The Feeding of the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17)
1 UST After those things happened, Jesus crossed over to the opposite side of the Sea of Galilee, which some people also call 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 UST A large crowd followed him because they had seen the miraculous signs he was performing, that is, healing people who were very ill. BSB BSB: A large crowd followed Him because they saw the signs He was performing on the sick.
3 UST Jesus walked up on a steep hillside and sat down there with his disciples. BSB BSB: Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down with His disciples.
4 UST (Now at that time the Jewish Passover celebration was about to take place.) BSB BSB: Now the Jewish Feast of the Passover was near.
5 UST Jesus then looked up and saw a very large crowd of people walking toward him. He asked Philip,“Where will we buy bread in order to feed all these people?” 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 UST (He asked Philip this question in order to test his faith, because Jesus already knew what he was going to do about the problem.) BSB BSB: But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do.
7 UST Philip replied to him,“If we had the money that a man can earn in 200 days of work, it would not be enough money to buy bread to give each person in this 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 UST Another disciple of his, Simon Peter’ s brother Andrew, told Jesus, BSB BSB: One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him,
9 UST “There is a boy here who has five little loaves of barley bread and two small fish. Yet, these few loves and fish are certainly not enough to feed all these 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 UST Jesus told his disciples to make the people sit down. Thus about 5, 000 men sat down.(There was a lot of grass in that place{ for them to sit down on}.) 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 UST Jesus then took the little loaves of barley bread, and he thanked God for the food.{ Then} he{ and his disciples} gave the loaves to the people who were sitting{ on the grass} in order to eat. He did the same with the two fish. The people ate all the fish and bread that they wanted to eat. 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 UST When everyone had eaten until they were full, Jesus told his disciples to collect all the leftover, uneaten pieces of barley bread in order that none of it would be wasted. 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 UST Thus his disciples collected the pieces, and they filled 12 large baskets with the broken pieces that the people had left over from the five little loaves of barley bread. 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 UST When Jesus knew that the people were planning to grab him in order to force him to be their king, he left them again and went up the hillside to be completely alone. 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 UST When it was evening, Jesus’ disciples walked down the hillside to the Sea of Galilee. BSB BSB: When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea,
17 UST { They} got into a boat and started to sail across the sea to the town of Capernaum.(It had already become dark, and Jesus had still not joined 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 UST Because the wind was blowing strongly, it was causing the sea to be very turbulent. BSB BSB: A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew agitated.
19 UST After Jesus’ disciples had rowed the boat around four- and- a- half or five- and- a- half kilometers out into the sea, they saw Jesus walking on the water and approaching 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 UST Jesus told them,“It is I, Jesus! Stop being afraid!” BSB BSB: But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.”
21 UST They were very glad to take him into the boat. As soon as he was with them in the boat, 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 UST The day after Jesus had fed the crowd, the crowd of people that had stayed on the other side of the sea 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 UST (People came from the city of Tiberias in other boats.{ They put their boats} near the place where the crowd had eaten the bread after the Lord Jesus had thanked God for it.) 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 UST So when the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into those boats and sailed to the city of Capernaum to look for 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 UST The crowd found Jesus in Capernaum on the side of the Sea of Galilee that is opposite{ from where he had fed them}. They asked him,“Teacher,{ we know you did not come in a boat,} so when did you arrive here at Capernaum?” BSB BSB: When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they asked Him, “Rabbi, when did You get here?”
26 UST Jesus replied,“I am telling you the truth: You are not looking for me because you saw the miraculous signs that I performed. Rather,{ you are looking for me} only because you ate until you were full of the loaves of bread that I gave you. 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 UST Stop working for food that will soon spoil! Instead, work for the food that will bring you life forever{ in heaven}!{ That food} is the bread that I, the Son of Man, will give you.{ I alone can give it to you} because God my Father approves of me.” 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 UST Then the crowd asked Jesus,“What works should we do in order to please God?” BSB BSB: Then they inquired, “What must we do to perform the works of God?”
29 UST Jesus answered them,“The work that God wants you to do is this: Trust in me, the one whom he has sent.” BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.”
30 UST The crowd asked him,“Then what miracle will you do in order for us to see it and trust in you? 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 UST Our ancestors ate manna{ when they wandered} in the wilderness{ with Moses}, just as the prophets wrote:‘God gave them bread out of heaven 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 UST Jesus answered them,“I am telling you the truth: It was not Moses who gave your ancestors that bread from heaven. No, it was my Father, who is now giving you the true bread out of 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 UST { This is true} because the true bread from God has come down from heaven and gives eternal life to the people in the world.” BSB BSB: For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 UST { The crowd did not understand what he meant}, so they said to Jesus,“Sir, please give this bread to us all the time.” BSB BSB: “Sir,” they said, “give us this bread at all times.”
35 UST Jesus told the crowd,“{ Like food sustains physical life}, I am the bread that gives eternal life.{ Unlike with food or drink}, anyone who trusts in me will surely be satisfied forever. 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 UST Nevertheless, I have already told you that even though 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 UST This is what my Father, who sent me, wants:{ He wants me} to keep all of those whom he has given to me.{ He also wants} me to make these ones alive again on the last day{ when I judge everyone}. 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 UST { This is true} because this is also what my Father wants:{ He wants} everyone who recognizes who I, the Son, am, and trusts in me to live forever{ with me in heaven}. I will make these ones alive again on the last day{ when I judge everyone}.” 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 UST The Jewish leaders then started to grumble about Jesus, because he had said that he was the true bread that had come down out of 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 UST They said,“This is just Jesus, Joseph’ s son! We know who his parents are. He cannot possibly have come down out of heaven as he claims!” 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 UST Jesus answered them,“Stop grumbling among yourselves{ about what I just said}. BSB BSB: “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus replied.
44 UST Only those whom my Father, who sent me, causes to come{ and be my disciples} are able to do so. I myself will make those people{ who come to me} alive again on the last day{ when I judge everyone}. 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 UST The prophets wrote that God will teach everyone. Everyone who listens to and learns from my Father will come{ and be my disciples}. 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 UST No one has seen God my Father other than me. I am the one who came from God. I alone have seen him. BSB BSB: not that anyone has seen the Father except the One who is from God; only He has seen the Father.
47 UST I am telling you the truth: Whoever trusts in me will live forever{ with me in heaven}. BSB BSB: Truly, truly, I tell you, he who believes has eternal life.
48 UST I am the true bread that gives eternal life. BSB BSB: I am the bread of life.
49 UST Your ancestors ate manna{ when they wandered} in the wilderness{ with Moses}, but they still died. BSB BSB: Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.
50 UST { But} this bread that I am talking about came down out of heaven in order that someone would eat it and that person’ s spirit would never die. BSB BSB: This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that anyone may eat of it and not die.
51 UST I truly am this bread that gives eternal life and came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever{ with me in heaven}. My body is also this bread. I will give up my body for the sake of the eternal life of everyone in the world.” 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 UST The Jewish leaders then started arguing with each other. They said,“This man surely cannot give his body to us in order for us to eat it!” BSB BSB: At this, the Jews began to argue among themselves, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?”
53 UST So Jesus told them:“I am telling you the truth: You must eat the flesh of me, the Son of Man, and drink my blood.{ If you do not do these things, then} you will never have eternal life. 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 UST Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live forever{ with me in heaven}. I will also make that person alive again on the last day{ when I judge everyone}. BSB BSB: Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.
55 UST { This is so} because my flesh is true spiritual food, and my blood is true{ spiritual} drink. BSB BSB: For My flesh is real food, and My blood is real drink.
56 UST Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood will be united with me, and I will be united with them. BSB BSB: Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him.
57 UST My Father makes everyone alive. He has sent me here, and I can make people alive because he has enabled me to do so. 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 UST I am this bread that has come down out of heaven.{ This bread is} not like{ the bread that} the Israelite ancestors ate{ in the wilderness} but still eventually died. Anyone who eats me— this bread— will live forever{ with me in heaven}.” 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 UST After they heard{ what he had said}, many of Jesus’ disciples said,“What he is teaching is difficult to accept. Indeed, no one can accept it!” BSB BSB: On hearing it, many of His disciples said, “This is a difficult teaching. Who can accept it?”
61 UST { Although no one told} him, Jesus knew that his disciples were grumbling about what he had said.{ So} he asked them,“Did my teaching offend you? BSB BSB: Aware that His disciples were grumbling about this teaching, Jesus asked them, “Does this offend you?
62 UST { If this teaching has offended you,} then{ would you also be offended} if you saw me, the Son of Man, ascending to heaven where I was formerly? BSB BSB: Then what will happen if you see the Son of Man ascend to where He was before?
63 UST The Holy Spirit is the only one who can give anyone eternal life. Human nature is useless in this matter. What I have taught you comes from the Holy Spirit and gives 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 UST Nevertheless, some of you do not believe what I have said.”(Jesus said this because he knew since he began his work who would not believe him and who would eventually 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 UST Then Jesus said,“Because{ some of you do not believe me}, I told you earlier that only those to whom God the Father has given the ability to come{ and be my disciple} will be able to do so.” 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 UST Because{ so many left him}, Jesus asked his 12 representatives,“Surely you do not also want to leave me, do you?” BSB BSB: So Jesus asked the Twelve, “Do you want to leave too?”
68 UST Simon Peter replied,“Lord,{ if we were to leave you}, there is no one else we could go to! Only you teach the message{ that allows us} to live forever{ in heaven}! BSB BSB: Simon Peter replied, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words of eternal life.
69 UST We trust in you, and we know for certain that you are the Holy One who has come from God!” BSB BSB: We believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.”
70 UST Jesus answered them,“I surely chose all you 12 men to represent me, but one of you is under the control of Satan!” BSB BSB: Jesus answered them, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”
71 UST ({ When Jesus said this} he was talking about Judas, Simon Iscariot’ s son, because he was the one among Jesus’ 12 representatives 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.