Yesu Alisha Watu Elfu Tano

Baadaye, Yesu alivuka hadi ng’ambo ya pili ya ziwa la Gali laya, ambalo pia huitwa bahari ya Tiberia. Watu wengi walikuwa wakimfuata kwa sababu walikuwa wamemwona akiponya wagonjwa kwa njia za ajabu. Yesu alikwenda mlimani akaketi huko pamoja na wanafunzi wake. Sikukuu ya Wayahudi iitwayo Pasaka, ilikuwa imekaribia.

Yesu alipotazama aliona umati mkubwa wa watu wanamfuata. Akamwambia Filipo, “Tutanunua wapi mikate ya kuwalisha watu hawa?” Alisema hivi kumjaribu Filipo maana yeye mwenyewe ali jua atakalofanya.

Filipo akamjibu, “Hata fedha kiasi cha dinari mia mbili, hazitoshi kununua mikate ya kuwapatia watu hawa japo kila mtu apate kipande kidogo.”

Mmoja wa wanafunzi wake, aitwaye Andrea, ndugu yake Simoni Petro, akasema, “Kuna mvulana mmoja ana mikate mitano na samaki wawili. Lakini hivi vitafaa nini kwa umati wote huu?”

10 Yesu akasema, “Waketisheni watu chini.” Zilikuwapo nyasi nyingi mahali hapo, kwa hiyo watu wapatao elfu tano wal iweza kukaa chini. 11 Yesu akachukua ile mikate, akamshukuru Mungu, akawagawia wale watu waliokuwa wamekaa. Akawagawia pia na hao samaki wawili, kila mtu kiasi alichotaka. 12 Watu wote wali pokwisha kula kiasi cha kutosha, aliwaambia wanafunzi wake, “Kusanyeni vipande vipande vilivyobaki, kisipotee kipande cho chote.” 13 Basi wakakusanya vipande vya ile mikate mitano, wakajaza vikapu kumi na viwili.

14 Watu walipoona muujiza huu alioufanya Yesu, wakasema, “Hakika huyu ndiye yule Nabii tuliyekuwa tukimtazamia!”

15 Yesu, akijua kwamba walitaka kumlazimisha awe mfalme wao, aliondoka hapo, akaenda milimani peke yake.

Yesu Atembea Juu Ya Maji

16 Ilipofika jioni, wanafunzi wake waliteremka kuelekea ziwani. 17 Wakaingia katika mashua, wakaanza kuvuka kwenda Kap ernaumu. Wakati huo giza lilikuwa limeanza kuingia na Yesu ali kuwa hajatokea bado.

18 Wakati huo upepo mkali ulikuwa unavuma na bahari ikaanza kuchafuka. 19 Wanafunzi walipokuwa wamekwenda mwendo upatao kar ibu kilometa nane, walimwona Yesu akitembea juu ya maji akikari bia mashua! Wakaogopa sana. 20 Lakini Yesu akawaambia, “ Ni mimi; msiogope.” 21 Ndipo wakafurahi, wakamkaribisha kwenye mashua, na mara wakafika walipokuwa wanakwenda.

Watu Wanamtafuta Yesu

22 Kesho yake, wale watu waliokuwa wamebaki ng’ambo ya pili waliona kwamba palikuwepo na mashua moja tu na kwamba Yesu hakuwa ameondoka pamoja na wanafunzi wake, ila waliondoka peke yao. 23 Lakini mashua nyingine kutoka Tiberia zilikuwa karibu zina fika mahali pale walipokula mikate baada ya Yesu kumshukuru Mungu. 24 Basi wale watu walipotambua kwamba Yesu hayupo hapo, wala wanafunzi wake hawapo, waliingia kwenye mashua hizo, wakaenda Kapernaumu kumtafuta.

Yesu Ni Mkate Wa Uzima

25 Walipomkuta Yesu ng’ambo ya ziwa wakamwuliza, “Rabi, umefika lini huku?” 26 Yesu akawajibu, “Ni wazi kwamba ninyi hamnitafuti kwa kuwa mliona ishara na miujiza ninayofanya, isipo kuwa mnanitafuta kwa sababu mlikula mikate mkashiba. 27 Msishug hulikie sana chakula kiharibikacho bali shughulikieni chakula kidumucho; chakula cha uzima wa milele. Chakula hicho, nitawapeni mimi Mwana wa Adamu, ambaye Baba Mungu mwenyewe amenithibit isha.”

28 Wakamwuliza, “Tufanye nini ili tuonekane kuwa tunatenda kazi ya Mungu?” 29 Yesu akawajibu, “Kazi anayotaka Mungu muifanye ni hii: mumwamini yeye aliyenituma.” 30 Wakamwambia, “Utafanya ishara gani ya muujiza, tuone ili tukuamini? Utafanya jambo gani? 31 Baba zetu walikula mana jangwani. Kama Maandiko yanavyosema, ‘Aliwapa mikate kutoka mbinguni wakala.”’

