John 6-8

New International Version

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand^(A)

6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), ² and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs^(B) he had performed by healing the sick. ³ Then Jesus went up on a mountainside^(C) and sat down with his disciples. ⁴ The Jewish Passover Festival^(D) was near.

⁵ When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip,^(E) “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” ⁶ He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

⁷ Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages^[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

⁸ Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,^(F) spoke up, ⁹ “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”^(G)

¹⁰ Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). ¹¹ Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks,^(H) and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

¹² When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” ¹³ So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

¹⁴ After the people saw the sign^(I) Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”^{(J) 15} Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king^(K) by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.^(L)

Jesus Walks on the Water^(M)

¹⁶ When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, ¹⁷ where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. ¹⁸ A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. ¹⁹ When they had rowed about three or four miles,^[b] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water;^(N) and they were frightened. ²⁰ But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”^{(O) 21} Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

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

²⁶ Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me,^(U) not because you saw the signs^(V) 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^(W) to eternal life,^(X) which the Son of Man^(Y) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal^(Z) 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^(AA) in the one he has sent.”^(AB)

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

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^(AG) and gives life to the world.”

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

³⁵ Then Jesus declared, “I am^(AI) the bread of life.^(AJ) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes^(AK) in me will never be thirsty.^{(AL) 36} But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. ³⁷ All those the Father gives me^(AM) will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. ³⁸ For I have come down from heaven^(AN) not to do my will but to do the will^(AO) of him who sent me.^{(AP) 39} And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me,^(AQ) but raise them up at the last day.^{(AR) 40} For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son^(AS) and believes in him shall have eternal life,^(AT) 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,^(AU) whose father and mother we know?^(AV) How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”^(AW)

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

⁵² Then the Jews^(BH) began to argue sharply among themselves,^(BI) “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^(BJ) of the Son of Man^(BK) and drink his blood,^(BL) 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.^{(BM) 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.^{(BN) 57} Just as the living Father sent me^(BO) 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.”^{(BP) 59} He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

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

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

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

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

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

⁷⁰ Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you,^(CE) the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”^{(CF) 71} (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot,^(CG) who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)^(CH)

Jesus Goes to the Festival of Tabernacles

7 After this, Jesus went around in Galilee. He did not want^[f] to go about in Judea because the Jewish leaders^(CI) there were looking for a way to kill him.^{(CJ) 2} But when the Jewish Festival of Tabernacles^(CK) was near, ³ Jesus’ brothers^(CL) said to him, “Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do. ⁴ No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.” ⁵ For even his own brothers did not believe in him.^(CM)

⁶ Therefore Jesus told them, “My time^(CN) is not yet here; for you any time will do. ⁷ The world cannot hate you, but it hates me^(CO) because I testify that its works are evil.^{(CP) 8} You go to the festival. I am not^[g] going up to this festival, because my time^(CQ) has not yet fully come.” ⁹ After he had said this, he stayed in Galilee.

¹⁰ However, after his brothers had left for the festival, he went also, not publicly, but in secret. ¹¹ Now at the festival the Jewish leaders were watching for Jesus^(CR) and asking, “Where is he?”

¹² Among the crowds there was widespread whispering about him. Some said, “He is a good man.”

Others replied, “No, he deceives the people.”^{(CS) 13} But no one would say anything publicly about him for fear of the leaders.^(CT)

Jesus Teaches at the Festival

¹⁴ Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.^{(CU) 15} The Jews^(CV) there were amazed and asked, “How did this man get such learning^(CW) without having been taught?”^(CX)

¹⁶ Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.^{(CY) 17} Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out^(CZ) whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. ¹⁸ Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory,^(DA) but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. ¹⁹ Has not Moses given you the law?^(DB) Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”^(DC)

²⁰ “You are demon-possessed,”^(DD) the crowd answered. “Who is trying to kill you?”

²¹ Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle,^(DE) and you are all amazed. ²² Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision^(DF) (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs),^(DG) you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. ²³ Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? ²⁴ Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”^(DH)

Division Over Who Jesus Is

²⁵ At that point some of the people of Jerusalem began to ask, “Isn’t this the man they are trying to kill?^{(DI) 26} Here he is, speaking publicly, and they are not saying a word to him. Have the authorities^(DJ) really concluded that he is the Messiah?^{(DK) 27} But we know where this man is from;^(DL) when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.”

²⁸ Then Jesus, still teaching in the temple courts,^(DM) cried out, “Yes, you know me, and you know where I am from.^(DN) I am not here on my own authority, but he who sent me is true.^(DO) You do not know him, ²⁹ but I know him^(DP) because I am from him and he sent me.”^(DQ)

³⁰ At this they tried to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him,^(DR) because his hour had not yet come.^{(DS) 31} Still, many in the crowd believed in him.^(DT) They said, “When the Messiah comes, will he perform more signs^(DU) than this man?”

³² The Pharisees heard the crowd whispering such things about him. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees sent temple guards to arrest him.

³³ Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time,^(DV) and then I am going to the one who sent me.^{(DW) 34} You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”^(DX)

³⁵ The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we cannot find him? Will he go where our people live scattered^(DY) among the Greeks,^(DZ) and teach the Greeks? ³⁶ What did he mean when he said, ‘You will look for me, but you will not find me,’ and ‘Where I am, you cannot come’?”^(EA)

³⁷ On the last and greatest day of the festival,^(EB) Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink.^{(EC) 38} Whoever believes^(ED) in me, as Scripture has said,^(EE) rivers of living water^(EF) will flow from within them.”^{[h](EG) 39} By this he meant the Spirit,^(EH) whom those who believed in him were later to receive.^(EI) Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.^(EJ)

⁴⁰ On hearing his words, some of the people said, “Surely this man is the Prophet.”^(EK)

⁴¹ Others said, “He is the Messiah.”

