John 6:25-69

New International Version

Jesus the Bread of Life

²⁵ When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi,^(A) when did you get here?”

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

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

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^(N) and gives life to the world.”

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

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am^(P) the bread of life.^(Q) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes^(R) in me will never be thirsty.^{(S) 36} But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. ³⁷ All those the Father gives me^(T) will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven^(U) not to do my will but to do the will^(V) of him who sent me.^{(W) 39} And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me,^(X) but raise them up at the last day.^{(Y) 40} For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son^(Z) and believes in him shall have eternal life,^(AA) 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,^(AB) whose father and mother we know?^(AC) How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”^(AD)

⁴³ “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. ⁴⁴ “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them,^(AE) and I will raise them up at the last day. ⁴⁵ It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’^[b](AF) 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;^(AG) only he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.^{(AH) 48} I am the bread of life.^{(AI) 49} Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.^{(AJ) 50} But here is the bread that comes down from heaven,^(AK) which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread^(AL) that came down from heaven.^(AM) Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”^(AN)

⁵² Then the Jews^(AO) began to argue sharply among themselves,^(AP) “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^(AQ) of the Son of Man^(AR) and drink his blood,^(AS) 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.^{(AT) 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.^{(AU) 57} Just as the living Father sent me^(AV) 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.”^{(AW) 59} He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

⁶⁰ On hearing it, many of his disciples^(AX) said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”^(AY)

⁶¹ Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?^{(AZ) 62} Then what if you see the Son of Man^(BA) ascend to where he was before!^{(BB) 63} The Spirit gives life;^(BC) the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit^[c] and life. ⁶⁴ Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known^(BD) from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.^{(BE) 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.”^(BF)

⁶⁶ From this time many of his disciples^(BG) turned back and no longer followed him.

⁶⁷ “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.^(BH)

⁶⁸ Simon Peter answered him,^(BI) “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.^{(BJ) 69} We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”^(BK)