32 Yesu akawajibu, “Nawaambia kweli sio Musa aliyewapa mkate kutoka mbinguni. Baba yangu ndiye anayewapa mkate wa kweli kutoka mbinguni. 33 Kwa maana mkate wa Mungu ni yule aliyeshuka kutoka mbinguni na ambaye anatoa uzima kwa ulimwengu.”

34 Wakamwambia, “Bwana, tupatie mkate huo sasa na siku zote.

35 Yesu akawaambia, “Mimi ndiye mkate wa uzima. Ye yote ajaye kwangu hataona njaa kamwe, na ye yote aniaminiye, hataona kiu kamwe. 36 Lakini kama nilivyokwisha waambia, mnaniona lakini bado hamtaki kuamini. 37 Wale wote ambao Baba amenipa watakuja kwangu na ye yote ajaye kwangu, sitamtupa nje kamwe. 38 Kwa maana sikushuka kutoka mbinguni nije kutimiza mapenzi yangu, bali nitimize mapenzi yake yeye aliyenituma. 39 Na mapenzi yake yeye aliyenituma ni haya: kwamba nisimpoteze hata mmoja wa wale alionipa bali niwafufue wote siku ya mwisho. 40 Kwa maana mapenzi ya Baba yangu ni haya: wote wamwonao Mwana na kumwamini wawe na uzima wa milele. Nami nitawafufua siku ya mwisho.”

41 Wayahudi wakaanza kunung’unika kwa kuwa alisema: “Mimi ni mkate ulioshuka kutoka mbinguni.” 42 Wakasema, “Huyu si Yesu mwana wa Yusufu? Na baba yake na mama yake si tunawajua? Anawezaje basi kutuambia kwamba ameshuka kutoka mbinguni?”

43 Lakini Yesu akawaambia, “Acheni kunung’unika. 44 Hakuna mtu awezaye kuja kwangu kama Baba aliyenituma hakumvuta kwangu; nami nitamfufua siku ya mwisho. 45 Kama manabii walivyoandika, ‘Wote watafundishwa na Mungu.’ Ye yote amsikilizaye Baba na kuji funza kutoka kwake, huja kwangu. 46 Hii haina maana kwamba kuna mtu aliyekwisha kumwona Baba. Ni yule aliyetoka kwa Mungu peke yake, ndiye aliyekwisha kumwona Baba. 47 Nawaambieni kweli: anayeamini anao uzima wa milele. 48 Mimi ni mkate wa uzima. 49 Baba zenu walikula mana jangwani, wakafa. 50 Lakini hapa kuna mkate utokao mbinguni ambao mtu ye yote akiula, hatakufa. 51 Mimi ni mkate wa uzima uliotoka mbinguni. Mtu ye yote akiula mkate huu ataishi milele. Na mkate wenyewe ni mwili wangu ambao nitautoa ili watu wote ulimwenguni wapate kuishi milele.”

52 Hapo Wayahudi wakaanza kubishana kwa hasira wakiulizana, “Mtu huyu awezaje kutupatia mwili wake tuule?”

53 Kwa hiyo Yesu akasema, “Ninawaambieni hakika, msipoula mwili wangu mimi Mwana wa Adamu na kuinywa damu yangu, hamtakuwa na uzima ndani yenu. 54 Mtu ye yote alaye mwili wangu na kunywa damu yangu anao uzima wa milele; nami nitamfufua siku ya mwisho. 55 Kwa maana mwili wangu ni chakula halisi na damu yangu ni kinywaji halisi. 56 Ye yote alaye mwili wangu na kunywa damu yangu anaishi ndani yangu na mimi ninaishi ndani yake. 57 Kama vile Baba wa uzima alivyonituma, na kama nipatavyo uzima kutoka kwake, kadhalika, ye yote anilaye ataishi kwa sababu yangu. 58 Huu ndio mkate uliotoka mbinguni, si kama ule mkate walio kula baba zenu hatimaye wakafa. Alaye mkate huu ataishi milele.” 59 Yesu alisema maneno haya alipokuwa akifundisha katika sina gogi huko Kapernaumu.

Wafuasi Wengi Wamwacha Yesu

60 Wengi wa wanafunzi wake waliosikia maneno haya walisema, “Mafundisho haya ni magumu! Ni nani awezaye kukubaliana nayo?”

