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Jesus Feeds More Than Five Thousand(A)

Jesus later crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (or the Sea of Tiberias). A large crowd followed him because they saw the miracles that he performed for the sick. Jesus went up a mountain and sat with his disciples. The time for the Jewish Passover festival was near.

As Jesus saw a large crowd coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” Jesus asked this question to test him. He already knew what he was going to do.

Philip answered, “We would need about a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each of them to have a piece.”

One of Jesus’ disciples, Andrew, who was Simon Peter’s brother, told him, “A boy who has five loaves of barley bread and two small fish is here. But they won’t go very far for so many people.”

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.”

The people had plenty of grass to sit on. (There were about 5,000 men in the crowd.)

11 Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to the people who were sitting there. He did the same thing with the fish. All the people ate as much as they wanted.

12 When the people were full, Jesus told his disciples, “Gather the leftover pieces so that nothing will be wasted.” 13 The disciples gathered the leftover pieces of bread and filled twelve baskets.

14 When the people saw the miracle Jesus performed, they said, “This man is certainly the prophet who is to come into the world.” 15 Jesus realized that the people intended to take him by force and make him king. So he returned to the mountain by himself.

Jesus Walks on the Sea(B)

16 When evening came, his disciples went to the sea. 17 They got into a boat and started to cross the sea to the city of Capernaum. By this time it was dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 A strong wind started to blow and stir up the sea.

19 After they had rowed three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they became terrified.

20 Jesus told them, “It’s me. Don’t be afraid!”

21 So they were willing to help Jesus into the boat. Immediately, the boat reached the shore where they were going.

Jesus Is the Bread of Life

22 On the next day the people were still on the other side of the sea. They noticed that only one boat was there and that Jesus had not stepped into that boat with his disciples. The disciples had gone away without him. 23 Other boats from Tiberias arrived near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord gave thanks. 24 When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into these boats and went to the city of Capernaum to look for Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”

26 Jesus replied to them, “I can guarantee this truth: You’re not looking for me because you saw miracles. You are looking for me because you ate as much of those loaves as you wanted. 27 Don’t work for food that spoils. Instead, work for the food that lasts into eternal life. This is the food the Son of Man will give you. After all, the Father has placed his seal of approval on him.”

28 The people asked Jesus, “What does God want us to do?”

29 Jesus replied to them, “God wants to do something for you so that you believe in the one whom he has sent.”

30 The people asked him, “What miracle are you going to perform so that we can see it and believe in you? What are you going to do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the desert. Scripture says, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ”

32 Jesus said to them, “I can guarantee this truth: Moses didn’t give you bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 God’s bread is the man who comes from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread all the time.”

35 Jesus told them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never become hungry, and whoever believes in me will never become thirsty. 36 I’ve told you that you have seen me. However, you don’t believe in me. 37 Everyone whom the Father gives me will come to me. I will never turn away anyone who comes to me. 38 I haven’t come from heaven to do what I want to do. I’ve come to do what the one who sent me wants me to do. 39 The one who sent me doesn’t want me to lose any of those he gave me. He wants me to bring them back to life on the last day. 40 My Father wants all those who see the Son and believe in him to have eternal life. He wants me to bring them back to life on the last day.”

41 The Jews began to criticize Jesus for saying, “I am the bread that came from heaven.” 42 They asked, “Isn’t this man Jesus, Joseph’s son? Don’t we know his father and mother? How can he say now, ‘I came from heaven’?”

43 Jesus responded, “Stop criticizing me! 44 People cannot come to me unless the Father who sent me brings them to me. I will bring these people back to life on the last day. 45 The prophets wrote, ‘God will teach everyone.’ Those who do what they have learned from the Father come to me. 46 I’m saying that no one has seen the Father. Only the one who is from God has seen the Father. 47 I can guarantee this truth: Every believer has eternal life.

48 “I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert and died. 50 This is the bread that comes from heaven so that whoever eats it won’t die. 51 I am the living bread that came from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. The bread I will give to bring life to the world is my flesh.”

52 The Jews began to quarrel with each other. They said, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 Jesus told them, “I can guarantee this truth: If you don’t eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you don’t have the source of life in you. 54 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will bring them back to life on the last day. 55 My flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in me, and I live in them. 57 The Father who has life sent me, and I live because of the Father. So those who feed on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came from heaven. It is not like the bread your ancestors ate. They eventually died. Those who eat this bread will live forever.”

59 Jesus said this while he was teaching in a synagogue in Capernaum. 60 When many of Jesus’ disciples heard him, they said, “What he says is hard to accept. Who wants to listen to him anymore?”

61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were criticizing his message. So Jesus asked them, “Did what I say make you lose faith? 62 What if you see the Son of Man go where he was before? 63 Life is spiritual. Your physical existence doesn’t contribute to that life. The words that I have spoken to you are spiritual. They are life. 64 But some of you don’t believe.” Jesus knew from the beginning those who wouldn’t believe and the one who would betray him. 65 So he added, “That is why I told you that people cannot come to me unless the Father provides the way.”

66 Jesus’ speech made many of his disciples go back to the lives they had led before they followed Jesus. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve apostles, “Do you want to leave me too?”

68 Simon Peter answered Jesus, “Lord, to what person could we go? Your words give eternal life. 69 Besides, we believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

70 Jesus replied, “I chose all twelve of you. Yet, one of you is a devil.” 71 Jesus meant Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. Judas, who was one of the twelve apostles, would later betray Jesus.

Once this had transpired, Jesus made His way to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (which some these days call the Sea of Tiberias). As Jesus walked, a large crowd pursued Him hoping to see new signs and miracles; His healings of the sick and lame were garnering great attention. Jesus went up a mountain and found a place to sit down and teach. His disciples gathered around. The celebration of the Passover, one of the principal Jewish feasts, would take place soon. But when Jesus looked up, He could see an immense crowd coming toward Him. Jesus approached Philip.

Jesus (to Philip): Where is a place to buy bread so these people may eat?

Jesus knew what He was planning to do, but He asked Philip nonetheless. He had something to teach, and it started with a test.

Philip: I could work for more than half of a year[a] and still not have the money to buy enough bread to give each person a very small piece.

Andrew, the disciple who was Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up.

Andrew: I met a young boy in the crowd carrying five barley loaves and two fish, but that is practically useless in feeding a crowd this large.

Jesus: 10 Tell the people to sit down.

They all sat together on a large grassy area. Those counting the people reported approximately 5,000 men—not including the women and children—sitting in the crowd. 11 Jesus picked up the bread, gave thanks to God, and passed it to everyone. He repeated this ritual with the fish. Men, women, and children all ate until their hearts were content. 12 When the people had all they could eat, He told the disciples to gather the leftovers.

Jesus: Go and collect the leftovers, so we are not wasteful.

13 They filled 12 baskets with fragments of the five barley loaves. 14 After witnessing this sign that Jesus did, the people stirred in conversation.

Crowd: This man must be the Prophet God said was coming into the world.

15 Jesus sensed the people were planning to mount a revolution against Israel’s Roman occupiers and make Him king, so He withdrew farther up the mountain by Himself.

Since the Babylonians seized Judah in 586 b.c., the Jews have endured one foreign occupier after another in their land. As conquerors go, the Romans aren’t all that bad. They allow the Jews to worship God in His temple, and they appoint some of them to government positions. Of course, the Judeans still long to rule themselves and throw the Roman rulers out. Some think Jesus is just the man to lead that revolution. But political upheaval isn’t what He is teaching, and it isn’t why He has come to earth.

16 Later that evening the disciples walked down to the sea, 17 boarded a boat, and set sail toward Capernaum. Twilight gave way to darkness. Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 Suddenly, the waves rose and a fierce wind began to rock the boat. 19 After rowing three or four miles[b] through the stormy seas, they spotted Jesus approaching the boat walking mysteriously upon the deep waters that surrounded them. They panicked.

Jesus (to the disciples): 20 I am the One. Don’t be afraid.

21 They welcomed Jesus aboard their small vessel; and when He stepped into the boat, the next thing they knew, they were ashore at their destination.

22 The following day some people gathered on the other side of the sea and saw that only one boat had been there; they were perplexed. They remembered seeing the disciples getting into the boat without Jesus.

23 Other boats were arriving from Tiberias near the grassy area where the Lord offered thanks and passed out bread. 24 When this crowd could not find Him or His disciples, they boarded their small boats and crossed the sea to Capernaum looking for Him. 25 When they found Jesus across the sea, they questioned Him.

Crowd: Teacher, when did You arrive at Capernaum?

Jesus: 26 I tell you the truth—you are tracking Me down because I fed you, not because you saw signs from God. 27 Don’t spend your life chasing food that spoils and rots. Instead, seek the food that lasts into all the ages and comes from the Son of Man, the One on whom God the Father has placed His seal.

Crowd: 28 What do we have to do to accomplish the Father’s works?

Jesus: 29 If you want to do God’s work, then believe in the One He sent.

Crowd: 30 Can You show us a miraculous sign? Something spectacular? If we see something like that, it will help us to believe. 31 Our fathers ate manna when they wandered in the desert. The Hebrew Scriptures say, “He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”[c]

Jesus: 32 I tell you the truth: Moses did not give you bread from heaven; it is My Father who offers you true bread from heaven. 33 The bread of God comes down out of heaven and breathes life into the cosmos.

Crowd: 34 Master, we want a boundless supply of this bread.

Jesus: 35 I am the bread that gives life. If you come to My table and eat, you will never go hungry. Believe in Me, and you will never go thirsty. 36 Here I am standing in front of you, and still you don’t believe. 37 All that My Father gives to Me comes to Me. I will receive everyone; I will not send away anyone who comes to Me. 38 And here’s the reason: I have come down from heaven not to pursue My own agenda but to do what He desires. I am here on behalf of the Father who sent Me. 39 He sent Me to care for all He has given Me so that nothing and no one will perish. In the end, on the last day, He wants everything to be resurrected into new life. 40 So if you want to know the will of the Father, know this: everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him will live eternally; and on the last day, I am the One who will resurrect him.

41 Some of the Jews began to grumble quietly against Him because He said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

Crowd: 42 Isn’t Jesus the son of Joseph? We know His parents! We know where He came from, so how can He claim to have “come down from heaven”?

Jesus: 43 Stop grumbling under your breaths. 44 If the Father who sent Me does not draw you, then there’s no way you can come to Me. But I will resurrect everyone who does come on the last day. 45 Among the prophets, it’s written, “Everyone will be taught of God.”[d] So everyone who has heard and learned from the Father finds Me. 46 No one has seen the Father, except the One sent from God. He has seen the Father. 47 I am telling you the truth: the one who accepts these things has eternal life. 48 I am the bread that gives life. 49 Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness, and they died as you know. 50 But there is another bread that comes from heaven; if you eat this bread, you will not die. 51 I am the living bread that has come down from heaven to rescue those who eat it. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever. The bread that I will give breathes life into the cosmos. This bread is My flesh.

52 The low whispers of some of Jesus’ detractors turned into an out-and-out debate.

Crowd: What is He talking about? How is He able to give us His flesh to eat?

Jesus: 53 I tell you the truth; unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you will not know life. 54 If you eat My flesh and drink My blood, then you will have eternal life and I will raise you up at the end of time. 55 My flesh and blood provide true nourishment. 56 If you eat My flesh and drink My blood, you will abide in Me and I will abide in you. 57 The Father of life who sent Me has given life to Me; and as you eat My flesh, I will give life to you. 58 This is bread that came down from heaven; I am not like the manna that your fathers ate and then died! If you eat this bread, your life will never end.

59 He spoke these words in the synagogue as part of His teaching mission in Capernaum. 60 Many disciples heard what He said, and they had questions of their own.

Disciples: How are we supposed to understand all of this? It is a hard teaching.

61 Jesus was aware that even His disciples were murmuring about this.

How is it possible to follow this path and believe these truths? To be honest, it is not easy. In fact, some find this so hard that they leave Jesus for good. The rest readily admit they are still working on what it means to follow Him. So Jesus leaves behind a number of practices to help believers. One of these is known as the Lord’s Supper. Jesus instructs His disciples to break bread and share wine to remember how He will allow His body to be broken for all humankind. In some beautiful, mysterious way, Jesus is present in the simple elements of bread and wine, so the worshiper may touch Him, taste His richness, and remember His most glorious hours on the cross. In that moment, He embraces all darkness and shame and transforms them into light. As believers come to the table together and feast on His light, life seems more hopeful and complete. Taking the bread and the wine means affirming the reality that the One who has come to liberate souls is among and within His people.

Jesus: Has My teaching offended you? 62 What if you were to see the Son of Man ascend to return to where He came from? 63 The Spirit brings life. The flesh has nothing to offer. The words I have been teaching you are spirit and life, 64 but some of you do not believe.

From the first day Jesus began to call disciples, He knew those who did not have genuine faith. He knew, too, who would betray Him.

Jesus: 65 This is why I have been telling you that no one comes to Me without the Father’s blessing and guidance.

66 After hearing these teachings, many of His disciples walked away and no longer followed Jesus.

Jesus (to the twelve): 67 Do you want to walk away too?

Simon Peter: 68 Lord, if we were to go, whom would we follow? You speak the words that give everlasting life. 69 We believe and recognize that You are the Holy One sent by God.[e]

Jesus: 70 I chose each one of you, the twelve, Myself. But one of you is a devil.

71 This cryptic comment referred to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, for he was the one of the twelve who was going to betray Him.

Footnotes

  1. 6:7 Literally, 200 denarii
  2. 6:19 Literally, 25 or 30 stadia
  3. 6:31 Exodus 16:4
  4. 6:45 Isaiah 54:13
  5. 6:69 Other ancient manuscripts read, “You are God’s Anointed, the Liberating King, the Son of the Living God.”

Five Thousand Men Fed

After these things (A)Jesus went away to the other side of (B)the Sea of Galilee (or (C)Tiberias). A large crowd was following Him, because they were watching the [a](D)signs which He was performing on those who were sick. But (E)Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples. Now (F)the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was near. So Jesus, after raising His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, *said to (G)Philip, “Where are we to buy bread so that these people may eat?” But He was saying this only to (H)test him, for He Himself knew what He intended to do. (I)Philip answered Him, “(J)Two hundred [b]denarii worth of bread is not enough for them, for each to receive just a little!” One of His (K)disciples, (L)Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, *said to Him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two (M)fish; but what are these for so many people?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people recline to eat.” Now there was (N)plenty of grass in the place. So the men reclined, about [c](O)five thousand in number. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and (P)after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were reclining; likewise also of the (Q)fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, He *said to His (R)disciples, “Gather up the leftover pieces so that nothing will be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up, and filled twelve (S)baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. 14 Therefore when the people saw the [d]sign which He had performed, they said, “This is truly the (T)Prophet who is to come into the world.”

Jesus Walks on the Water

15 So Jesus, aware that they [e]intended to come and take Him by force (U)to make Him king, (V)withdrew again to (W)the mountain by Himself, alone.

16 Now when evening came, His (X)disciples went down to the sea, 17 and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea (Y)to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 In addition, the sea began getting rough, because a strong wind was blowing. 19 Then, when they had rowed about [f]twenty-five or thirty stadia, they *saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat; and they were frightened. 20 But He *said to them, “It is I; [g](Z)do not be afraid.” 21 So they were willing to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

22 The next day (AA)the crowd that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other small boat there except one, and that Jesus (AB)had not gotten into the boat with His disciples, but that His disciples had departed alone. 23 Other small boats came from (AC)Tiberias near to the place where they ate the bread after the (AD)Lord (AE)had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they themselves got into the small boats and (AF)came to Capernaum, looking for Jesus. 25 And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “(AG)Rabbi, when did You get here?”

