ACC ~ John 6 v16 - 24

OVERVIEW:

In the account of the walking on the water that follows, we again notice some slight discrepancies between John’s account and other accounts (AUGUSTINE, CHRYSOSTOM). In John’s account Jesus is trying to diffuse the anticipation surrounding him because of his miracle by sending the disciples on ahead in the boat as decoys. They encounter darkness and a storm that take away any navigational ability. But despite the darkness and the billowing waves, the real danger is that Jesus is not with them—a hazard for anyone caught in the storms of life (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA).

This storm, in many ways, typifies the danger the church and its members find themselves in (AUGUSTINE), but it is always best to meet those storms with prayer (ISAIAH). Christ does not immediately come to his disciples’ aid but waits until they are far away from the shore and in the midst of the waves of affliction that beset them (CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA).The one who is “I AM” then comes to them and identifies himself to them (BEDE). He brings immediate calm without even getting in the boat and performs a further miracle in bringing the boat to the shore in an instant when it had been in the middle of the lake (THEODORE). His command over water was even greater than that of Moses, but the people still would not believe, despite sufficient evidence to infer the miracle had taken place (CHRYSOSTOM).

6:16 | At Evening, Jesus’ Disciples Went to the Sea

JOHN RECORDS THE DISCIPLES’ ACTION

AUGUSTINE: There is no inconsistency between Matthew and John. Matthew [1] has told us first how Jesus commanded his disciples to embark in the little ship and to go before him to the other side of the lake until he sent the multitudes away, and then he informs us that after the multitudes were sent away [Jesus] went up into a mountain alone to pray. John mentions first that he departed to a mountain alone and then proceeds to say, “And when it became late, his disciples came down to the sea; and when they had entered into a ship, etc.” For who will not perceive that in recapitulating the facts, John has spoken of something as actually done at a later point by the disciples that Jesus had already charged them to do before his own departure to the mountain? HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS 2.47.100. [2]

[1] Mt 14:23-33.

[2] NPNF 1 6:150**.

TWO DIFFERENT ACCOUNTS?

CHRYSOSTOM: This miracle seems to me to be a different one from the one given in Matthew, [1] and that it is different is clear for many reasons since he often repeats the same miracle in order to impress it on people’s minds and to receive them with great faith…. There they do not receive him into the ship immediately, and here they do. Also, there the storm lasts for some time, whereas here as soon as he speaks, there is a calm. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 43.1. [2]

[1] Mt 14:22-33.

[2] NPNF 1 14:155-56**.

JESUS DIFFUSES SPECULATION OF KINGSHIP

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: In order, then, that he might seem to have sailed away and thus diffuse the intensity of those who were looking for him, he orders the disciples to leave before him; but he stays, providing the opportunity for the next miracle. For his primary concern was to use every occasion to confirm the mind of the apostles in their faith toward him…. And so, when evening came and enough time had passed so that those who were seeking him gave up, the choir of holy disciples goes down to the sea and began to sail away immediately, obeying their God and teacher in everything without delay. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 3.4. [1]

[1] LF 43:336-37*.

6:17-18 | Jesus Was Not with Them

THE DANGER OF BEING WITHOUT JESUS IN A STORM

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: The circumstances of their journey drive the disciples to a more intense search for the Savior. For the deep darkness of the night troubles them, hovering like smoke on the raging waves and taking away any ability for navigation. The fierce winds, riding on the waves with a rushing sound that raises the billows high above their heads, had to trouble them more than a little bit. Yes, and through all of this, John records, “Jesus was not yet with them.” This was the real danger, and Christ’s absence from these voyagers was making their fear grow more and more.

Those who are not with Jesus are in a fierce tempest of a storm. They are cut off from him or at least seem to be absent from him because they have departed from his holy laws. Because of their sin they are separated from the one who is able to save. If then it is overwhelming to be in such spiritual darkness, if it is oppressive to be swamped by the bitter sea of pleasures, let us then receive Jesus. For this is what will deliver us from dangers and from death in sin. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 3.4. [1]

[1] LF 43:337-38**.

THE CHURCH IN THE STORM

AUGUSTINE: He fled alone to the mountain—the first begotten from the dead—because he has ascended above all the heavens and is interceding for us. [1] … But while he was above what were the disciples enduring in the ship below? For that ship prefigured the church while he is on high….

While they were sailing to [Capernaum], John tells us what happened to them. It became dark and Jesus had not come to them. It was right that John said it was dark, because the light [Jesus] had not yet come to them. As the end of the world draws near, errors increase, terrors multiply, iniquity abounds and infidelity escalates. Light, again, is love according to John. Whoever hates his brother is in darkness. [2] … The waves and storms and winds then that agitate the ship, are the clamors of hurtful speech and love waxing cold…. Nevertheless the wind, and storm, and waves, and darkness were not able to stop and sink the vessel. For the one who endures to the end shall be saved….

And how does Jesus come to the disciples? He comes walking upon the waves, keeping all the swellings of the world under his feet, pressing down all of humanity’s pride. And so it continues, so long as time endures, so long as the ages roll. Tribulations increase, all these swell and mount up: Jesus passes on treading upon the waves. And yet, so great are the tribulations that even those who have trusted in Jesus and who strive to persevere to the end greatly fear lest they fail…. But they open the gospel, they open the Scriptures and find all these things there foretold; that this is the Lord’s doing. He tramples down the heights of the world that he may be glorified by the humble. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 25.4-7. [3]

[1] Rom 8:34.

[2] 1 Jn 2:11.

[3] NPNF 1 7:161-62**.

IN THE STORM OF THIS LIFE, WE NEED PRAYER

ISAIAH OF SCETE: Like a pilot steering a boat through the waves, one should hold to the course, guided by grace. Keeping his attention fixed within himself, he should commune with God in stillness, guarding his thoughts from distraction and his intellect from curiosity.

In storms and squalls we need a pilot, and in this present life we need prayer, for we are susceptible to the provocations of our thoughts, both good and bad. If our thought is full of devotion and love of God, it rules over the passions. ON GUARDING THE INTELLECT 23-24. [1]

[1] TP 1:27.

6:19-20 | Do Not Be Afraid

DIVINE HELP IS OURS

CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA: Christ does not appear to those in the boat immediately after they set sail or at the onset of danger but only when they are far away from the shore. For the grace of our Savior does not come to us when our tribulations begin but when our fear is at its height and the danger shows itself to be great— when we are found, so to say, in the midst of the waves of affliction. Then, Christ appears unexpectedly and removes our fear and frees us from all danger. By his ineffable power he changes horror into joy, and as it were, calms the storm. … When Christ appears and looks on us, we shall effortlessly succeed even against our hope. And we who are in danger because of our distance from Christ shall no longer have to labor to accomplish what is helpful for us when he is present. Christ is our deliverance from all danger and the accomplishment of achievements beyond hope to those who receive him. COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 3.4. [1]

[1] LF 43: 338-39**.

I AM

BEDE: He says only “I am.” He trusts that they will easily recognize his voice, which was so familiar to them. Or, more probably, he shows that he was the same who said to Moses, “Say to the children of Israel, the one who is has sent me to you.” COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 3.14. [1]

[1] PL 92:73.

6:21 | Immediate Results

FURTHER MIRACLES SEEN

THEODORE OF MOPSUESTIA: In order to increase the miracle before their eyes, he walked on the water and did not get into the boat. But the Evangelist says, “Then they wanted to take him into the boat, [1] and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.” He records this in order to demonstrate that they did not take him but that, while they tried to bring him in, both the boat and the Lord reached land at an awesome speed. [2] They could not doubt what the Lord had done or consider him a ghost when they saw that the boat had reached the land toward which they were going at such a speed, coupled with the fact that the Lord was with them. COMMENTARY ON JOHN 3.6.21. [3]

[1] RSV implies he went into the boat.

[2] Theodore notes that John had reported the distance as 25 to 30 stadii, about 3 or 4 miles.

[3] CSCO 4 3 :135.

6:22-24 | People Were Looking for Jesus

OPPORTUNITY FOR THE CROWD TO INFER A MIRACLE

CHRYSOSTOM: Why didn’t he enter the ship? Because his intention was to make the miracle greater and more openly reveal to them his Godhead…. The day following, the people who had stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there except the one that his disciples entered. They also saw that Jesus had not gone with his disciples into the boat but that his disciples were alone when they left. And why is John so exact about this? Why didn’t he simply say that the multitude had crossed over on the next day? He wants to teach us that Jesus allowed the multitudes, if not openly, at least indirectly to infer what had taken place…. What else could they do but suspect that he had crossed the sea on foot? For he could not have gone over in a ship since there was only one ship there— that in which his disciples had entered. HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 43.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:156**.

A GREATER MIRACLE THAN THAT OF MOSES

CHRYSOSTOM: The Jews, guided by Moses, passed over the Red Sea, but that case is widely different. Moses did everything with prayer and as a servant. Christ does this with absolute power. There when the south wind blew, the water yielded so as to allow them to pass over on dry land, [1] but here the miracle is greater. For the sea retained its proper nature and in this way carried its Lord upon its surface, thus testifying to the Scripture that says, “Who walks on the sea as on pavement.” [2] HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 43.2. [3]

[1] Ex 14:21.

[2] Job 9:8.

[3] NPNF 1 14:156**.