Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

After these things, Jesus crossed over to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also known as Tiberias. A great multitude followed him because they had seen his miracles on those who were diseased.

As he sat with his disciples in a mountain, the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was approaching. He looked out at the crowd and asked Philip, "Where can we buy bread for them to eat?" This wasn't a genuine question, but rather a test; he knew exactly what he would do.

Philip answered, "Two hundred denarii worth of bread won't be enough for all these people." Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up and said, "There are five barley loaves and two fish here, but what can we do with so little?" Jesus instructed the disciples to have everyone sit down on the lush grass that covered the area. About five thousand men sat down.

Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, and distributed it among his disciples, who then handed it out to those seated. He also provided as much fish as they wanted. Once they had eaten their fill, Jesus told his disciples, "Gather up the remaining fragments." They collected the leftovers and filled twelve baskets with them – a few pieces of bread from the original five barley loaves.

When the crowd saw what Jesus had done, they exclaimed, "This truly is the prophet who was to come into the world." But when Jesus realized that they intended to make him king by force, he retreated to a mountain alone. As evening approached, his disciples headed back down to the sea.

<span class="jesus-words">It was now dark, and Jesus hadn't yet joined them.</span> A fierce wind had started blowing, causing the sea to rise violently. After rowing for about five or six miles, they spotted Jesus walking on the water towards their boat. They were terrified.

"Take heart," he said; "I am here." The disciples welcomed him into the boat, and it immediately reached its destination.

The next day, those who had remained on the other side of the sea noticed that there was only one boat left – the one his disciples had used to cross over. They realized Jesus hadn't joined them in the boat; instead, they'd gone alone.

Other boats from Tiberias arrived at the spot where they'd eaten after giving thanks, and the people were confused because Jesus wasn't there with his disciples. They decided to set off for Capernaum, seeking him out.

When they finally found Jesus on the other side of the sea, they asked, "Rabbi, when did you arrive here?" Jesus responded by saying, "You're not looking for me because you saw the miracles I performed, but because you ate from those loaves and were filled."

"Why work for food that will perish," he urged them, "when there's a more enduring kind of food available – eternal life – which the Son of Man will give to you? God the Father has already sealed him as the one who can provide this gift." The people asked Jesus what they needed to do to work the works of God.

"This is the work of God," he replied, "that you believe in the one whom he has sent." They pressed him for a sign, saying, "Our ancestors ate manna in the wilderness; it's written, 'He gave them bread from heaven.'"

Jesus corrected them: "Moses didn't provide that bread from heaven – my Father does. The bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world." They asked him to give them this bread always.

"I am the bread of life," Jesus said; "if anyone comes to me, they will never be hungry again, and if they believe in me, they'll never thirst." But he noted that despite seeing all he had done, they still didn't believe.

"All those whom my Father has given to me will come to me," he assured them. "I won't turn away anyone who comes to me." He explained that his purpose was not to do his own will but the one sent by God: of all those given to him, none would be lost – they'd all be raised on the last day.

"This is the will of my Father," he continued; "whoever sees the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I'll raise them up at the last day."

The Jews murmured among themselves because Jesus claimed to be the bread that came down from heaven. They asked how he could say such a thing when they knew his earthly father was Joseph, and his mother, as well.

"Do not grumble," Jesus cautioned; "no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them." He reminded them of a prophecy that would be fulfilled: all would be taught by God. Those who listened from the Father would come to him.

"Anyone who has seen the Father has come from God himself," he emphasized. "He is the only one who's truly seen the Father."

"He who believes in me will have eternal life," Jesus declared; "I am that bread of life." He pointed out how their ancestors had eaten manna but eventually died, whereas this was the bread which came down from heaven and would not lead to death.

"I am the living bread that has come down from heaven," he said. "If anyone eats of this bread they will live forever – the bread I give is my flesh for the life of the world."

The Jews started arguing among themselves: how could Jesus possibly give them his flesh to eat? Jesus was blunt and direct; unless they ate his flesh and drank his blood, they'd have no life within themselves.

"Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will have eternal life," he said. "I'll raise him up at the last day." He asserted that his flesh was indeed food, and his blood was drink – through these, people would experience true life.

He who eats Jesus' flesh and drinks his blood becomes one with him and abides in him. As the living Father had sent him to be a living sacrifice, so too would those eating of this bread live by him. He repeated that anyone partaking in this bread would live forever.

These words were spoken while Jesus taught in Capernaum's synagogue. Many of his disciples heard what he said and commented that it was difficult to accept – who could possibly comprehend such a thing?

Jesus sensed their confusion: "Does this offend you?" he asked. "What if you saw the Son of Man ascending back to where He was before?"

"The Spirit is the one that gives life," Jesus said; "flesh achieves nothing." His words were spirit and they were life – anyone who heard them would have eternal life.

However, not everyone believed. Jesus knew from the beginning which of his followers didn't believe and who among them would betray him. He had already indicated this when he said no one could come to him unless it was given by God.

Many disciples chose to leave and walk away from Jesus because they couldn't accept what he taught. Jesus turned to the twelve remaining disciples: "Will you also abandon me?"

Simon Peter spoke up for them, saying, "Lord, where else can we go? You have the words of eternal life." They believed that Jesus was indeed the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Jesus replied, "I chose all twelve of you; one of you is a devil – Judas Iscariot, who would betray me."