “This is too hard for anyone to understand.”

⁶¹ Jesus knew that his disciples were grumbling. So he asked, “Does this bother you? ⁶² What if you should see the Son of Man go up to heaven where he came from? ^63 (A) The Spirit is the one who gives life! Human strength can do nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are from that life-giving Spirit. ⁶⁴ But some of you refuse to have faith in me.” Jesus said this, because from the beginning he knew who would have faith in him. He also knew which one would betray him.

⁶⁵ Then Jesus said, “You cannot come to me, unless the Father makes you want to come. That is why I have told these things to all of you.”

⁶⁶ Because of what Jesus said, many of his disciples turned their backs on him and stopped following him. ⁶⁷ Jesus then asked his twelve disciples if they also were going to leave him. ^68 (B) Simon Peter answered, “Lord, there is no one else that we can go to! Your words give eternal life. ⁶⁹ We have faith in you, and we are sure that you are God's Holy One.”