seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 6:16 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, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 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 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. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 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.
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Here's the link to the commentary I read.
His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat: Matthew and Mark tell us that Jesus made His disciples get into the boat (Mark 6:45). They set off across the Sea of Galilee because Jesus told them to do it.
It was already dark: Several of the disciples were fishermen, all accustomed to fishing on this very lake. When they got into the boat, the thought of rowing across the lake at night did not concern them.
Jesus had not come to them: This actually was the second time Jesus dealt with His disciples on a stormy Sea of Galilee. In the first storm (Matthew 8:24), Jesus was present with them in the boat and He rebuked and calmed the storm. In this storm Jesus asked His disciples to trust His unseen care and concern for them.
Then the sea arose: The wind alone was bad enough, but the wind also whipped up the waters, making for troublesome seas.
A great wind was blowing: The Sea of Galilee was and is well known for its sudden, violent wind storms that quickly make the lake dangerous.
“The Sea of Galilee is six hundred feet below sea level, in a cuplike depression among the hills. When the sun sets, the air cools; and as the cooler air from the west rushes down over the hillside, the resultant wind churns the lake. Since the disciples were rowing toward Capernaum, they were heading into the wind; consequently, they made little progress.” (Tenney)
When they had rowed about three or four miles: In the first storm upon the Sea of Galilee the disciples were terrified (Matthew 8:25-26). In the beginning of the second storm they were more frustrated than afraid. Jesus told them to row across the lake and despite their hard work, they seemed to make little progress.
They saw Jesus walking on the sea... and they were afraid: Mark 6:49-50 says the disciples were afraid because they thought Jesus, walking on the water, was a ghost or a spirit.
It is I: For Jesus, it was enough to announce His presence. He was with His disciples and would meet them in their frustration and fear.
Do not be afraid: Jesus came to bring supernatural help and comfort to His disciples. His presence gave them what they needed, even though He came in an unexpected way.
Then they willingly received Him into the boat: The implication was that Jesus would not come unless He was willingly received. Even walking on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus waited to be welcomed by His disciples.
Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going: When they had willingly received Him into the boat, the miraculous happened. This was a remarkable miracle. The work that was so frustrating a few moments before suddenly was divinely accomplished.
Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going: Such a remarkable miracle was helpful for the disciples, especially because Jesus had just refused an offer to be recognized as a King Messiah. This assured them that He was full of divine power even though He did not claim a throne according to popular expectation and opinion.
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I don't think this story was ever in the Children's Bible Study or the Teen Bible Study. I've covered it On-line when going through the Gospels. I saw this story played out by kids during a Vacation Bible School Assembly. I remember the kids brought in a rowboat and put it on the floor. Then they got in the boat and acted out the scene. The child who played Jesus didn't rock back and forth. He "stood tall" [as his teacher instructed]. The play was a big hit!
There are a couple things that stick out right away. There are three witnesses who wrote about it, according to the commentary. John, Mark, and Matthew. On top of that, this was apparently not the only time the Apostles were stuck on a boat in the middle of a storm. According to Mark and Matthew Jesus slept through most of the first storm they were in. They woke Him up and He yelled at the storm and it stopped.
Let me remind you, we are reading this Gospel because John was Jesus' best human friend. We want to know more about Jesus, the Messiah. We have been through the Book of Daniel on the way to the Book of Revelation, and John wrote this Gospel and three letters. So, we're using John's Gospel and letters to get to the "End Times" in the Book of Revelation.
Yesterday, Hubby finally uttered the words, "I think we are going to live to see the end of the world". I've been telling him that.
Jesus told His Disciples, "Don't be Afraid".
Suppose you were in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay and a sudden storm came up.... Would you be afraid?
Suppose you were in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay and something appeared just over the water coming at your boat.... Would you be afraid?
Suppose you were in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay and what you saw coming at you just over the water was your boss... walking on water... would you be relieved?
Suppose you were in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay in a rowboat and a sudden storm came up and your boss got up and yelled at the storm and the Bay went to slick calm... would you be amazed?
The Pharisees and the Sadducees were not at all happy with Jesus. They wanted to arrest Him for dumping the vendor tables and running off the vendor livestock in the Temple Courts. They wanted to arrest Him for healing a paraplegic at the Pools of Bethesda on the Sabbath. I know they weren't thrilled with the massive crowds He was attracting. Large crowds made it impossible to arrest Him.
The Pharisees and the Sadducees might have been looking forward to catching Him alone. I wonder... were they watching and plotting when they saw Him send his boat full of Apostles away. Were they salivating over having Him trapped alone, on the shore? Perhaps they figured He was stuck on the shore without a boat!
I wonder what those Pharisees and Sadducees would think if they saw Him just walk out onto the water in the direction of the boat! Were they just standing there with their mouths hanging open and a stupid look on their faces? I'm thinking of Wyle Coyote watching the Road Runner get away yet again!
Did Jesus giggle to Himself when He saw everyone's shock and surprise?
I don't know a single human who can walk on water or rebuke a storm.
I don't know a single human who can heal a paraplegic, who has been laying around for 38 years, with a command.
I don't know a single human who can feed thousands of people with just a few small fish and a little loaf of bread.
Daniel said the Messiah had to come to earth and work on His Mission before leaving and returning.
Daniel said the Messiah would return.
Jesus is the Messiah.... He's the only Human who ever rebuked a storm or healed a paraplegic or rebuked the Temple for its greed.
Jesus is the Messiah... and to prove it....
Jesus walked on water!
