1After these things Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. 2And a great crowd followed Him, because they saw His miracles which He did that healed those who were diseased. 3And Jesus went up on a mountainside, and He sat there with His disciples. 4And the Jewish Passover feast was approaching. 5When Jesus saw a great crowd coming toward Him, He asked Philip, “Where shall we buy food for all these people to eat?” 6He said this to test him; for He Himself knew what He would do. 7Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii's worth of food would not suffice for them, that each could take just a little. 8Another of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up: 9“There is a lad here, who has five barley loaves, and two small fish; but what are they among so many?” 10And Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was plenty of grass in that place. So, the people sat down, about five thousand in number. 11And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those that were seated - as much as they wanted. Afterward, He did the same with the fish - as much as they wanted. 12When they were all filled, He told His disciples, “Gather up what remains, that nothing is lost.” 13So then they gathered the left-overs, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, that remained after they had all eaten. 14Then, when those people saw this miracle that Jesus did, they said, “This is surely that Prophet that should come into the world.” 15When Jesus perceived that they intended to take Him and make Him a king by force, He withdrew into a mountain by Himself. 16And when evening had come, His disciples went down to the sea, 17And got into a boat, and crossed over the sea toward Capernaum. And by now, it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18And strong wind arose and the sea got rough. 19So when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty furlongs (about 3½ miles), they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and approaching their boat; and were unnerved. 20But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21Then they cheerfully welcomed Him into the boat; and immediately the boat arrived at their destination. 22The next day, the people who stayed on the other side of the sea realized that there was no other boat there, except the one that His disciples got in, and that Jesus had not left in the boat with His disciples 23But then some other boats from Tiberias landed near where they had all eaten bread, after the Lord had given thanks. 24So when the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats, and went to Capernaum, looking for Jesus. 25And when they had found Him on the other side of the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?” 26Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I say to you, ‘You seek Me, not because you saw the miracles, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27Do not be concerned about food which spoils, but about that food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man shall give you; for on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.’” 28Then they said to Him, “What must we do to do what God requires?” 29Jesus answered, “This is what God requires: that you believe in Him Whom God has sent.” 30Then they said to Him, “What sign will You show us, that we may see, and believe you? What miracle can You perform? 31Our ancestors ate manna in the desert; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, ‘Moses did not give you that bread from heaven; but it is My Father Who gives you the true bread from heaven.’ 33For the bread of God is the One Who comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.” 34Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread every day.” 35And Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me shall never hunger; and he that believes on Me shall never thirst. 36But as I told you, you have seen Me, but still do not believe. 37All those that the Father gives Me shall come to Me; and those that come to Me I will never reject. 38For I came down from heaven, not to do My Own will, but the will of Him Who sent Me. 39And this is the Father's will Who has sent Me: that of all which He has given me, I should lose none; but should raise them up again at the last day. 40And this is the will of Him Who sent Me: that everyone who sees the Son, and believes in Him, may have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.” 41At that point, the Jews began muttering at Him, because He said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42And they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He say, ‘I came down from heaven?’” 43Jesus, therefore, said to them, “Stop muttering among yourselves. 44No man can come to Me, unless the Father Who has sent Me, draws him; and then I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the prophets (Scriptures), ‘And they shall all be taught by God’ (Is.54:13). Therefore, everyone that has heard, and has learned from the Father, comes to Me. 46No one has seen the Father, except He Who is from God; only He has seen the Father. 47Very truly, I say to you, ‘He that believes in Me has everlasting life.’ 48I am that Bread of life. 49Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, and yet they are dead. 50This is the Bread that comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it, and not die. 51I am the living Bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this Bread shall live forever; and the Bread that I will give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” 52Then the Jews began to argue sharply among themselves, asking, “How can this Man give us His flesh to eat?” 53Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54Whoever eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56Whoever eats My flesh, and drinks My blood, dwells (remains) in Me, and I in him. 57Just as the living Father has sent Me, and I live because of the Father; so, whoever feeds on Me shall live because of Me. 58This is that Bread which came down from heaven - not the manna that your ancestors ate, and since died; he that feeds of this Bread shall live forever.” 59 He said these things in the synagogue, as He taught in Capernaum. 60On hearing this, many of His disciples said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to and accept it?” 61When Jesus was aware that His disciples murmured at it, He asked, “Does this offend you? 62Then what if you see the Son of man ascend to heaven, where He was before? 63The Spirit alone gives life; the flesh does nothing. These words that I speak to you are spiritual, and they are life. 64But some of you do not believe Me.” For Jesus knew from the beginning which of them did not believe, and who would betray Him. 65And He said, “This is why I told you that no man can come to Me, unless it is granted to him by My Father.”66From that time many of His disciples turned back, and no longer followed Him. 67Then said Jesus to His twelve apostles, “Do you also wish to leave Me?” 68Then Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69And we have come to believe and are sure that You are that Christ, the Son of the living God.” 70Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?” 71He was referring to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon; for it was he, one of the twelve, that would later betray Him. Reader-Friendly Bible: Purple Letter Edition © 2024 by Jim Musser. Used by Permission. All rights Reserved. Bible Hub |