And seeing them labouring in rowing, (for the wind was against them,) and about the fourth watch of the night, he cometh to them walking upon the sea, and he would have passed by them.
και ειδεν αυτους βασανιζομενους εν τω ελαυνειν ην γαρ ο ανεμος εναντιος αυτοις και περι τεταρτην φυλακην της νυκτος ερχεται προς αυτους περιπατων επι της θαλασσης και ηθελεν παρελθειν αυτους
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
The Lord permits the disciples to face turmoil on the sea so they might cultivate patience. Therefore, He refrained from coming to their aid right away, allowing them to endure the perils of the storm throughout the night. This was to instruct them in being patient and in awaiting salvation not at the onset of their trials.
Mark records the Lord as He walked on the waves, expressing a desire to pass them by. How could they jump to such a conclusion, thinking He was merely attempting to move past them, akin to a stranger unfamiliar with the Lord, perceiving Him as a phantom? Who is so lacking in insight as to overlook the deeper spiritual significance in this event? He came to aid those who were troubled and calling out, reassuring them, "Take heart; it is I; do not be afraid!" (Matt. 14:27; cf. Jn. 6:20.) What other reason could there be for His intention to pass by those who were seized by fear, except to invoke that plea for assistance to which He responded with such encouragement?
Simon, known as Peter, the first disciple of the Lord, sought to navigate the sea as the day drew to a close and the sun began to set. He embarked on this journey with a curved anchor and a sail, driven by the winds. However, nightfall brought with it a fierce wind, and the turbulent waters violently shook the boat. The sailor's cries were lost amidst the roar, whistling, and crackling of the storm. His hope began to diminish as he feared the vessel would sink. Panic washed over him as he spotted Christ walking on the waves as if traversing a solid path on dry land.
During the night, the disciples found themselves on the sea when a fierce storm arose. Yet the Lord did not abandon them; He paused His prayers and came to assist them. He approached the waters, walking on the waves without sinking. As the disciples saw Him, they initially thought He was a spirit, but His comforting words, “It is I, do not be afraid,” reassured them. Unlike their prior fears during another storm, this time they showed more courage. With the Lord’s permission, Peter stepped onto the water to reach Him, but he faltered under the weight of his doubt and began to sink. However, he cried out to the Saviour, who rescued him. Once the Lord entered the boat, it promptly reached the shore, bringing Him back to Capernaum. Countless miracles accumulated during this brief period, strengthening the disciples’ faith amidst their trials and preparing them to receive the new revelations that both they and onlookers were to learn from Him.
During that period, the Jewish tradition divided the night into four segments, known as watches, each lasting three hours. The initial watch extended from six in the evening to nine; the second from nine to midnight; the third from midnight until three in the morning; and the fourth from three to six in the morning. At approximately the fourth watch, around three in the morning, after dedicating the entire night to prayer, Jesus approached the troubled individuals on the sea. He arrived at a solitary shoreline where no boats were present, as the only vessel He and the apostles had used was being tossed by the waves in the midst of the sea. Christ walked upon the water, exercising His divine authority to perform miracles and to master the natural order.
Yet, this power was not utilized for His own benefit or to evade peril, nor for personal ambitions; rather, He traversed the waves to rescue the disoriented apostles. Meanwhile, the apostles had rowed about twenty-five to thirty stadia from the coast. A stadium is a Greek unit of measurement, about 185 meters. They had battled against the winds, exerting themselves for at least six hours, and were likely fatigued when they spotted Jesus advancing towards them over the sea.
Time passed slowly, hour after hour, and it had reached the fourth watch of the night. The disciples were only halfway across the lake, surrounded by darkness, with the fierce wind and tumultuous waves hindering their progress. They toiled at the oars nearly to the point of exhaustion, yet there was no one to offer them comfort or rescue, as Christ remained on the shore. Alone on solid ground, He watched over them, full of compassion, while they struggled against the perilous waters. Finally, in their moment of utmost distress, they caught sight of something in the gloom: a daunting figure clad in flowing garments moved toward them, seemingly walking on the surface, and appeared as if it would pass them by (Matt. 14:22-36, Mk. 6:45-56, Jn. 6:16-21). Filled with fear at this sight, they cried out, believing it to be a spirit haunting the waves.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 29 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS