John Dominic Crossan, “Bread and Fish,” The Historical Jesus, p. 398-404
Thomas R. Haney, Today’s Spirituality , p. 36 & 40
Mary Oliver, “Logos,” Devotions, p. 179

Imaging the Word, Vol. 3, p. 262

12    John 6:39
15    Matthew 4:9; Luke 4:6

1 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias.  2 And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased.  3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples.  4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.  5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, “How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.  7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.”  8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.  12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost.”  13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten.  14 When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!”

15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

6:1 μετα ταυτα απηλθεν ο ιησους περαν της θαλασσης της γαλιλαιας της τιβεριαδος 6:2 και ηκολουθει αυτω οχλος πολυς οτι εωρων αυτου τα σημεια α εποιει επι των ασθενουντων 6:3 ανηλθεν δε εις το ορος ο ιησους και εκει εκαθητο μετα των μαθητων αυτου 6:4 ην δε εγγυς το πασχα η εορτη των ιουδαιων 6:5 επαρας ουν ο ιησους τους οφθαλμους και θεασαμενος οτι πολυς οχλος ερχεται προς αυτον λεγει προς τον φιλιππον ποθεν αγορασομεν αρτους ινα φαγωσιν ουτοι 6:6 τουτο δε ελεγεν πειραζων αυτον αυτος γαρ ηδει τι εμελλεν ποιειν 6:7 απεκριθη αυτω φιλιππος διακοσιων δηναριων αρτοι ουκ αρκουσιν αυτοις ινα εκαστος αυτων βραχυ τι λαβη 6:8 λεγει αυτω εις εκ των μαθητων αυτου ανδρεας ο αδελφος σιμωνος πετρου 6:9 εστιν παιδαριον εν ωδε ο εχει πεντε αρτους κριθινους και δυο οψαρια αλλα ταυτα τι εστιν εις τοσουτους 6:10 ειπεν δε ο ιησους ποιησατε τους ανθρωπους αναπεσειν ην δε χορτος πολυς εν τω τοπω ανεπεσον ουν οι ανδρες τον αριθμον ωσει πεντακισχιλιοι 6:11 ελαβεν δε τους αρτους ο ιησους και ευχαριστησας διεδωκεν τοις μαθηταις οι δε μαθηται τοις ανακειμενοις ομοιως και εκ των οψαριων οσον ηθελον 6:12 ως δε ενεπλησθησαν λεγει τοις μαθηταις αυτου συναγαγετε τα περισσευσαντα κλασματα ινα μη τι αποληται 6:13 συνηγαγον ουν και εγεμισαν δωδεκα κοφινους κλασματων εκ των πεντε αρτων των κριθινων α επερισσευσεν τοις βεβρωκοσιν 6:14 οι ουν ανθρωποι ιδοντες ο εποιησεν σημειον ο ιησους ελεγον οτι ουτος εστιν αληθως ο προφητης ο ερχομενος εις τον κοσμον

6:15 ιησους ουν γνους οτι μελλουσιν ερχεσθαι και αρπαζειν αυτον ινα ποιησωσιν αυτον βασιλεα ανεχωρησεν εις το ορος αυτος μονος

John Dominic Crossan, “Walking on Water,” The Historical Jesus, p. 404-407

21     Acts 8:39-40

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.  18 The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing.  19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, 20 but he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”  21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

6:16 ως δε οψια εγενετο κατεβησαν οι μαθηται αυτου επι την θαλασσαν 6:17 και εμβαντες εις το πλοιον ηρχοντο περαν της θαλασσης εις καπερναουμ και σκοτια ηδη εγεγονει και ουκ εληλυθει προς αυτους ο ιησους 6:18 η τε θαλασσα ανεμου μεγαλου πνεοντος διηγειρετο 6:19 εληλακοτες ουν ως σταδιους εικοσι πεντε η τριακοντα θεωρουσιν τον ιησουν περιπατουντα επι της θαλασσης και εγγυς του πλοιου γινομενον και εφοβηθησαν 6:20 ο δε λεγει αυτοις εγω ειμι μη φοβεισθε 6:21 ηθελον ουν λαβειν αυτον εις το πλοιον και ευθεως το πλοιον εγενετο επι της γης εις ην υπηγον

Samuel Terrien, The Elusive Presence, p. 467-470

26-27    John 4:13-14
31           Exodus 16:4, 16:15; Psalm 78:24; Matthew 4:3; Luke 4:3
34           John 4:15
35           Sirach 24:21
38           John 6:50
39           John 6:12
44           John 11:24
45           Isaiah 54:13
50           John 6:38
58           Mark 8:35

25-35     Stanley Hauerwas, “The Sign that is Christ,” Minding the Web, p. 224-227

32-40     Thomas R. Haney, Today’s Spirituality, p. 137
40           Dan Damon, “Eat This Bread and Never Hunger,” Faith Will Sing

35           Marilyn von Waldner, “Come to Me,” What Return Can I Make
40-41    John Dominic Crossan, The Essential Jesus, p. 157

41-51     Thomas R. Haney, Today’s Spirituality, p. 23
49           Annie Dillard, For the Time Being, p. 118

51-59    Andrew Greeley, “When We Share A Meal,” When Life Hurts, p. 19-22
51-56    Dom Helder Camara, Through the Gospel, p. 91

22 On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.  23 However, boats from Tiberias came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks.  24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.  27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal.” 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform?  31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”  32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.  33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.”  34 They said to him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”

35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.  36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.  37 All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me; 39 and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day.

40 For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.”  42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not murmur among yourselves.  44 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 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.  46 Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father.  47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.  48 I am the bread of life.  49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.  50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die.  51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; 54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.  55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.  56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.  57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me.  58 This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.”  59 This he said in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

6:22 τη επαυριον ο οχλος ο εστηκως περαν της θαλασσης ιδων οτι πλοιαριον αλλο ουκ ην εκει ει μη εν εκεινο εις ο ενεβησαν οι μαθηται αυτου και οτι ου συνεισηλθεν τοις μαθηταις αυτου ο ιησους εις το πλοιαριον αλλα μονοι οι μαθηται αυτου απηλθον 6:23 αλλα δε ηλθεν πλοιαρια εκ τιβεριαδος εγγυς του τοπου οπου εφαγον τον αρτον ευχαριστησαντος του κυριου 6:24 οτε ουν ειδεν ο οχλος οτι ιησους ουκ εστιν εκει ουδε οι μαθηται αυτου ενεβησαν αυτοι εις τα πλοια και ηλθον εις καπερναουμ ζητουντες τον ιησουν

6:25 και ευροντες αυτον περαν της θαλασσης ειπον αυτω ραββι ποτε ωδε γεγονας 6:26 απεκριθη αυτοις ο ιησους και ειπεν αμην αμην λεγω υμιν ζητειτε με ουχ οτι ειδετε σημεια αλλ οτι εφαγετε εκ των αρτων και εχορτασθητε 6:27 εργαζεσθε μη την βρωσιν την απολλυμενην αλλα την βρωσιν την μενουσαν εις ζωην αιωνιον ην ο υιος του ανθρωπου υμιν δωσει τουτον γαρ ο πατηρ εσφραγισεν ο θεος 6:28 ειπον ουν προς αυτον τι αβινα εργαζωμεθα τα εργα του θεου 6:29 απεκριθη ιησους και ειπεν αυτοις τουτο εστιν το εργον του θεου ινα πιστευσητε εις ον απεστειλεν εκεινος 6:30 ειπον ουν αυτω τι ουν ποιεις συ σημειον ινα ιδωμεν και πιστευσωμεν σοι τι εργαζη 6:31 οι πατερες ημων το μαννα εφαγον εν τη ερημω καθως εστιν γεγραμμενον αρτον εκ του ουρανου εδωκεν αυτοις φαγειν 6:32 ειπεν ουν αυτοις ο ιησους αμην αμην λεγω υμιν ου μωυσης δεδωκεν υμιν τον αρτον εκ του ουρανου αλλ ο πατηρ μου διδωσιν υμιν τον αρτον εκ του ουρανου τον αληθινον 6:33 ο γαρ αρτος του θεου εστιν ο καταβαινων εκ του ουρανου και ζωην διδους τω κοσμω 6:34 ειπον ουν προς αυτον κυριε παντοτε δος ημιν τον αρτον τουτον

6:35 ειπεν δε αυτοις ο ιησους εγω ειμι ο αρτος της ζωης ο ερχομενος προς με ου μη πειναση και ο πιστευων εις εμε ου μη διψηση πωποτε 6:36 αλλ ειπον υμιν οτι και εωρακατε με και ου πιστευετε 6:37 παν ο διδωσιν μοι ο πατηρ προς εμε ηξει και τον ερχομενον προς με ου μη εκβαλω εξω 6:38 οτι καταβεβηκα εκ του ουρανου ουχ ινα ποιω το θελημα το εμον αλλα το θελημα του πεμψαντος με 6:39 τουτο δε εστιν το θελημα του πεμψαντος με πατρος ινα παν ο δεδωκεν μοι μη απολεσω εξ αυτου αλλα αναστησω αυτο [εν] τη εσχατη ημερα 6:40 τουτο δε εστιν το θελημα του πεμψαντος με ινα πας ο θεωρων τον υιον και πιστευων εις αυτον εχη ζωην αιωνιον και αναστησω αυτον εγω τη εσχατη ημερα

6:41 εγογγυζον ουν οι ιουδαιοι περι αυτου οτι ειπεν εγω ειμι ο αρτος ο καταβας εκ του ουρανου 6:42 και ελεγον ουχ ουτος εστιν ιησους ο υιος ιωσηφ ου ημεις οιδαμεν τον πατερα και την μητερα πως ουν λεγει ουτος οτι εκ του ουρανου καταβεβηκα 6:43 απεκριθη ουν ο ιησους και ειπεν αυτοις μη γογγυζετε μετ αλληλων 6:44 ουδεις δυναται ελθειν προς με εαν μη ο πατηρ ο πεμψας με ελκυση αυτον και εγω αναστησω αυτον εν τη εσχατη ημερα 6:45 εστιν γεγραμμενον εν τοις προφηταις και εσονται παντες διδακτοι θεου πας ουν ο ακουων παρα του πατρος και μαθων ερχεται προς με 6:46 ουχ οτι τον πατερα τις εωρακεν ει μη ο ων παρα του θεου ουτος εωρακεν τον πατερα 6:47 αμην αμην λεγω υμιν ο πιστευων εις εμε εχει ζωην αιωνιον 6:48 εγω ειμι ο αρτος της ζωης 6:49 οι πατερες υμων εφαγον το μαννα εν τη ερημω και απεθανον 6:50 ουτος εστιν ο αρτος ο εκ του ουρανου καταβαινων ινα τις εξ αυτου φαγη και μη αποθανη 6:51 εγω ειμι ο αρτος ο ζων ο εκ του ουρανου καταβας εαν τις φαγη εκ τουτου του αρτου ζησεται εις τον αιωνα και ο αρτος δε ον εγω δωσω η σαρξ μου εστιν ην εγω δωσω υπερ της του κοσμου ζωης

6:52 εμαχοντο ουν προς αλληλους οι ιουδαιοι λεγοντες πως δυναται ουτος ημιν δουναι την σαρκα φαγειν 6:53 ειπεν ουν αυτοις ο ιησους αμην αμην λεγω υμιν εαν μη φαγητε την σαρκα του υιου του ανθρωπου και πιητε αυτου το αιμα ουκ εχετε ζωην εν εαυτοις 6:54 ο τρωγων μου την σαρκα και πινων μου το αιμα εχει ζωην αιωνιον και εγω αναστησω αυτον [εν] τη εσχατη ημερα 6:55 η γαρ σαρξ μου αληθως εστιν βρωσις και το αιμα μου αληθως εστιν ποσις 6:56 ο τρωγων μου την σαρκα και πινων μου το αιμα εν εμοι μενει καγω εν αυτω 6:57 καθως απεστειλεν με ο ζων πατηρ καγω ζω δια τον πατερα και ο τρωγων με κακεινος ζησεται δι εμε 6:58 ουτος εστιν ο αρτος ο εκ του ουρανου καταβας ου καθως εφαγον οι πατερες υμων το μαννα και απεθανον ο τρωγων τουτον τον αρτον ζησεται εις τον αιωνα 6:59 ταυτα ειπεν εν συναγωγη διδασκων εν καπερναουμ

Augustine of Hippo, Preaching in the Patristic Age, p. 162-182
Thomas R. Haney, Today’s Spirituality, p. 27, 109, 220

62           Acts 1:9-11
63           Isaiah 40:7-8
66-69    Mark 10:28-31
66           Matthew 7:13-14
68-69    Matthew 16:16; Mark 8:27-30; Luke 9:20
70           Mark 8:33; John 15:16

66-67     Andrew Greeley, The Life of the Spirit, p. 70-71

66        John Michael Talbot, “Few Be the Lovers,” No Longer Strangers

60 Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, “Do you take offense at this?  62 Then what if you were to see the Son of man ascending where he was before?  63 It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.  64 But there are some of you that do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him.  65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

66 After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him.  67 Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”  70 Jesus answered them, “Did I not choose you, the twelve, and one of you is a devil?” 71 He spoke of Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was to betray him.

6:60 πολλοι ουν ακουσαντες εκ των μαθητων αυτου ειπον σκληρος εστιν ουτος ο λογος τις δυναται αυτου ακουειν 6:61 ειδως δε ο ιησους εν εαυτω οτι γογγυζουσιν περι τουτου οι μαθηται αυτου ειπεν αυτοις τουτο υμας σκανδαλιζει 6:62 εαν ουν θεωρητε τον υιον του ανθρωπου αναβαινοντα οπου ην το προτερον 6:63 το πνευμα εστιν το ζωοποιουν η σαρξ ουκ ωφελει ουδεν τα ρηματα α εγω λαλω υμιν πνευμα εστιν και ζωη εστιν 6:64 αλλ εισιν εξ υμων τινες οι ου πιστευουσιν ηδει γαρ εξ αρχης ο ιησους τινες εισιν οι μη πιστευοντες και τις εστιν ο παραδωσων αυτον 6:65 και ελεγεν δια τουτο ειρηκα υμιν οτι ουδεις δυναται ελθειν προς με εαν μη η δεδομενον αυτω εκ του πατρος μου

6:66 εκ τουτου πολλοι απηλθον των μαθητων αυτου εις τα οπισω και ουκετι μετ αυτου περιεπατουν 6:67 ειπεν ουν ο ιησους τοις δωδεκα μη και υμεις θελετε υπαγειν 6:68 απεκριθη ουν αυτω σιμων πετρος κυριε προς τινα απελευσομεθα ρηματα ζωης αιωνιου εχεις 6:69 και ημεις πεπιστευκαμεν και εγνωκαμεν οτι συ ει ο χριστος ο υιος του θεου του ζωντος 6:70 απεκριθη αυτοις [ο ιησουσ] ουκ εγω υμας τους δωδεκα εξελεξαμην και εξ υμων εις διαβολος εστιν 6:71 ελεγεν δε τον ιουδαν σιμωνος ισκαριωτην ουτος γαρ εμελλεν αυτον παραδιδοναι εις ων εκ των δωδεκα