Still others asked, “How can the Messiah come from Galilee?^{(EL) 42} Does not Scripture say that the Messiah will come from David’s descendants^(EM) and from Bethlehem,^(EN) the town where David lived?” ⁴³ Thus the people were divided^(EO) because of Jesus. ⁴⁴ Some wanted to seize him, but no one laid a hand on him.^(EP)

Unbelief of the Jewish Leaders

⁴⁵ Finally the temple guards went back to the chief priests and the Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring him in?”

⁴⁶ “No one ever spoke the way this man does,”^(EQ) the guards replied.

⁴⁷ “You mean he has deceived you also?”^(ER) the Pharisees retorted. ⁴⁸ “Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed in him?^{(ES) 49} No! But this mob that knows nothing of the law—there is a curse on them.”

⁵⁰ Nicodemus,^(ET) who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, ⁵¹ “Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?”

⁵² They replied, “Are you from Galilee, too? Look into it, and you will find that a prophet does not come out of Galilee.”^(EU)

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[The earliest manuscripts and many other ancient witnesses do not have John 7:53—8:11. A few manuscripts include these verses, wholly or in part, after John 7:36, John 21:25, Luke 21:38 or Luke 24:53.]

⁵³ Then they all went home, 8 ¹ but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives.^(EV)

² At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.^{(EW) 3} The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group ⁴ and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. ⁵ In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women.^(EX) Now what do you say?” ⁶ They were using this question as a trap,^(EY) in order to have a basis for accusing him.^(EZ)

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. ⁷ When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone^(FA) at her.”^{(FB) 8} Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

⁹ At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. ¹⁰ Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”

¹¹ “No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,”^(FC) Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”^(FD)

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Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony

¹² When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am^(FE) the light of the world.^(FF) Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”^(FG)

¹³ The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”^(FH)

¹⁴ Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going.^(FI) But you have no idea where I come from^(FJ) or where I am going. ¹⁵ You judge by human standards;^(FK) I pass judgment on no one.^{(FL) 16} But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me.^{(FM) 17} In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true.^{(FN) 18} I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”^(FO)

¹⁹ Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,”^(FP) Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”^{(FQ) 20} He spoke these words while teaching^(FR) in the temple courts near the place where the offerings were put.^(FS) Yet no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.^(FT)

Dispute Over Who Jesus Is

²¹ Once more Jesus said to them, “I am going away, and you will look for me, and you will die^(FU) in your sin. Where I go, you cannot come.”^(FV)

²² This made the Jews ask, “Will he kill himself? Is that why he says, ‘Where I go, you cannot come’?”

²³ But he continued, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.^{(FW) 24} I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am he,^(FX) you will indeed die in your sins.”

²⁵ “Who are you?” they asked.

“Just what I have been telling you from the beginning,” Jesus replied. ²⁶ “I have much to say in judgment of you. But he who sent me is trustworthy,^(FY) and what I have heard from him I tell the world.”^(FZ)

²⁷ They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. ²⁸ So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up^[i] the Son of Man,^(GA) then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.^{(GB) 29} The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone,^(GC) for I always do what pleases him.”^{(GD) 30} Even as he spoke, many believed in him.^(GE)

Dispute Over Whose Children Jesus’ Opponents Are

³¹ To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching,^(GF) you are really my disciples. ³² Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”^(GG)

³³ They answered him, “We are Abraham’s descendants^(GH) and have never been slaves of anyone. How can you say that we shall be set free?”

³⁴ Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.^{(GI) 35} Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.^{(GJ) 36} So if the Son sets you free,^(GK) you will be free indeed. ³⁷ I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me,^(GL) because you have no room for my word. ³⁸ I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence,^(GM) and you are doing what you have heard from your father.^[j]”^(GN)

³⁹ “Abraham is our father,” they answered.

“If you were Abraham’s children,”^(GO) said Jesus, “then you would^[k] do what Abraham did. ⁴⁰ As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me,^(GP) a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.^(GQ) Abraham did not do such things. ⁴¹ You are doing the works of your own father.”^(GR)

“We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.”^(GS)

⁴² Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me,^(GT) for I have come here from God.^(GU) I have not come on my own;^(GV) God sent me.^{(GW) 43} Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. ⁴⁴ You belong to your father, the devil,^(GX) and you want to carry out your father’s desires.^(GY) He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.^{(GZ) 45} Yet because I tell the truth,^(HA) you do not believe me! ⁴⁶ Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? ⁴⁷ Whoever belongs to God hears what God says.^(HB) The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

Jesus’ Claims About Himself

⁴⁸ The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan^(HC) and demon-possessed?”^(HD)

⁴⁹ “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. ⁵⁰ I am not seeking glory for myself;^(HE) but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. ⁵¹ Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.”^(HF)

⁵² At this they exclaimed, “Now we know that you are demon-possessed!^(HG) Abraham died and so did the prophets, yet you say that whoever obeys your word will never taste death. ⁵³ Are you greater than our father Abraham?^(HH) He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?”

⁵⁴ Jesus replied, “If I glorify myself,^(HI) my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me.^{(HJ) 55} Though you do not know him,^(HK) I know him.^(HL) If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word.^{(HM) 56} Your father Abraham^(HN) rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it^(HO) and was glad.”

⁵⁷ “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!”

⁵⁸ “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born,^(HP) I am!”^{(HQ) 59} At this, they picked up stones to stone him,^(HR) but Jesus hid himself,^(HS) slipping away from the temple grounds.