61 Yesu alitambua kwamba wafuasi wake walikuwa wakilalamika kuhusu mafundisho yake. Kwa hiyo akawauliza, “Mafundisho haya yanawaudhi? 62 Ingekuwaje basi, kama mngeniona mimi Mwana wa Adamu nikirudi mbinguni nilikotoka? 63 Roho wa Mungu ndiye anayetoa uzima, uwezo wa mwanadamu haufai kitu. Maneno haya ni Roho na ni uzima. 64 Lakini baadhi yenu hamuamini.” Kwa maana Yesu alifahamu tangu mwanzo wale ambao hawangemwamini na yule ambaye angemsaliti. 65 Akaendelea kusema, “Ndio sababu nili waambia kwamba hakuna awezaye kuja kwangu kama Baba hakumwe zesha.”

66 Tangu wakati huo wanafunzi wake wengi waliondoka wakaacha kumfuata. 67 Yesu akawauliza wale wanafunzi kumi na wawili, “Ninyi pia mnataka kuondoka?” 68 Simoni Petro akamjibu, “Bwana, tuondoke twende kwa nani? Wewe unayo maneno ya uzima wa milele. 69 Tunaamini na kujua kuwa wewe ndiye Mtakatifu wa Mungu.”

Mungu.”

70 Yesu akajibu, “Je, sikuwachagua ninyi kumi na wawili? Lakini mmoja wenu ni shetani!” 71 Hapa alikuwa anamsema Yuda, mwana wa Simoni Iskariote ambaye, ingawa alikuwa mmoja wa wale kumi na wawili, baadaye angemsaliti Yesu.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand(A)

Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs(B) he had performed by healing the sick. Then Jesus went up on a mountainside(C) and sat down with his disciples. The Jewish Passover Festival(D) was near.

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip,(E) “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages[a] to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”

Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother,(F) spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”(G)

10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks,(H) and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.

12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.

14 After the people saw the sign(I) Jesus performed, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.”(J) 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king(K) by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.(L)

Jesus Walks on the Water(M)

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[b] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water;(N) and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”(O) 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake(P) realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone.(Q) 23 Then some boats from Tiberias(R) landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.(S) 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.

Jesus the Bread of Life

25 When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Rabbi,(T) when did you get here?”

26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me,(U) not because you saw the signs(V) I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill. 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures(W) to eternal life,(X) which the Son of Man(Y) will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal(Z) of approval.”

28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?”

29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe(AA) in the one he has sent.”(AB)

30 So they asked him, “What sign(AC) then will you give that we may see it and believe you?(AD) What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna(AE) in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’[c](AF)

32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven(AG) and gives life to the world.”

34 “Sir,” they said, “always give us this bread.”(AH)

35 Then Jesus declared, “I am(AI) the bread of life.(AJ) Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes(AK) in me will never be thirsty.(AL) 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All those the Father gives me(AM) will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven(AN) not to do my will but to do the will(AO) of him who sent me.(AP) 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me,(AQ) but raise them up at the last day.(AR) 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son(AS) and believes in him shall have eternal life,(AT) and I will raise them up at the last day.”

41 At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph,(AU) whose father and mother we know?(AV) How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”(AW)

43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them,(AX) and I will raise them up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’[d](AY) Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me. 46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God;(AZ) only he has seen the Father. 47 Very truly I tell you, the one who believes has eternal life.(BA) 48 I am the bread of life.(BB) 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, yet they died.(BC) 50 But here is the bread that comes down from heaven,(BD) which anyone may eat and not die. 51 I am the living bread(BE) that came down from heaven.(BF) Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”(BG)

52 Then the Jews(BH) began to argue sharply among themselves,(BI) “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”

53 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh(BJ) of the Son of Man(BK) and drink his blood,(BL) you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.(BM) 55 For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.(BN) 57 Just as the living Father sent me(BO) and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.”(BP) 59 He said this while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.

Many Disciples Desert Jesus

60 On hearing it, many of his disciples(BQ) said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?”(BR)

61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?(BS) 62 Then what if you see the Son of Man(BT) ascend to where he was before!(BU) 63 The Spirit gives life;(BV) the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit[e] and life. 64 Yet there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus had known(BW) from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him.(BX) 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”(BY)

66 From this time many of his disciples(BZ) turned back and no longer followed him.

67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.(CA)

68 Simon Peter answered him,(CB) “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.(CC) 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”(CD)

70 Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you,(CE) the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!”(CF) 71 (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot,(CG) who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)(CH)

Footnotes

  1. John 6:7 Greek take two hundred denarii
  2. John 6:19 Or about 5 or 6 kilometers
  3. John 6:31 Exodus 16:4; Neh. 9:15; Psalm 78:24,25
  4. John 6:45 Isaiah 54:13
  5. John 6:63 Or are Spirit; or are spirit