Words to the People

26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you (AH)seek Me, not because you saw [h](AI)signs, but because you ate some of the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not (AJ)work for the food that perishes, but for the food that lasts for (AK)eternal life, which (AL)the Son of Man will give you, for on Him the Father, God, (AM)has set His [i]seal.” 28 Therefore they said to Him, “What are we to do, so that we may accomplish the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This is (AN)the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He (AO)has sent.” 30 So they said to Him, “(AP)What then are You doing as a (AQ)sign, so that we may see, and believe You? What work are You performing? 31 (AR)Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘(AS)He gave them bread out of heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is [j]that which (AT)comes down out of heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, always (AU)give us this bread.”

35 Jesus said to them, (AV)I am the bread of life; the one who comes to Me will not be hungry, and the one who believes in Me (AW)will never be thirsty. 36 But (AX)I said to you that you have indeed seen Me, and yet you do not believe. 37 (AY)Everything that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I certainly will not cast out. 38 For (AZ)I have come down from heaven, (BA)not to do My own will, but (BB)the will of Him who (BC)sent Me. 39 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that of (BD)everything that He has given Me I will (BE)lose nothing, but will (BF)raise it up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who (BG)sees the Son and (BH)believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will (BI)raise him up on the last day.”

Words to the Jews

41 (BJ)So then the Jews were complaining about Him because He said, “I am the bread that (BK)came down out of heaven.” 42 And they were saying, “(BL)Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother (BM)we know? How does He now say, (BN)I have come down out of heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered and said to them, “Stop complaining among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me (BO)draws him; and I will (BP)raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written (BQ)in the Prophets: ‘(BR)And they shall all be (BS)taught of God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. 46 (BT)Not that anyone has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, the one who believes (BU)has eternal life. 48 (BV)I am the bread of life. 49 (BW)Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that (BX)comes down out of heaven, so that anyone may eat from it and (BY)not die. 51 (BZ)I am the living bread that (CA)came down out of heaven; if anyone eats from this bread, (CB)he will live forever; and the bread which I will give (CC)for the life of the world also is (CD)My flesh.”

52 (CE)Then the Jews (CF)began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of (CG)the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will (CH)raise him up on the last day. 55 For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. 56 The one who eats My flesh and drinks My blood (CI)remains in Me, and I in him. 57 Just as the (CJ)living Father (CK)sent Me, and I live because of the Father, the one who eats Me, he also will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread that (CL)came down out of heaven, not as (CM)the fathers ate and died; the one who eats this bread (CN)will live forever.”

Words to the Disciples

59 These things He said (CO)in the synagogue as He taught (CP)in Capernaum.

60 So then many of His (CQ)disciples, when they heard this, said, “(CR)This statement is very [k]unpleasant; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, (CS)aware that His disciples were complaining about this, said to them, “Is this [l](CT)offensive to you? 62 What then if you see (CU)the Son of Man (CV)ascending to where He was before? 63 (CW)It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh provides no benefit; (CX)the words that I have spoken to you are spirit, and are life. 64 But there are (CY)some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus (CZ)knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and (DA)who it was who would [m]betray Him. 65 And He was saying, “For this reason I have (DB)told you that no one can come to Me unless (DC)it has been granted him from the Father.”

Peter’s Confession of Faith

66 As a result of this many of His (DD)disciples (DE)left, and would no longer walk with Him. 67 So Jesus said to (DF)the twelve, “You do not want to leave also, do you?” 68 (DG)Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have (DH)words of eternal life. 69 And we have already believed and have come to know that You are (DI)the Holy One of God.” 70 Jesus answered them, (DJ)Did I Myself not choose you, (DK)the twelve? And yet one of you is (DL)a devil.” 71 Now He meant Judas (DM)the son of Simon Iscariot; for he, (DN)one of (DO)the twelve, [n]was going to betray Him.

