With Dale Ratzlaff
John 6:15-21
So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone. Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
This incident is recorded in all the Gospels except Luke. Both Mark (Mk. 6:45–53) and Matthew (Mt. 14:22–33) add information that broadens our understanding. This occurrence happened immediately after Jesus fed the 5000 men plus women and children we studied in the last lesson. At the conclusion of the miraculous meal the people said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.” The Jews of the day were looking for Elijah (Mal. 4:5,6),The Prophet (Deut. 18:18,19), and the Messiah (many Old Testament references).We can only imagine the excitement some of the more politically motivated in the crowd had when they saw Jesus provide food for some 20,000 people.
“The Prophet” predicted by Moses was not well defined in their thinking. Some held that this Prophet referred to the coming Messiah who was to deliver Israel from their enemies. Who would be better for this task than one who could supply food using His miraculous powers? The Gospel writers record the events immediately after the crowds had been fed in these ways.
So Jesus, perceiving that they were intending to come and take Him by force to make Him king, withdrew again to the mountain by Himself alone (Jn. 6:15).
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the crowd away (Mk. 6:45).
Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone (Mt. 14:22-23).
One may wonder why Jesus refused the acclaim of the crowds. Why did He not accept their attempt to make Him king? We remember how the devil tempted Jesus at the beginning of His ministry.
Again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, “All these things I will give You, if You fall down and worship me” (Mt. 4:8-9).
Perhaps unknowingly, the Zealots in the crowd who strongly opposed Roman rule were actually promoting the same temptation Jesus had already faced. A political kingdom was not in the Father’s plan. For this reason, Jesus refused the acclaim.
By putting all these accounts together, we get the picture that the disciples might be somewhat confused as to why Jesus made them get into the boat without Him. They apparently waited until dark hoping Jesus would come. Nevertheless, they finally left without Him.
Here is John’s description of the night trip to Capernaum:
Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, and after getting into a boat, they started to cross the sea to Capernaum. It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea began to be stirred up because a strong wind was blowing (Jn. 6:16-18).
This is Mark’s description of the same event:
When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. Seeing them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them, at about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them (Mk. 6:47-48).
Matthew’s record:
But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; “do not be afraid.” Peter said to Him, Lord, if it is You, command “me to come to You on the water.” And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!” (Mt. 14:24-33).
The disciples encounter Jesus.
Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were frightened. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going (Jn. 6:19-21).
Reading these three eye-witness accounts shows that each writer chose to include certain details and leave out others. One can only imagine the fear of the disciples as they see what they believe to be a phantom walking on the sea and drawing near their storm-battered boat. John often uses subtle hints to point to the greater truth of who Jesus is and how belief in Him brings eternal life. Two such items have been suggested in this passage. Jesus’ answered their fear by saying, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
The words make perfectly good sense in Greek as a from of self-identification, simply ‘It is I’ — and doubtless that is how the disciples understood them…On the other hand, the thoughtful reader who has read through this gospel two or three times ought to observe the number and varied forms of ‘I am’ [as referring to the I AM in Exodus 3] sayings, and wonder if this occurrence in v. 20 may not be an anticipation of a clearer self-disclosure by Jesus (D.A. Carson, The Gospel According to John, p. 275-276.)
A second possible insight comes from a careful understanding of the disciples’ position on the Sea of Galilee when they encounter Jesus. The Sea of Galilee is about eight miles across in some places. Scholars think the disciples may have rowed about three miles that night and were still several miles from the other shore. However, after Jesus said, “It is I”, they willingly received him into the boat. “willingly” is in the continuous tense indicating their continued desire to be in his company. Then John states, “immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.”
John now mentions something that the other narrators omit. They report on that Jesus entered the boat, and that the storm then instantly ceased…John adds the detail that “immediately” the boat “was at the land to which they were going.” In other words, the exhausted disciples were not compelled to begin their rowing again in order to cover the considerable distance to the shore. We now see why John notes the distance covered during the stormy night voyage some 25 to 30 stadia. He means to say that the boat was still far from shore when Jesus came to it. That distance melted away the moment Jesus stepped into the boat ( R.C.H. Lenski, Commentary on the New Testament, The Interpretation of St. John’s Gospel, p. 444).
Perhaps this is also a subtle way of presenting the gospel message. If the reader of John’s Gospel is continually willing to receive Jesus into his/her life, the hard work of striving is over. He/she will immediately reach the desired goal—eternal life.
Application
- As Jesus refused short-cuts to His right as coming King, so we should always refuse short-cuts in doing God’s work. We may have to do the slow and arduous work of preparation and execution in fulfilling our ministry, whatever that ministry is. There is no spiritual “get rich quick scheme”. We only do what we determine is God’s will by Scripture interpreted by the Spirit and leave the results with God.
- After a busy day working with the Spirit in the provision of food for the multitude, Jesus felt the need for a personal, private time of prayer. In this He is to be our example. After a successful presentation, Bible study, mission trip, or other gospel encounter, a little time of reflection and prayer should be our custom.
- The disciples did not fully understand why Jesus sent them out alone on the stormy sea that night, yet they obeyed. We should remember that obedience to the Word of God is the first law of true discipleship, even if we do not fully understand why.
- We should always be continuously willing to receive Jesus into our lives. Sure, we received Him at a point in time when we were saved. But there is to be a continuous, daily reception in an ever deeper and expanded way. The development of true communion and personal fellowship with our Savior is one of the blessings of the Christian life.
- We should always keep the essence of the gospel in view. Our striving to become accepted by God is over. We have accepted Him into our “boat” and instantly we have arrived—we now have eternal life.
Prayer
Father, it is with thanksgiving that I realize how you have power even over nature. I thank you that you did not leave me alone striving to become acceptable to God. But you came into my life and showed me that I could never make it to the eternal shore by my own efforts. You had compassion on me and showed me that all I can do is to confess my own sin and rely upon your saving grace demonstrated in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. I praise you that you are the One to cleanse me from all unrighteousness and you now see me clothed in the very righteousness of Christ.
In Jesus name.
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