15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone. 16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. 20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
Commentary
Vs. 15 “Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to
come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain
by Himself alone.”
The people there then having experienced this great Spiritual awakening now want to come and take Jesus by force and make Him King. Thus, they were adamant about what they had just seen and experienced. However, that could not be, because the Lord Jesus Christ still had His destiny with the Cross to fulfill. And so, when Jesus perceived the hearts and desires of the people, He departed from them all, and went to a mountain by Himself.
Vs. 16-17 16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them.
The disciples then when evening had come, went down to sea and got into the boat and began to cross over to go to Capernaum, now it was already dark, indicating that they themselves had waited till everyone else had crossed the sea. Now usually sea crossings at night in open vessels are to be avoided on open waters, however the Sea of Galilee was land locked and because of the surrounding geography high winds and sudden storms were much more common in the day time hours as opposed to the late evening hours when the seas was at is calmest.
Vs. 18 “Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing.”
Therefore, this was an unusual event, and not just an ordinary storm, but as we read in the other gospel accounts the sea began to overtake their vessel so that the disciples began fearing for their lives!
Vs. 19 “So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid.”
The disciples then panicking begin to row with all their might so that they might make it to the shoreline. And so, having traveled three or four miles under such conditions they would’ve been utterly exhausted and incapable of going any further, or making it on their own. It is then at that point in their journey that they see Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat, and so seeing Jesus walking on the sea towards them in the midst of this perilous storm now makes them afraid, because no man, except the Son of Man can defy the laws of physics, and subdue the forces of nature, by His own Will. Jesus then is revealing Himself to them in a way that He had never revealed Himself to the crowds when He fed them!
Vs. 20-21 20 But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
Now when Jesus drew near to them, He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” And not a ghost as some of them thought (see Matt. 14:25-26). Therefore, when they realized it was Jesus Himself, they willingly received Him into the boat, and when they did the boat was at the land where they were going! Thus, Jesus not only saved them, but He also brought them to their final destination which I believe parallels just how He saves us and brings us to our finial destination with Himself in heaven! Therefore, you don’t have to fear the storms of this life, for you belong to the Lord Jesus Christ who has saved you and sealed you for the day of redemption!
Scripture Quotations
New King James Version (1982): Thomas Nelson.
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