Footnotes

  1. John 6:2 I.e., confirming miracles
  2. John 6:7 The denarius was a day’s wages for a laborer
  3. John 6:10 I.e., 5,000 men plus women and children, cf. Matt 14:21
  4. John 6:14 I.e., confirming miracle
  5. John 6:15 Or were about
  6. John 6:19 Possibly 3-4 miles or 4.8-6.4 km; a Roman stadion perhaps averaged 607 ft. or 185 m
  7. John 6:20 Or stop being afraid
  8. John 6:26 I.e., confirming miracles
  9. John 6:27 I.e., of identification or authenticity
  10. John 6:33 Or He who comes
  11. John 6:60 Or hard
  12. John 6:61 Or shocking
  13. John 6:64 Or hand Him over
  14. John 6:71 Or was intending to

Alimentación de los cinco mil

(A)Después de esto, Jesús se fue al otro lado del mar de Galilea(B), el de Tiberias(C). Y una gran multitud lo seguía, pues veían las señales[a](D) que realizaba en los enfermos. Entonces Jesús subió al monte(E) y se sentó allí con Sus discípulos. Estaba cerca la Pascua(F), la fiesta de los judíos.

Cuando Jesús alzó los ojos y vio que una gran multitud venía hacia Él, dijo* a Felipe(G): «¿Dónde compraremos pan para que coman estos?». Pero decía esto para probarlo(H), porque Él sabía lo que iba a hacer. Felipe(I) le respondió: «Doscientos denarios[b] de pan(J) no les bastarán para que cada uno reciba un pedazo[c]».

Uno de Sus discípulos(K), Andrés, hermano de Simón Pedro(L), dijo* a Jesús: «Aquí hay un muchacho que tiene cinco panes de cebada y dos pescados(M); pero ¿qué es esto para tantos?». 10 «Hagan que la gente se siente», dijo Jesús. Y había mucha hierba(N) en aquel lugar; así que se sentaron. El número de los hombres era de unos cinco mil(O).

11 Entonces Jesús tomó los panes, y habiendo dado gracias(P), los repartió a los que estaban sentados[d]; y lo mismo hizo con los pescados(Q), dándoles todo lo que querían. 12 Cuando se saciaron, dijo* a Sus discípulos(R): «Recojan los pedazos que sobran, para que no se pierda nada». 13 Ellos los recogieron, y llenaron doce cestas(S) con los pedazos de los cinco panes de cebada que sobraron a los que habían comido.

14 La gente, entonces, al ver la señal[e] que Jesús había hecho, decían: «Verdaderamente Este es el Profeta(T) que había de venir[f] al mundo».

15 Por lo que Jesús, dándose cuenta de que iban a venir y por la fuerza hacerle rey(U), (V)se retiró Él solo otra vez al monte(W).

Jesús anda sobre el mar

16 Al atardecer Sus discípulos(X) bajaron hasta el mar, 17 y subiendo en una barca, se dirigieron al otro lado del mar, hacia Capernaúm(Y). Ya había oscurecido, y Jesús todavía no había venido adonde ellos estaban; 18 y el mar estaba agitado porque soplaba un fuerte viento. 19 Cuando habían remado unos 25 o 30 estadios (cuatro o cinco kilómetros), vieron* a Jesús caminando sobre el mar y que se acercaba a la barca, y se asustaron. 20 Pero Él les dijo*: «Soy Yo; no teman(Z)».

21 Entonces ellos querían recibir a Jesús en la barca, pero la barca llegó enseguida a la tierra adonde iban.

Jesús, el pan de la vida

22 Al día siguiente, la multitud(AA) que había quedado al otro lado del mar se dio cuenta de[g] que allí no había[h] más que una barca, y que Jesús no había entrado en ella[i] con Sus discípulos, sino que Sus discípulos se habían ido solos(AB). 23 Vinieron otras barcas de Tiberias(AC) cerca del lugar donde habían comido el pan después de que el Señor(AD) había dado gracias(AE). 24 Por tanto, cuando la gente vio que Jesús no estaba allí, ni tampoco Sus discípulos, subieron a las barcas y se fueron a Capernaúm(AF) buscando a Jesús. 25 Cuando lo hallaron al otro lado del mar, le dijeron: «Rabí[j](AG), ¿cuándo llegaste acá?».

26 Jesús les respondió: «En verdad les digo, que me buscan(AH), no porque hayan visto señales[k](AI), sino porque han comido de los panes y se han saciado. 27 Trabajen, no por el alimento que perece, sino por el alimento que permanece(AJ) para vida eterna(AK), el cual el Hijo del Hombre(AL) les dará, porque a Él es a quien el Padre, Dios, ha marcado con Su sello(AM)».

28 Entonces le preguntaron: «¿Qué debemos hacer[l] para poner en práctica las obras de Dios?». 29 Jesús les respondió: «Esta es la obra de Dios: que crean(AN) en el que Él ha enviado(AO)».

30 Le dijeron entonces: «¿Qué, pues, haces Tú como señal[m](AP) para que veamos y te creamos? ¿Qué obra haces? 31 Nuestros padres comieron el maná en el desierto(AQ), como está escrito: “Les dio a comer pan del cielo(AR)”». 32 Entonces Jesús les dijo: «En verdad les digo, que no es Moisés el que les ha dado el pan del cielo, sino que es Mi Padre el que les da el verdadero pan del cielo. 33 Porque el pan de Dios es el[n] que baja del cielo(AS), y da vida al mundo». 34 «Señor, danos siempre este pan(AT)», le dijeron.

35 Jesús les dijo: «Yo soy el pan de la vida(AU); el que viene a Mí no tendrá hambre, y el que cree en Mí nunca tendrá sed(AV). 36 Pero ya les dije que aunque me han visto(AW), no creen. 37 Todo lo que el Padre me da(AX), vendrá a Mí; y al que viene a Mí, de ningún modo lo echaré fuera. 38 Porque he descendido del cielo(AY), no para hacer Mi voluntad, sino la voluntad del que me envió(AZ). 39 Y esta es la voluntad del que me envió: que de todo lo que Él me ha dado(BA) Yo no pierda nada(BB), sino que lo resucite en el día final(BC). 40 Porque esta es la voluntad de Mi Padre: que todo aquel que ve al Hijo(BD) y cree en Él, tenga vida eterna(BE), y Yo mismo lo resucitaré en el día final(BF)».

Murmuración de los judíos

41 Por eso los judíos(BG) murmuraban de Él, porque había dicho: «Yo soy el pan que descendió del cielo(BH)». 42 Y decían: «¿No es este Jesús, el hijo de José(BI), cuyo padre y madre nosotros conocemos(BJ)? ¿Cómo es que ahora dice: “Yo he descendido del cielo(BK)”?».

43 Jesús les dijo: «No murmuren entre sí. 44 Nadie puede venir a Mí si no lo trae[o](BL) el Padre que me envió, y Yo lo resucitaré en el día final(BM). 45 Escrito está en los profetas(BN): “Y todos serán enseñados por Dios(BO)”. Todo el que ha oído y aprendido del Padre, viene a Mí. 46 No es que alguien haya visto al Padre; sino Aquel que viene[p] de Dios, Él ha visto al Padre(BP). 47 En verdad les digo: el que cree[q], tiene vida eterna(BQ).

48 »Yo soy el pan de la vida(BR). 49 Los padres de ustedes comieron el maná en el desierto, y murieron(BS). 50 Este es el pan que desciende del cielo(BT), para que el que coma de él, no muera(BU). 51 Yo soy el pan vivo(BV) que descendió del cielo(BW); si alguien come de este pan, vivirá para siempre(BX); y el pan que Yo también daré por la vida del mundo(BY) es Mi carne(BZ)».

52 Los judíos(CA), por tanto, discutían entre sí(CB), diciendo: «¿Cómo puede Este darnos a comer Su carne?». 53 Entonces Jesús les dijo: «En verdad les digo, que si no comen la carne del Hijo del Hombre(CC) y beben Su sangre, no tienen vida en ustedes. 54 El que come Mi carne y bebe Mi sangre, tiene vida eterna, y Yo lo resucitaré en el día final(CD). 55 Porque Mi carne es verdadera comida, y Mi sangre es verdadera bebida.

56 »El que come Mi carne y bebe Mi sangre, permanece en Mí y Yo en él(CE). 57 Como el Padre que vive(CF) me envió(CG), y Yo vivo por el Padre, asimismo el que me come, él también vivirá por Mí. 58 Este es el pan que descendió del cielo(CH); no como el que los[r] padres de ustedes comieron, y murieron(CI); el que come este pan vivirá para siempre(CJ)».

59 Esto dijo Jesús en la sinagoga, cuando enseñaba(CK) en Capernaúm(CL).

Reacción de los discípulos

60 Por eso muchos de Sus discípulos(CM), cuando oyeron esto, dijeron: «Dura es esta declaración(CN); ¿quién puede escucharla?». 61 Pero Jesús, consciente(CO) de que Sus discípulos murmuraban por esto, les dijo: «¿Esto los escandaliza[s](CP)? 62 ¿Pues qué si vieran al Hijo del Hombre(CQ) ascender adonde estaba antes(CR)?

63 »El Espíritu es el que da vida(CS); la carne para nada aprovecha; las palabras que Yo les he hablado son espíritu y son vida(CT). 64 Pero hay algunos de ustedes que no creen(CU)». Porque Jesús sabía(CV) desde el principio quiénes eran los que no creían, y quién era el que lo iba a traicionar[t](CW). 65 También decía: «Por eso les he dicho que nadie puede venir a Mí si no se lo ha concedido(CX) el Padre(CY)».

66 Como resultado de esto muchos de Sus discípulos(CZ) se apartaron(DA) y ya no andaban con Él. 67 Entonces Jesús dijo a los doce discípulos(DB): «¿Acaso también ustedes quieren irse?». 68 Simón Pedro(DC) le respondió: «Señor, ¿a quién iremos? Tú tienes palabras de vida eterna(DD). 69 Y nosotros hemos creído y sabemos que Tú eres el Santo de Dios(DE)». 70 Jesús les respondió: «¿No los escogí(DF) Yo a ustedes, los doce(DG), y sin embargo uno de ustedes es un diablo(DH)?». 71 Él se refería a Judas, hijo de Simón Iscariote(DI), porque este, uno de los doce(DJ), lo iba a entregar[u](DK).

Footnotes

  1. Juan 6:2 O los milagros.
  2. Juan 6:7 I.e. salario de 200 días.
  3. Juan 6:7 Lit. un poco.
  4. Juan 6:11 O reclinados.
  5. Juan 6:14 O el milagro.
  6. Juan 6:14 Lit. que viene.
  7. Juan 6:22 Lit. vio.
  8. Juan 6:22 O había habido.
  9. Juan 6:22 Lit. en la barca.
  10. Juan 6:25 O Maestro.
  11. Juan 6:26 O milagros.
  12. Juan 6:28 Lit. ¿Qué haremos.
  13. Juan 6:30 O milagro.
  14. Juan 6:33 O aquel.
  15. Juan 6:44 Lit. arrastra.
  16. Juan 6:46 Lit. es.
  17. Juan 6:47 Algunos mss. dicen: cree en mí.
  18. Juan 6:58 Lit. los.
  19. Juan 6:61 O los hace tropezar.
  20. Juan 6:64 O entregar.
  21. Juan 6:71 O tenía el propósito de entregarle.