The Feeding of the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17)
1 UDB Jesus went across the lake to the other side. The name of the lake was the 'Sea of Galilee' to some people; other people called it the 'Sea of Tiberias.' BSB BSB: After this, Jesus crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias).
2 UDB A large crowd followed him because they had seen the wonders he had done in healing people who were very sick. BSB BSB: A large crowd followed Him because they saw the signs He was performing on the sick.
3 UDB Jesus went up on a steep hillside and sat down with his disciples. BSB BSB: Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down with His disciples.
4 UDB Now it was the time of the year for the Passover Festival, a special celebration of the Jews. BSB BSB: Now the Jewish Feast of the Passover was near.
5 UDB Jesus looked up and saw that there was a very large crowd of people making their way toward him. Jesus said to Philip, "Where will we buy bread so that all these people can have something to eat?" BSB BSB: When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?”
6 UDB He asked Philip this question to test him, to see what sort of answer he would give. However, Jesus already knew what he was going to do about this problem. BSB BSB: But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do.
7 UDB Philip replied to him, "If we had the money that a man can earn in two hundred days of work, it would not be enough money to buy bread to give each person in this big crowd even a little piece to eat." BSB BSB: Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.”
8 UDB Another one of his disciples, Andrew, who was Simon Peter's brother, said to Jesus, BSB BSB: One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,
9 UDB "There is a boy here who has five little barley loaves of bread and two small fish. Yet, how could so little food feed so many people?" BSB BSB: “Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what difference will these make among so many?”
10 UDB The place where the people were all coming together had a lot of grass. So Jesus said, "Tell the people to sit down." So all of the people sat down, and after the disciples counted the crowd, they found that there were about five thousand people. BSB BSB: “Have the people sit down,” Jesus said. Now there was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, about five thousand of them.
11 UDB Then Jesus took the small loaves of bread and the fish, and he thanked God for them. Then he passed the bread and the fish among all who were sitting on the ground. The people ate all the fish and bread they wanted. BSB BSB: Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted.
12 UDB When everyone had finished eating, he said to the disciples, "Gather up all the pieces of barley bread that the people did not eat. Do not let anything go to waste." BSB BSB: And when everyone was full, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”
13 UDB So they gathered up the pieces from the five barley loaves, and they filled twelve large baskets full from what was left over. BSB BSB: So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
15 UDB Jesus knew what the people were planning; they were about to come and force him to be their king. So he left them and went up the mountain to be by himself. BSB BSB: Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.
Jesus Walks on Water (Matthew 14:22–33; Mark 6:45–52)
16 UDB When it was evening, his disciples went down to the Sea of Galilee, BSB BSB: When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,
17 UDB got into a boat, and started to sail across the sea to the city of Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus was not with them. BSB BSB: got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them.
18 UDB A strong wind started to blow, and the waves on the sea became very rough. BSB BSB: A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew agitated.
19 UDB After they had rowed five or six kilometers, the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water and coming near the boat. They were terrified! BSB BSB: When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea—and they were terrified.
20 UDB Jesus said to them, "It is I! Do not be afraid!" BSB BSB: But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.”
21 UDB They were very glad to take him into the boat. As soon as he was with them, their boat arrived at the place where they were going. BSB BSB: Then they were willing to take Him into the boat, and at once the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
Jesus the Bread of Life 22 UDB The next day the crowd of people that had stayed on the other side of the lake realized that there had been only one boat there the day before. They also knew that Jesus had not gone in the boat with his disciples. BSB BSB: The next day, the crowd that had remained on the other side of the sea realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with His disciples, but they had gone away alone.
23 UDB Some men came across the lake from the city of Tiberias in other boats they had. They put their boats near the place where the people had eaten the bread for which the Lord had given thanks to God. BSB BSB: However, some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
24 UDB When the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, some of them got into those boats and sailed to Capernaum to find Jesus. BSB BSB: So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor His disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum to look for Him.
25 UDB They searched and found Jesus in Capernaum on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. They asked him, "Teacher, when did you come here?" BSB BSB: When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”
26 UDB Jesus replied to them, "I am telling you the truth: You are not looking for me because you saw me perform miracles that show who I am. No! You are looking for me only because you ate until you were full of the loaves of bread. BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it is not because you saw these signs that you are looking for Me, but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
27 UDB Stop working for food that will soon spoil! Instead, work for the food that will bring you everlasting life! That is the bread that I, the Son of Man, God's chosen one, will give you. For God the Father approves of me in every way." BSB BSB: Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on Him God the Father has placed His seal of approval.”
28 UDB Then the people asked him, "What works and service should we do to please God?" BSB BSB: Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?”
29 UDB Jesus replied, "What God wants you to do is this: Trust in me, the one he has sent." BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”
30 UDB So they said to him, "Then perform another miracle to prove who you are so that we can see it and believe that you came from God. What will you do for us? BSB BSB: So they asked Him, “What sign then will You perform, so that we may see it and believe You? What will You do?
31 UDB Our ancestors ate manna, just as the scriptures say: 'God gave them bread out of the heavens to eat.'" BSB BSB: Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
32 UDB Jesus said to them, "I am telling you the truth: It was not Moses who gave your ancestors that bread from heaven. No, it was my Father, the same one who is giving you the true bread from heaven. BSB BSB: Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.
33 UDB The true bread of God is I, the one who has come down from heaven in order to make everyone in the world truly able to live." BSB BSB: For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 UDB They said to him, "Sir, always give us this bread." BSB BSB: “Sir,” they said, “give us this bread at all times.”
35 UDB Jesus said to them, "Just as people need food to live, everyone needs me to live spiritually. Those who take ordinary food and water will become hungry and thirsty again. But for those who ask me and trust me to enable them to live spiritually, I will do this for them. BSB BSB: Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.
36 UDB Nevertheless, I have told you that, although you see me, you still do not trust me. BSB BSB: But as I stated, you have seen Me and still you do not believe.
39 UDB This is what the one who sent me wants, that I lose none of those whom he has given me, and that I raise all of them up on the last day. BSB BSB: And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day.
40 UDB For this is what my Father wants, that everyone who looks in faith on me, the Son, and who trust in me will have everlasting life. I will raise them up on the last day." BSB BSB: For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
41 UDB The Jewish leaders began to grumble about Jesus because he said, "I am the bread who came down from heaven." BSB BSB: At this, the Jews began to grumble about Jesus because He had said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”
42 UDB They said, "Is this not Jesus, whose father is Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? How can he say with any truth, 'I have come from heaven'?" BSB BSB: They were asking, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How then can He say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
43 UDB Jesus answered them, "Stop grumbling among yourselves. BSB BSB: “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied.
44 UDB No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him to me. The one who comes to me, I will raise him up on the last day. BSB BSB: “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
45 UDB It is written in the Prophets, 'God will teach them all.' Everyone who hears and learns from the Father comes to me. BSB BSB: It is written in the Prophets: ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from Him comes to Me—
46 UDB No one has seen the Father except me, the one who comes from God. I alone have seen the Father. BSB BSB: not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God; only He has seen the Father.
47 UDB I am telling you the truth: Whoever trusts in me has everlasting life. BSB BSB: Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes has eternal life.
48 UDB I am the bread that gives true life. BSB BSB: I am the bread of life.
49 UDB Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, but they still died. BSB BSB: Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.
50 UDB However, the bread that I am speaking of is the bread that comes down from heaven, and the one who eats it will never die. BSB BSB: This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die.
51 UDB I am the bread that makes people truly live, the bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. The bread that I give for the life of the world is the death of my physical body." BSB BSB: I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And this bread, which I will give for the life of the world, is My flesh.”
52 UDB The Jews who had listened to Jesus were now angrily arguing among themselves. They could not understand how anyone could promise that others would eat his own body. BSB BSB: At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”
53 UDB So Jesus confronted them with difficult words: "I am telling you the truth: Unless you eat the flesh of me, the Son of Man, and drink my blood, you will never live forever. BSB BSB: So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man, you have no life in you.
54 UDB Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood will live forever, and I will make them alive again at the last day BSB BSB: Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 UDB because my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. BSB BSB: For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink.
56 UDB Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will be joined to me, and I will be joined to him. BSB BSB: Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.
57 UDB My Father, who makes everyone alive, has sent me, and I live because my Father has made me able to. In the same way, those who feed on me will live forever because of what I will do for them. BSB BSB: Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me.
58 UDB I am the true bread that comes down from heaven. Anyone who eats me—this bread—will never die, but will live forever! What I do is not like what happened to your ancestors, because they ate the manna and then died." BSB BSB: This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your fathers, who ate the manna and died, the one who eats this bread will live forever.”
Many Disciples Turn Back (Matthew 8:18–22; Luke 9:57–62; Luke 14:25–33)
60 UDB Many of his disciples said, "What he is teaching is hard to understand. How can anyone accept what he is saying?" BSB BSB: On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?”
61 UDB Jesus was aware that some of his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, "Does what I teach offend you? BSB BSB: Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you?
62 UDB What would you say if you saw me, the Son of Man, go back up to heaven? BSB BSB: Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before?
63 UDB Only the Spirit gives life that can make anyone live forever. The human nature is no help in this matter. The words I have taught you tell you about the Spirit, and they tell you about eternal life. BSB BSB: The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
64 UDB Yet there are some of you who do not trust what I am teaching you." Jesus said this because he knew from the start of his work who it was who would not trust in him, and he knew the person who would betray him. BSB BSB: However, there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray Him.)
65 UDB Then he said, "That is why I told you that no one can come to me and to live forever unless the Father makes him able to come to me." BSB BSB: Then Jesus said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless the Father has granted it to him.”
Peter’s Confession of Faith (Matthew 16:13–20; Mark 8:27–30; Luke 9:18–20)
67 UDB So he said to the twelve, "You also do not want to leave me, do you?" BSB BSB: So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?”
68 UDB Simon Peter replied, "Lord, to whom would we go? Only you have the message that allows us to live forever! BSB BSB: Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 UDB We trust in you, and we know for certain that you are the Holy One whom God has sent!" BSB BSB: We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.”
70 UDB Jesus answered them, "Did I not choose you, the twelve disciples? Yet one of you is a devil!" BSB BSB: Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
71 UDB He was talking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. Even though Judas was one of the twelve, he was also the one who would later betray Jesus. BSB BSB: He was speaking about Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. For although Judas was one of the Twelve, he was later to betray Jesus.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.