The Gospel of John for Readers

by Unknown

Then said they unto Him, What shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him whom He hath sent. And they said, What sign showest Thou, then, that we may see and believe Thee? What dost Thou work? Our fathers ate manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven. My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven and giveth life unto the world. Then said they unto Him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life. He that cometh to me shall never hunger. And he that believeth on me shall never thirst. But I also said to you that ye have seen me and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me. And him that cometh to me I will not cast out because I came down from heaven not to do my own will, but the will of Him that sent me.

This is the Father's will that hath sent me, that of all which He hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And this is the will of Him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life. And I will raise him up at the last day.

The Jews then murmured at Him because He said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How is it then that He saith, I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. No man can come to me except that the Father which hath sent me draw him to me. And I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets that they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. No man hath seen the Father except He which is of God.

Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers ate manna in the wilderness and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat, thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever. And the bread that I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world.

The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us His flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you. Whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath eternal life. I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. The living Father hath sent me and I live by the Father. Therefore, he that eateth me shall also live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven. Not the manna your fathers ate. He that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. These things said He in the synagogue as He taught in Capernaum.

When they heard this, many of His disciples said, This is a hard saying. Who can hear it? Jesus knew that His disciples murmured at it and said, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where He was before? It is the spirit that quickeneth. The flesh profiteth nothing. The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit and they are life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not and who would betray Him. And He said, Therefore I said unto you that no man can come unto me except it were given of my Father. From that time many of His followers went back and walked with Him no more.

Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. We believe and are sure that Thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve and one of you is a devil? He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon, for he it was, of that twelve, that should betray Him.

7. After these things Jesus walked in Galilee. He would not walk in Jewry because the Jews sought to kill Him. Now the Jews' feast of tabernacles was at hand. His brethren, therefore, said unto Him, Depart hence. Go into Judaea that Thy disciples also may see the works that Thou doest. For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and He Himself seeketh to be known openly. If Thou do these things show Thyself to the world. For neither did His own brethren believe in Him.

Then Jesus said unto them, my time is not yet come but your time is always ready. The world cannot hate you but me it hateth because I testify that the works thereof are evil. Go ye up unto this feast. I go not up yet for my time is not yet fully come.