JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE
THE day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the
sea saw that there was none other boat there, save that one whereinto
his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not with his disciples
into the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone: when the
people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples,
they also took shipping, and came to Capernaum, seeking for Jesus. And
when they had found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto
him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Jesus answered them and said,
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the
miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. Labour
not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto
everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him
hath God the Father sealed. 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.
They said therefore unto him, What sign shewest thou then, that we may
see, and believe thee? what dost thou work? Our fathers did eat 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; but 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 said unto you that ye also have seen
me, and believe not. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me;
and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. For I came down
from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.
And this is the Father's will which 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.
[Sidenote: St. John 6]
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 the Father
which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God.
Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father,
cometh unto me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which
is of God, he hath seen the Father. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He
that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life.
Your fathers did eat 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.
[Sidenote: St. Mark 7]
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. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my
blood, hath eternal life; and 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. As the
living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth
me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from
heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth
of this bread shall live for ever.
These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many
therefore of his disciples, when they heard this, said, This is an hard
saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples
murmured at it, he said unto them, 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 should betray him. And he said,
Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were
given unto him of my Father.
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with
him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon
Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of
eternal life. And 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 spake of Judas Iscariot the son
of Simon: for he it was that should betray him, being one of the twelve.