ACC ~ Mark 6 v45 - 56

OVERVIEW:

It was not through weakness that he made himself vulnerable to suffering (AMBROSE). The wood of the boat prefigured the wood of the cross. The way through the stormy sea was the way of the cross, by whose wood the faithful would be carried to salvation (AUGUSTINE). The shipwrecked poet Prudentius portrayed himself as turning to the saving Lord amid the tumult of his own sin (PRUDENTIUS). Those compulsively protected from risk do not grow strong in faith (ORIGEN). The thought of Jesus passing by evoked a crisis of despair that made the disciples all the more ready to cry out for help (AUGUSTINE).

6:45 | Immediately He Made the Disciples Get into the Boat

FAITH LEARNED THROUGH RISK

ORIGEN: The Savior thus compelled the disciples to enter into the boat of testing and to go before him to the other side, so to learn victoriously to pass through difficulties. But when they got in the middle of the sea, and of the waves in the temptation, and of the contrary winds which prevented them from going away to the other side, they were not able, struggling as they were, to overcome the waves and the contrary wind and reach the other side without Jesus. In this way the Word, taking compassion upon those who had done all that was in their power to reach the other side, came to them walking upon the sea, which for him had no waves or wind. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 11.5. [1]

[1] TLG 2042.029, 11.5.65-76; ANF 9:435**.

6:48a | For the Wind Was Against Them

TRAINING BY EXERCISE

ORIGEN: But what is the spiritual nuance of the boat into which Jesus constrained the disciples to enter? Is it perhaps the conflict of temptations and difficulties into which any one is constrained by the Word, and goes unwillingly? The Savior wishes to train by exercise the disciples in this boat which is distressed by the waves and the contrary wind. COMMENTARY ON MATTHEW 11.5. [1]

THE ANCHOR’S HOOK UNLOOSED

PRUDENTIUS:

Simon, surnamed Peter, [2]

Chief disciple of Christ the Lord,

On a day at the set of sun

When the evening sky grows red,

Unloosed his anchor’s hook,

And filled his sails with the swelling winds,

And made ready to cross the sea.

But night roused up a contrary gale [3]

That stirred up the deeper waves

And buffeted the floundering boat.

Shouts of fishermen struck the sky,

With shrieks and despairing groans

Amid the creak of swaying ropes.

Nor did any have hope of escape

From shipwreck and a watery death,

When the oarsmen all wan with fear

Saw Christ himself not far away

Treading surely upon the surge,

Just as though on the barren shore

He walked over the solid ground.

AGAINST SYMMACHUS 2. [4]

[1] ANF 9:434*; TLG 2042.029, 11.5.43-48. They were in training to exercise faith.

[2] Cf. Mt 10:2; Acts 10:5.

[3] Cf. Mt 14:24-32; Mk 6:45-51; Jn 6:16-21.

[4] Cetedoc 1442, 2.1; FC 52:139**.

6:48b | He Meant to Pass by Them

WHY PASS BY THEM?

AUGUSTINE: When he walked upon the waters, he seems poised to pass by them. For in what way could they have understood this, were it not that he was really proceeding in a different direction from them, as if minded to pass those persons by like strangers, who were so far from recognizing him that they took him to be a ghost? Who, however, is so obtuse as not to perceive that this bears some spiritual significance? At the same time, too, he came to the help of the men in their agitation and outcry, and said to them, “Be of good cheer, it is I; be not afraid.” [1] What is the explanation, therefore, of his wish to bypass those persons whom nevertheless he was prepared to encourage when they were in despair? His intent in passing by them was to serve the purpose of eliciting those outcries in response to which he would then come to bring relief. HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS 2.47. [2]

[1] Mt 14:27; Mk 6:50; Jn 6:20.

[2] Cetedoc 0273, 2.47.99.206.22; NPNF 1 6:150**.

6:50 | Have No Fear

HOW EASILY CAN I BE SHIPWRECKED

PRUDENTIUS:

Thus I by my loquacious tongue

From the heaven of silence am led

Into perils unknown and dark.

Not as Peter, disciple true,

Confident in his virtue and faith,

I am as one whose unnumbered sins

Have shipwrecked on the rolling seas… .

How easily can I be shipwrecked,

One untaught in seafaring arts,

Unless you, almighty Christ,

Stretch forth your hand with help divine.

AGAINST SYMMACHUS 2.

6:51a | Then He Got into the Boat with Them

THE WAY BEHELD UPON THE SEA

AUGUSTINE: But why was he crucified? Because the wood of his lowliness was necessary for you. For you had swollen with pride and had been cast forth far from your homeland. The way has been washed out by the waves of this world, and there is no way to cross over to the homeland unless you are carried by the wood. Ungrateful man, do you ridicule him who has come to you that you may return? He himself became the way, and this through the sea. For this reason he walked on the sea: [1] that he might show you that there is a way upon the sea. But you, who cannot in any way yourself walk on the sea, let yourselves be carried by the ship, be carried by the wood! TRACTATE ON JOHN 2.4.3. [2]

[1] Cf. Mt 14:22-33; Mk 6:45-51; Jn 6:16-21.

[2] Cetedoc 0278, 2.4.29; FC 78:64*.

6:51b | The Wind Ceased, and They Were Utterly Astounded

THE ONE WHO COMMANDS WIND AND SEA

PRUDENTIUS:

O mighty is the power of God,

The power that all things did create,

That calmed the waters of the sea

When Christ upon its surface walked,

So that in treading on the waves,

He moved dry-shod across the deep,

Nor ever did he wet his soles

As light he skimmed the surging flood.

HYMN 5.

6:56 | That They Might Touch Even the Fringe of His Garment

HIS VULNERABILITY TO SUFFERING NOT THROUGH WEAKNESS BUT STRENGTH

AMBROSE: The Lord of hosts was not signaling weakness as he gave sight to the blind, made the crooked to stand upright, raised the dead to life, [1] anticipated the effects of medicine at our prayers, and cured those who sought after him. Those who merely touched the fringe of his robe were healed. [2] Surely you did not think it was some divine weakness, you speculators, when you saw him wounded. Indeed there were wounds that pierced his body, [3] but they did not demonstrate weakness but strength. For from these wounds flowed life to all, from the One who was the life of all. ON THE CHRISTIAN FAITH 4.5.54-55. [4]

[1] Mt 11:5.

[2] Mk 6:56.

[3] Cf. Mt 27:35; Mk 15:24; Lk 23:33; Jn 19:18, 31-37.

[4] Cetedoc 0150, 4.5.40; NPNF 2 10:269. He made himself vulnerable to suffering as Lord, not through weakness.