Study Desk

And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face,

and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.

A huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miraculous signs as he healed the sick.

Then Jesus climbed a hill and sat down with his disciples around him.

After everyone was full, Jesus told his disciples, "Now gather the leftovers, so that nothing is wasted."

So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went across to Capernaum to look for him.

But don't be so concerned about perishable things like food. Spend your energy seeking the eternal life that the Son of Man can give you. For God the Father has given me the seal of his approval."

For it is my Father's will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day."

They said, "Isn't this Jesus, the son of Joseph? We know his father and mother. How can he say, ‘I came down from heaven'?"

Then the people began arguing with each other about what he meant. "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" they asked.

So Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.

Many of his disciples said, "This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?"

Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, "Does this offend you?

At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him.

After this, Jesus traveled around Galilee. He wanted to stay out of Judea, where the Jewish leaders were plotting his death.

For even his brothers didn't believe in him.

But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view.

Then the leaders tried to arrest him; but no one laid a hand on him, because his time had not yet come.

Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'"

(When he said "living water," he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)