John 6:1-34

Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Fourth Sign: Feeding 5,000

6 After^(A) this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee^(B) (or Tiberias^(C)). ² And a huge crowd was following Him because they saw the signs that He was performing by healing the sick. ³ So Jesus went up a mountain and sat down there with His disciples.

⁴ Now the Passover, a Jewish festival, was near. ⁵ Therefore, when Jesus looked up and noticed a huge crowd coming toward Him,^(D) He asked Philip,^(E) “Where will we buy bread so these people can eat?” ⁶ He asked this to test him,^(F) for He Himself knew what He was going to do.

⁷ Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii^(G) worth of bread wouldn’t be enough for each of them to have a little.”

⁸ One of His disciples, Andrew,^(H) Simon^(I) Peter’s^(J) brother, said to Him, ⁹ “There’s a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish—but what are they for so many?”

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

There was plenty of grass in that place, so they sat down. The men numbered about 5,000.^{(K) 11} Then Jesus took the loaves, and after giving thanks He distributed them to those who were seated—so also with the fish, as much as they wanted.^(L)

¹² When they were full, He told His disciples, “Collect the leftovers so that nothing is wasted.”^{(M) 13} So they collected them and filled 12 baskets with the pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten.

¹⁴ When the people saw the sign^[a] He had done, they said, “This really is the Prophet^(N) who was to come^(O) into the world!”^{(P) 15} Therefore, when Jesus knew that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king,^(Q) He withdrew again^[b] to the mountain by Himself.

The Fifth Sign: Walking on Water

¹⁶ When^(R) evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, ¹⁷ got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum.^(S) Darkness had already set in, but Jesus had not yet come to them. ¹⁸ Then a high wind arose, and the sea began to churn. ¹⁹ After they had rowed about three or four miles,^[c] they saw Jesus walking on the sea. He was coming near the boat, and they were afraid.

²⁰ But He said to them, “It is I.^[d](T) Don’t be afraid!” ²¹ Then they were willing to take Him on board, and at once the boat was at the shore where they were heading.

The Bread of Life

²² The next day, the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea knew there had been only one boat.^[e](U) They also knew that Jesus had not boarded the boat with His disciples, but that His disciples had gone off alone. ²³ Some boats from Tiberias^(V) came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord gave thanks. ²⁴ When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

²⁵ When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi,^(W) when did You get here?”

²⁶ Jesus answered, “I assure you: You are looking for Me, not because you saw^[f] the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. ²⁷ Don’t work for the food that perishes^(X) but for the food that lasts for eternal life,^(Y) which the Son of Man^(Z) will give you, because God the Father^(AA) has set His seal of approval on Him.”

²⁸ “What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked.

²⁹ Jesus replied, “This is the work^(AB) of God—that you believe in the One He has sent.”^(AC)

³⁰ “What sign then are You going to do so we may see and believe You?” they asked. “What are You going to perform? ³¹ Our fathers ate the manna^(AD) in the wilderness,^(AE) just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”^[g](AF)[h]

³² Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Moses^(AG) didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the real bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always!”