³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am^(A) the bread of life.^(B) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes^(C) in me will never be thirsty.^(D)

²² The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake^(A) 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.^{(B) 23} Then some boats from Tiberias^(C) landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.^{(D) 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,^(E) when did you get here?”

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

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

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^(R) and gives life to the world.”

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

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

⁴³ “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. ⁴⁴ “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them,^(AI) 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](AJ) 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;^(AK) only he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷ Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.^{(AL) 48} I am the bread of life.^{(AM) 49} Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.^{(AN) 50} But here is the bread that comes down from heaven,^(AO) which anyone may eat and not die. ⁵¹ I am the living bread^(AP) that came down from heaven.^(AQ) Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”^(AR)

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

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

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

⁶¹ Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?^{(BD) 62} Then what if you see the Son of Man^(BE) ascend to where he was before!^{(BF) 63} The Spirit gives life;^(BG) 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^(BH) from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.^{(BI) 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.”^(BJ)

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

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

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