(Matt. xiv, 34-36; Mark vi, 53-56.) And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place had recognized Him, they sent into all that region, and brought to Him all that were sick. And they besought Him that they might but touch the hem of His garment; and as many as touched were made whole. (John vi, 22-72.) On the next day, the multitude that stood beyond the sea saw that there was no other boat there but one, and that Jesus had not entered into the boat with His disciples, but that His disciples alone had gone away; but other boats came over from Tiberias, near to the place where they had eaten the bread, giving thanks to the Lord.
When therefore the multitude saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they entered into the boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. And when they had found Him beyond the sea, they said to Him: Rabbi, when camest Thou hither? Jesus answered them and said: Amen, amen, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Labour not for the food which perishes, but for that which endures unto life everlasting, which the Son of man will give you; for Him hath God the Father sealed. They said therefore to Him: What shall we do, that we may work the works of God? Jesus answered and said to them: This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He hath sent. They said therefore to Him:
What sign therefore dost Thou show, 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 to them: Amen, amen, I say to you, Moses gave you not the bread from heaven, but My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which cometh down from heaven and giveth life to the world. They said therefore to Him: Lord, give us always this bread. And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life; he that cometh to Me shall not hunger, and he that believeth in Me shall never thirst. But I told you that you have both seen Me and have not believed. All that the Father giveth Me shall come to Me;
and him that cometh to Me I will not cast out; for I came down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him that sent Me. Now this is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all that He hath given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again in the last day. And this is the will of My Father who sent Me, that every one who seeth the Son and believeth in Him may have life everlasting; and I will raise him up in the last day. The Jews therefore murmured at Him, because He had said: I am the bread which came down from heaven. And they said (Matt. xiii, 55; Mark vi, 3): Is not this the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then doth He say: I came down from heaven? Jesus therefore answered: Murmur not among yourselves.
No man can come to Me unless the Father who hath sent Me draw him; and I will raise him up in the last day. It is written in the prophets: And they shall all be taught of God. Every one that hath heard of the Father and hath learned, cometh to Me. Not that any man hath seen the Father, but He who is of God, He hath seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you: he that believeth in Me hath everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate manna in the desert, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that if any man eat of it he may 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 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 to them: Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you shall not have life in you. He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood hath everlasting life, and I will raise him up in the last day. For My flesh is meat indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood abideth in Me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent Me, and I live by the Father, so he that eateth Me, the same also shall live by Me. This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Not as your fathers ate manna and are dead. He that eateth this bread shall live for ever. These things He said in the synagogue, teaching in Capernaum. Many therefore of His disciples, hearing it, said: This saying is hard, and who can hear it? But Jesus, knowing within Himself that His disciples murmured at this, said to them: Doth this scandalize you? If then you 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 have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that did not believe, and who would betray Him. And He said:
Therefore did I say to you that no man can come to Me unless it be given him by My Father. From that time many of His disciples went back and walked no more with Him. Then Jesus said to the twelve: Will you also go away? Then Simon Peter answered: Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we have believed and have known that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus answered them: Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil? Now He spoke of Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon; for he it was that should betray Him, being one of the twelve.