John 6:16-21

WALKING UPON THE SEA

Text 6:16-21

16

And when evening came, his disciples went down unto the sea;

17

and they entered into a boat, and were going over the sea unto Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.

18

And the sea was rising by reason of a great wind that blew.

19

When therefore they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they beheld Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the boat: and they were afraid.

20

But he saith unto them, It is I: be not afraid.

21

They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat: and straightway the boat was at the land whither they were going.

Queries

a.

Why was Jesus not with the disciples?

b.

Why were the disciples afraid?

c.

How did the boat get to land straightway?

Paraphrase

Late in the evening His disciples went down to the sea. And they took a boat and began to cross the sea toward Capernaum. As they were going, it became dark and still Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea then began to rise and become exceedingly rough because of a violent wind that was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles they saw Jesus walking on the water and coming toward the boat, and they were terrified. But Jesus said do not be afraid, It is I, Myself. Then they were willing for Him to come into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore toward which they had been rowing.

Summary

Jesus again manifests Himself as Lord of nature by walking on a storm-tossed sea. The disciples are overawed by this manifestation of the supernatural.

Comment

It was late evening, near dark, when the disciples finally embarked in a boat and began rowing for the western shore, They seemed to have been in no hurry to leave Jesus. He had to constrain them earlier to leave Him (cf. Mark 6:45).

As they rowed darkness enveloped them and the winds began to blow violently and the waves pitched and tossed furiously. Travellers have described the storms on the Galilean Sea as storms of a most violent nature. The sea is surrounded on all sides by mountains, which makes the sea appear as the bottom of a huge bowl. When the winds begin to sweep down into the bowl-like hole, violent sea storms are the result.

They left the eastern shore about dusk, six or seven in the evening, and now it was about three or four a.m. the next morning (fourth watch, Matthew 14:25). Their progress was so slow that they had rowed only about 3 miles (25 or 30 furlongs) in approximately nine hours.

They were just about midway between the shores, for the Sea of Galilee is approximately six miles wide. Mark (Mark 6:47-50) tells us that Jesus saw their predicament and came to them walking on the sea. Jesus wished to pass them by, but when they saw Him they thought they were seeing a ghost and they literally shrieked in terror. Before we smile at the superstitious fears of the disciples, let us consider what we would have felt and said had we been in the boat with them.

When Jesus came close enough to be recognized He shouted, Do not be afraid, it is I, Myself. Matthew records the next incident Peter's attempt to walk to Jesus on the water (Matthew 14:28-31).

It is worthy of note here to see the independence of the accounts of this miracle:

a.

Matthew alone mentions Peter's attempt to walk on the water (Matthew 14:28-31).

b.

Mark alone mentions Jesus seeing their distress while still on the mountain (Mark 6:47-48).

c.

John alone mentions that it was dark (John 6:18) that they had rowed about 3 or 4 miles (John 6:19), and that the boat arrived straightway where they were going (John 6:21).

The infidelic theories of the liberal and radical scholars claim the Gospel writers were not inspired to write independent accounts, but copied from one another. But the facts say differently they wrote independently of one another.

Upon recognizing the figure and hearing His voice, the twelve were very glad to let Him come into the boat. Matthew again tells us that when He and Peter entered the boat the disciples worshipped Jesus (Matthew 14:33).

The straightway of John 6:21 may mean either:

a.

The sea was calmed and the boat was rowed quickly to their destination, or,

b.

A miraculous immediate arrival of the boat at its destination was effected.

Mark (Mark 6:53-56) shows us where they were going. They had started for Capernaum (John 6:17), but driven by sea and wind, they eventually landed at the plain of Gennesaret (cf. Map No. 4, page 267). Here the people ran to Him from all the region round about, carrying their sick to Him. As many as touched Him were made whole.

Quiz

1.

How did the violence of the storm affect the progress of the disciples in the boat?

2.

How did Jesus know of their predicament?

3.

What did the disciples do when they saw Jesus coming toward them?

4.

What did Peter do when he recognized the Lord?

5.

Name the three incidents reported independently by Matthew, Mark and John.

6.

Where did the disciples and Jesus finally put to shore?