And when it was late, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and himself alone on the land.
και οψιας γενομενης ην το πλοιον εν μεσω της θαλασσης και αυτος μονος επι της γης
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The Lord permits the disciples to experience distress upon the waters so that they may cultivate patience. He chose not to approach them right away, allowing them to face peril from the tempest throughout the night, in order to instruct them in the virtue of waiting for salvation, rather than seeking immediate rescue at the onset of their trials.
During the night, while the disciples were out on the sea, a fierce storm arose. The Lord had not forgotten them; He set aside His prayers and came to their rescue. He approached the sea, walking on the waves, with His feet remaining above the surface. When the disciples spotted Him, they mistook Him for a spirit, but it was His reassuring words, “It is I, do not be afraid,” that gave them courage. This time, they exhibited more bravery than during their previous ordeal. With the Lord's consent, Peter stepped into the sea to meet Him, but he struggled to maintain his faith. Consumed by doubt, he began to sink, yet he was saved by the Saviour's hand. Once the Lord entered the boat, it was instantly brought to land, and thus He returned to Capernaum. Numerous remarkable miracles had accumulated in such a short time! These events reinforced the disciples' faith in the Lord amidst their trials and prepared them to receive the new revelations that He would share with them and others.
The disciples were on a boat as darkness fell, with a fierce wind howling and the sea becoming tumultuous. They had ventured far from land, finding themselves in the midst of the waters, buffeted by the waves due to the opposing winds (Matthew 14:24). Worn out from battling the gale, the disciples ought to have recalled their previous perilous experience on that very sea when the storm had calmed at their Master's command. They should have felt the void of His presence, lamenting their solitude without their Redeemer. He was alone on the land, as indicated by the Evangelist Mark, observing their struggles as they sailed (Mark 6:48). It was in the fourth watch of the night that He approached them, walking upon the water.
This remarkable event left a profound impact on those who witnessed it. It aligned perfectly with the anticipated arrival of the Messiah, leading the crowd to discuss amongst themselves that this could indeed be 'the Prophet to whom the world must come' - the 'Reconciler' referenced in Jacob's blessing, the star and scepter of Balaam's vision, a prophet akin to Moses who must be followed, possibly Elijah, foretold by the ancient prophecies, or perhaps Jeremiah, who was said to uncover the hidden location of the ark, the urim, and the sacred fire. Christ observed this unrestrained excitement, aware of the risk that their fervor could escalate into violence and prompt His demise through direct insurrection against the Roman authorities, as they might attempt to crown Him king.
He recognized that His disciples were caught up in this worldly and perilous fervor as well. Immediate action was required. Consequently, He instructed His disciples to board a boat and proceed ahead of Him across the lake toward Capernaum or the western part of Bethsaida. They were hesitant to leave their Master alone among the jubilant crowd on the desolate shore, craving to remain by His side as they sensed something monumental was about to unfold. Nevertheless, it would simplify matters for Him if the crowd observed that even His closest followers had been sent away. Thus, as darkness enveloped the scene, He carefully encouraged the people to disperse. Once all but the most fervent had returned to their homes or encampments, He swiftly withdrew from the rest of the group and ascended the mountain for solitary prayer. He sensed that a significant and solemn turning point was imminent in His earthly journey, and through communion with His heavenly Father, He aimed to fortify His spirit for the challenging tasks ahead and the trials that lay in wait. Previously, He had spent a night in solitary prayer in the quietude of the mountains, yet that was prior to the selection of His beloved Apostles and before enjoying the promising beginnings of His ministry. The divine High Priest ascended the rocky path to this magnificent mountain altar, which, under the dome of night, seemed to elevate Him closer to the stars of God. The death of His cherished predecessor brought the reality of His own impending demise to the forefront of His thoughts. The storm brewing in the mountains, the wind rushing through the ravines, the lake agitated with turbulent waves—all illuminated by the moonlight piercing through the clouds—mirrored His inner turmoil. Yet there, upon the desolate mountaintop on this tempestuous night, He could find strength, solace, and indescribable joy, for in that moment, He was entirely alone with God.
In the heart of the ocean, this phrase emphasizes that the vessel was quite distant from the land, yet it remained in view of the Lord from the shoreline.
Regardless of the wonder of the loaves being multiplied, the followers of Christ, as noted by the holy Evangelist Mark, failed to grasp its significance; their hearts, not yet touched by the grace of the Holy Spirit, were hardened (Mark 6:52). Consequently, the Lord sought to impress upon them more profoundly through a new miracle, so that they, 'having not recognized Him through the miracle of the loaves, would now recognize Him through the miracle of the sea, and from this understanding, would gain benefit' (Blessed Theophylact). Having embarked without the Master, the disciples anticipated that He would meet them at a point where it would be easier for the boat to approach the shore. However, as darkness began to fall, Jesus Christ had not yet arrived.
The boat found itself in the midst of the sea; a fierce and troubling wind arose, and the small vessel was tossed about by the waves. 'Once more the disciples contend with the waves,’ St. John Chrysostom remarks, ‘they again face the storm, as before; yet previously, Christ was with them during the tempest, while now they find themselves alone. The Lord gradually and progressively guides them toward greater understandings and prepares them to endure all with courage.'
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 16 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS