Mark 6:46Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He observed them struggling against the wind, echoing Matthew’s account yet omitting Peter's experience walking on the water.

It is crucial to grasp why Mark mentions that Jesus intended to pass by. This can also be interpreted as Him walking away from the disciples, almost as if He were a stranger, since they failed to recognize Him and thought He was a ghost. Yet, who among us can remain untroubled as we try to understand the deeper significance of this? It was not happenstance that, when they cried out in fear, He approached them, declaring, "Be encouraged; it is I, do not be afraid." Was His intention merely to bypass those whose fears He quickly dispelled? No; His purpose in passing by was to draw their attention to the One to whom they should seek assistance.

John, for now, aligns with the other Gospel writers. Following the feeding of the five thousand, he also narrates the dangers faced at sea and the Lord's miraculous walking on water, starting with the moment Jesus withdrew again to the mountain alone when He learned that the people wished to forcibly make Him king. When night fell, His disciples descended to the sea, entered a boat, and set sail for Capernaum. Darkness fell, yet Jesus did not join them. A strong wind arose, and the sea became tumultuous.

The only perceived discrepancy lies in the account where Matthew reports that, after dismissing the crowds, Jesus went up the mountain to pray, while John portrays Him as being on the mountain with those who had just been fed. However, John clarifies that following this miracle, Jesus withdrew to the mountain to escape the throngs who wished to make Him king. This indicates that after the multiplication of the loaves, everyone descended from the mountain. Thus, there is no inconsistency between the accounts of John and Matthew regarding His ascending the mountain or John's description of His retreat—these do not contradict if He indeed withdrew after ascending.

Furthermore, one cannot view Matthew's statement about Jesus ascending the mountain to pray in solitude and John's mention of His withdrawal upon learning about the people's intentions as contradictory. Prayer and the desire to escape are not mutually exclusive motivations. Here, the Lord, transforming our lowly bodies to align with His glorious form, teaches us that the deep reasons for prayer should also inspire our flight. Additionally, one should not contrast Matthew's sequence—where Jesus first instructs His disciples to enter the boat and precede Him to the other side while He dismisses the crowd—with John's account, which places His solitary retreat first before His disciples journey to the sea.

It is clear that John is revisiting prior actions that the disciples took according to the Lord's prior instructions before His ascent to the mountain. This return to previous events, especially those recently unfolded, can lead listeners to mistakenly perceive earlier occurrences as later ones. A similar method is used in John's following passage, as the Lord approached the disciples struggling on their journey, not after they reached Capernaum, but in the midst of their travels.

After dismissing the multitude, He ascended the mountain to engage in private prayer, as noted by Matthew; or, as recorded by Mark, He went up to pray after sending the people away (Matt. 14:23). Moreover, it is inconceivable that Jesus Christ, who came to redeem humanity from sin and willingly sacrifice His life for them, would hide from a zealous crowd, capable of impulsive actions in their fervor. One must recognize that He who fed thousands with five loaves and two fish could also soothe them; He who commanded the raging waves and storms and passed unharmed through the tumultuous crowd of Nazarenes intending to throw Him off a cliff could certainly approach the people on the shore, calming their troubled hearts with His words. This is precisely what He accomplished: first, He sent the crowds away, and then He ascended the mountain to pray.

He noted that His disciples were equally caught up in this perilous fervor. Urgent action was thus required. He instructed His disciples to board a boat and travel ahead of Him across the lake towards Capernaum or western Bethsaida. Necessity compelled Him to employ some degree of persuasion, as they were understandably reluctant to part from their Master amidst the fervent crowds on the desolate shore, eager to witness what they expected would be a momentous event. Conversely, it would be easier for Him to dismiss the crowd if they witnessed even His closest followers being sent away. Consequently, as dusk deepened, He gently encouraged the onlookers to disperse, and when nearly all but the most fervent had retreated to their homes or camps, He swiftly departed from them, ascending the mountain to pray privately. He sensed a grave and significant turning point ahead in His earthly journey, and through communion with His heavenly Father, He sought to fortify His spirit for the challenges of the coming day and the trials that lay ahead. He had previously engaged in a night of solitary prayer amidst the mountains, but that had been before the selection of His beloved Apostles and the promising beginnings of His ministry. The divine High Priest ascended the rugged terrain to this majestic mountain altar, which in the night’s temple seemed to draw Him nearer to the stars of God. The murder of His dear forerunner intensified His awareness of His impending death. The storm that began to rage in the mountains, the wind howling through the ravines, the turbulent lake all around Him, the vessel being tossed by vicious waves — all illuminated by the moonlight piercing through the clouds — mirrored His current state of mind. Yet, up there on the solitary mountaintop, in the midst of that tempestuous night, He found solace, strength, and indescribable joy, for there, He was alone with God.