The Feeding of the Five Thousand
(Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17)

1After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2And a great multitude followed Him, because they saw his miracles which He performed on them that were diseased. 3So Jesus went up to a mountain, and there He sat down with his disciples. 4And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5Then Jesus lifted up his eyes, and seeing a great multitude come to Him, saith to Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these people may eat? 6(and this He said to try him, for He knew what He was going to do:) 7Philip answered Him, Two hundred penny-worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. 8One of his disciples, to wit, Andrew the brother of Simon Peter, 9saith unto Him, There is a lad here, that hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes; but what are they among so many? 10And 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. 11And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks, He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were sat down; and of the fishes likewise, as much as they would take. 12And when they were filled, He saith to his disciples, Gather up the fragments that are left, that nothing may be lost. 13They therefore gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley-loaves, which remained after they had eaten. 14Therefore the people when they had seen the miracle that Jesus wrought, said, this is certainly the Prophet who was to come into the world.

15Jesus therefore knowing that they would come, and take Him by force if possible, to make Him king, retired again to the mountain Himself alone.

Jesus Walks on Water
(Matthew 14:22–33; Mark 6:45–52)

16And when evening was come, his disciples went down to the sea: 17and having entered into a ship were going over the Sea towards Capernaum: and it was now dark, and Jesus was not yet come to them. 18And the sea rose high by reason of a violent wind. 19So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and near the ship: and they were affrighted. 20But He saith unto them, It is I: be not afraid. 21They desired therefore to take Him into the ship: and immediately the vessel was at the land to which they were going.

Jesus the Bread of Life

22The day following the people that staid on the other side of the sea, seeing there was no other boat there, but that one into which his disciples embarked, and that Jesus went not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples went away alone: 23though there came other vessels from Tiberias, near the place where they had eaten bread after the Lord had given thanks: when therefore the people saw that Jesus was not there, 24nor his disciples; they also went into those vessels, and came to Capernaum seeking Jesus. 25And when they found Him on the other side of the Sea, they said unto Him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither?

26Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27Labour not so much for the meat that perisheth, but rather for that food which endureth unto life eternal, which the Son of man will give you: for Him hath God the Father sealed. 28Therefore said they unto Him, What should we do, that we may work the works approved of God? 29Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him, whom He hath sent. 30Therefore said they unto Him, What sign dost thou shew, that we may see it, and believe Thee? What work dost thou do? 31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32Therefore Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I tell you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven, but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is that which descendeth from heaven, and giveth life to the world. 34Therefore said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.

35Then 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. 36But I have told you, so that ye have seen me, and yet ye do not believe. 37All that the Father giveth me, will come unto me; and him that cometh to me I will not cast out. 38For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of Him that sent me. 39And this is the will of the Father who sent me, that of all that He hath given me, I should lose none, but should raise them up at the last day. 40And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one who looketh attentively at the Son, and so believeth on Him, may have eternal life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

41The Jews then murmured about Him; because He said, I am the bread that came down from heaven. 42And they said to one another, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we knew? How then does He say, I came down from heaven? 43Jesus therefore said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.

44No one can come to me, unless the Father, who hath sent me, draw him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, "And they shall all be taught of God." Every one therefore that hath heard and learned from the Father, cometh unto me. 46Not that any one hath seen the Father, but He who is from God. 47He hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I declare unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead: 49but this is the bread which cometh down from heaven, 50that any one may eat thereof and not die. 51I am the living bread, which came down from heaven: if any one eat of this bread, he shall live for ever. And the bread, that I will give, is my flesh, which I will give up for the life of the world.

52The Jews therefore cavilled amongst themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53Then said Jesus unto them, I tell you truly, that unless ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is truly food, and my blood is truly drink: he that feedeth on my flesh and drinketh my blood, 56abideth in me and I in him. 57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father; so he that feedeth on me he also shall live by me. 58This is the bread that came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat, and yet are dead. He that eateth this bread shall live for ever.

Many Disciples Turn Back
(Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 9:57–62; Luke 14:25–33)

59These things He said in the synagogue, when He was teaching in Capernaum.

60Many therefore of his disciples, when they heard Him, said, This discourse is hard to be understood, who can take it in? 61But Jesus knowing in Himself, that his disciples were murmuring about it, said unto them, Does this offend you? 62What then, if ye should see the Son of man ascending up, where He was before? 63The spirit is the principle of life, the flesh availeth nothing: now the words that I speak unto you are spirit, and therefore life. 64But there are some of you that believe not: (for Jesus knew from the beginning, who they were that believed not, and who would betray Him: 65and He said,) therefore I told you, that no one can come unto me except it be given him from my Father.

66From this time many of his disciples went away, and walked no more with Him.

Peter’s Confession of Faith
(Matthew 16:13–20; Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–20)

67Jesus therefore said to the twelve, Have ye also a mind to go away? 68Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? 69Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and know that thou art the Messiah, the Son of the living God. 70Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? 71Now He spake of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon; for he was about to betray Him, though he was one of the twelve apostles.