It was now evening. the disciples went down to the sea and got in a boat to go to Capernaum. It grew dark and a great wind began to stir up the sea. When they had rowed a few miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat. They were afraid. But He said to them, It is I. Be not afraid. As they welcomed Him into the boat, they were immediately at the land where they were heading.
The next day, the people who stood on the opposite shore saw that there was no other boat there, except the one His disciples entered. They knew that the disciples left alone and Jesus did not go with them. Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks. When all these people saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they took boats to Capernaum to look for Him.
When they found Jesus on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, Rabbi, when did you come here? Jesus answered, You seek me not because you saw the miracles, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for food that perishes but for the food that endures for life everlasting. This is what the Son of man will give you for on Him the Father has set His seal.
Then they asked Him, What is that work? Jesus said, This is the work of God, that you believe in the one He sent. They asked, What sign can you give us that we may see and believe you? What can you do? Our fathers ate manna in the desert; as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.
Jesus said, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave that bread from heaven. My Father gave you the true bread from heaven; for the bread of God is He who came down from heaven to give life to the world. Then they said, Lord, give us this bread forever. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never hunger. He who believes in me will never thirst. But I also told you that, although you have seen me, you do not believe me.
All that the Father gives me will come to me and I will not cast out anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of the one who sent me. And it is the will of the one who sent me that I lose nothing of what He gave me, but should raise it up on the last day. It is the will of the Father who sent me, that every one who sees the Son and believes in Him will have everlasting life. And I will raise him on the last day.
The Jews murmured about Him because He said, I am the bread that came down from heaven. They said, Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He say, I came down from heaven? Jesus said to them, Do not murmur among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him to me. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They will all be taught by God. Everyone who has heard and has learned about the Father, comes to me.
He who believes in me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness and still died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven that a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread he will live forever. And the bread that I give is my flesh which I give for the life of the world.
The Jews argued among themselves, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat? Then Jesus said to them, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life. I will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him. The living Father has sent me and I live by the Father. Therefore, he who feeds on me will also live by me. This is that bread that came down from heaven and not the manna your fathers ate. He who partakes of this bread will live forever. Jesus taught this in the synagogue at Capernaum.
When they heard this, many of His disciples said, These are hard words. Who can hear it? Jesus knew that His disciples murmured at it and said, Does this offend you? What if you see the Son of man ascend up where He was before? It is the spirit that is life. The flesh means nothing. The words I speak are about spirit and about life. But there are some of you who do not believe. Jesus knew from the beginning who did not believe and who would betray Him. He said, That is why I told you that no man can come to me unless it is granted by my Father. From that time many of His followers went back and walked with Him no more.