Verses 16-17 have always been a curiosity to me. Did the disciples just decide to go home without Jesus with them? And yet this next miracle would not have happened if they had waited for Him.
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.
Mark 6:45-46 shed light on this. “45 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him, while He dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, He went up on a mountainside to pray.”
They returned to Capernaum many times. That is where the fishing business was prior to their ministry call. Peter’s home was there. Without their leader, that is the natural place to go. Verses 18-21 tell the rest of John’s story.
18 A strong wind was blowing, and the water grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water (only God could do); 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.
These guys were skilled fishermen. That part of the lake was 8 miles wide. When they were halfway, 3 or 4 miles, they saw Jesus approaching as He walked on the water. Scripture says they were frightened. I think that was an understatement. I would have been scared to death. How many times in Scripture are we told “don’t be afraid”? That same amazingly calm voice speaks to us today, if we listen.
Then there is a miracle I have never heard anyone talk about. “Immediately the boat reached shore”. They were only 4 miles into an 8-mile trip. When Jesus gets in the boat, they immediately reach shore. What do you think was going through young John’s mind that night? Jesus walking on water and then immediately on shore. What do you think John was thinking as he reflected on that night years later. Living that would have been amazing.
This story is also told in both Matthew and Mark’s Gospel. John chooses to leave out parts of the story the others have already told. Remember John is writing 20 or 30 years later. Matthew tells us about Peter asking to walk on water. Matthew 14:28-31 tells us that part of the story.
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” He said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
Mark added other interesting notes. Mark 6:47-51
47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and He (Jesus) was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn He went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw Him walking on the lake, they thought He was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw Him and were terrified. Immediately He spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then He climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed.
Mark was not one of the original 12, but he was writing what Peter remembered. The thought that Jesus was walking to them because they were in danger is interesting. Also, the statement that He was about to pass by is additional.
John tells us at the end of his Gospel that there was no way to write down everything Jesus did. John desire was to prove Jesus was the Son of God. The fact that he left out Peter’s failed attempt to walk on water is not surprising. He was writing about Jesus, not Peter.
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