Matthew 14:24Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Christ ascended the mountain to offer prayers while the disciples faced turbulent waves and a fierce storm, reminiscent of their previous trials. In the past, He had been present with them in the boat during the tempest, but now they found themselves on their own. The Lord gradually guides them toward deeper experiences and instructs them to endure with courage. Initially, when danger threatened, He was with them, albeit in a slumbering state, to provide them comfort. However, in His process of fostering greater patience in them, He chose a different approach: He withdrew His presence, allowing them to be engulfed by the tempest in the middle of the sea, rendering them without hope of salvation. He permitted them to battle the waves throughout the night, perhaps intending to penetrate their hardened hearts. The fear instigated by the storm and the darkness of the night would surely have produced a profound impact on them.

The Lord permits His followers to face peril, enabling them to cultivate steadfastness in the face of trials and to witness His might. The vessel caught in the heart of the ocean illustrates the intensity of their fear.

Meanwhile, the vessel in which the disciples navigate—symbolic of the Church—is swaying and being tossed amidst the turbulent seas, while the relentless winds persist; their adversary, the devil, ensures that the storm does not subside. Yet, greater is He who pleads on our behalf, granting us assurance amid life’s trials, approaching us to fortify our spirits so that we do not succumb to despair. The boat may face peril, but it remains a vessel of safety. It carries the disciples while welcoming the presence of Christ. Although it is in jeopardy on the water, without it, they would swiftly face destruction. Therefore, remain in the boat and seek God in prayer.

It is understandable that the apostles departed from the Lord with a sense of hesitation and consideration, seeking to avoid disaster in His absence. As the Lord prayed on the mountaintop, a violent wind took hold, agitating the sea and instilling fear in the apostles, who were confronted with the impending threat of shipwreck until the appearance of Jesus.

The disciples find themselves once again threatened by the swells of the sea, just as they had been previously. However, in their earlier state of imperfection, Christ was among them to provide comfort, even in His slumber. In contrast, now that they have matured in their faith, His absence encourages them to develop greater courage, allowing them to rely more on their own strength.

Not only were they compelled to navigate the tumultuous waters of existence, filled with various forms of excitement and temptation, but they also needed to reach the other side, which symbolizes overcoming and enduring through perilous trials; yet without Christ, they found this impossible. The Evangelist notes that "the ship was in the midst of the sea, tossed by the waves; for the wind was contrary." The soulless wind echoing their struggle mirrored the opposition faced by the Church later from figures like Domitian, Trajan, and Nero. However, it is more accurate to describe these individuals as fierce and terrifying waves crashing against the Church, while the wind that stirred up this turmoil was the malevolent spirit, the devil—the ever-looming adversary of Christ’s Church. Thus, the Disciples, tasked with crossing the sea, representing the challenge of overcoming their adversaries, did not achieve total victory; for the enemy remains active, and the nations rage against the Church of Christ.

Why did the One who commands the winds from His storehouses, who governs the might of the sea, and calms its turbulent waves (Psalm 134:7, Psalm 88:10) not expel the tailwind or hush the waves, allowing His disciples to sail in peace and without dread? Instead, He first urged them to embark on the vessel and then permitted it to be tossed about at night by the ferocity of the opposing wind and the rage of the ocean. The Lord acted with intent, aiming to test their faith and to impart lessons on the trials they would face while proclaiming the Gospel throughout the world. By demonstrating that He forewarned and rescued them in times of hardship and need, He sought to strengthen their faith, instill joy, and nurture hope within their hearts in Him.

As darkness fell, a tempest raged in the mountains; the wind roared from the ravines, and the sea surged violently, tossing the apostles' boat in its wake. As they navigated away from land, the disciples may have believed that the Lord would meet them at a suitable docking point; yet night had descended, and He was nowhere in sight. Exhausted, the seasoned fishermen strained against their oars; the vessel was on the verge of capsizing amid the crashing waves, for the wind was contrary. "Why has He, who causes the winds to stir from His storehouses and holds dominion over the sea, not allowed the wind to favor His disciples?

During the night, the disciples found themselves on the sea when a fierce storm arose. The Lord remembered them; He left His prayer and came to their rescue. He approached the tumultuous waters, walking on the waves without sinking. When the disciples caught sight of Him, they believed Him to be a spirit, but His words, 'It is I, do not be afraid,' reassured them. Unlike their earlier fear during a previous tempest, they displayed greater courage this time. Peter, with permission from the Lord, stepped into the water to greet Him. However, he struggled with his faith and began to sink. Overwhelmed by doubt, he cried out for help, and the Saviour reached out to save him. Once the Lord boarded the boat, it instantly arrived on the shore, thus bringing Him back to Capernaum. In this short span of time, numerous remarkable miracles occurred. These events strengthened the disciples' faith during difficult moments and prepared them, along with others, to receive new revelations from Him.

The Tribulation of the Apostles on the Sea The apostles were in a boat as darkness approached. They had ventured far from land, finding themselves in the midst of the sea, where they were being tossed by the waves due to a strong wind. In their attempt to navigate against the opposing gusts, the apostles ought to have recalled their previous peril on that very sea and how, at the command of their Lord, the storm had suddenly calmed. They should have felt sorrow for being apart from their Savior, who remained on earth, as noted by the evangelist Mark. He observed their distress during their journey (Mark 6:48), and in the fourth watch of the night, He approached them, walking upon the water.

Time continued to elapse, and it was now the fourth watch of the night. The disciples’ vessel had covered only half of its journey; darkness surrounded them, and the opposing winds along with the tumultuous waves posed great challenges. They labored at the oars until they were nearly overcome, and at that moment, there was no one present to offer them solace or rescue, as Christ remained on the shore. He stood alone on solid ground while they were tossed upon the perilous waters; yet, He observed their plight and felt compassion for them throughout their struggle.

Despite the extraordinary nature of the miracle of feeding the multitude, the disciples of Christ, as depicted by the holy Evangelist Mark, failed to grasp its significance; their hearts remained hardened, untouched by the grace of the Holy Spirit (Mark 6:52). Consequently, the Lord sought to make an even more profound impression on them through another miracle, so they could come to recognize Him not only from the miracle of the loaves but also through the miracle on the sea, thus gaining deeper understanding for themselves (Blessed Theophylact). As the disciples set sail alone without their Master, they anticipated His arrival where it would be easier to retrieve Him from the shore. However, darkness fell, and Jesus did not come to them.