When
evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, and they entered into the boat, and were going over the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them. The sea was tossed by a great wind blowing. When therefore they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat. Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
John 6:16-21
John 6 [10.] Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in that place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. Jesus took the loaves; and having given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to those who were sitting down; likewise also of the fish as much as they desired. When they were filled, he said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces which are left over, that nothing be lost.” So they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves, which were left over by those who had eaten. When therefore the people saw the sign which Jesus did, they said, “This is truly the prophet who comes into the world.” Jesus therefore, perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again to the mountain by himself.
John 6 [16.] When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, and they entered into the boat, and were going over the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them. The sea was tossed by a great wind blowing. When therefore they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat. Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
John 6 [22.] On the next day, the multitude that stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except the one in which his disciples had embarked, and that Jesus hadn’t entered with his disciples into the boat, but his disciples had gone away alone. However boats from Tiberias came near to the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. When the multitude therefore saw that Jesus wasn’t there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they asked him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”
Meaning:
After feeding the five thousand, Jesus withdrew alone to the mountain, because the crowd wanted to take him by force and make him king (John 6:14-15). That evening his disciples set out across the lake without him. John’s account of what followed is brief, but every detail matters. Mark and Matthew tell the same story, and Matthew adds Peter’s attempt to walk on the water (Mark 6:47-50; Matthew 14:22-26; Matthew 14:29-31).
- “It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them”
The disciples were heading back to Capernaum on the north-western shore. John notes not only the time of day but the darkness, and that Jesus had not come to them. In John’s Gospel darkness often stands for a world without Christ, while “The light shines in the darkness” (John 1:5). The disciples were alone, in the dark, on a stormy sea. Many believers know what it feels like when Jesus seems absent and the night is long.
- “The sea was tossed by a great wind blowing”
The Sea of Galilee lies about 210 metres below sea level, surrounded by hills. Cool air can rush down through the valleys and whip up sudden, violent storms. Several of the disciples were experienced fishermen, but they were struggling. Mark says they were “distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them” (Mark 6:48).
- “about twenty-five or thirty stadia”
A stadion was about 185 metres, so they had rowed some five or six kilometres, roughly three or four miles, and were in the middle of the lake. Mark says Jesus came to them “about the fourth watch of the night,” between three and six in the morning, so they had been rowing for hours.
- “they saw Jesus walking on the sea… and they were afraid”
The PIB footnote points to Job, where God “alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea” (Job 9:8). In the Old Testament the sea is a symbol of chaos that only God can master. Jesus walking on the waves does what Scripture says God alone does. The disciples’ fear was natural; Mark and Matthew say they thought he was a ghost.
- “It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Jesus’ words are, literally, “I am.” The PIB footnote notes this. Ordinary speech used it to mean “It’s me,” but in this setting it echoes God’s name revealed to Moses: “I AM WHO I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Through Isaiah God said, “that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he” (Isaiah 43:10). Later in John, Jesus will say, “before Abraham came into existence, I AM” (John 8:58). “Don’t be afraid” is the comfort God often gave his people when he appeared to them.
- “Immediately the boat was at the land”
Once they welcomed Jesus into the boat, they reached shore at once. John does not explain how. The psalm describes God calming the storm for sailors: “Then they are glad because it is calm, so he brings them to their desired haven” (Psalm 107:30). With Jesus on board the long struggle was over.
The Significance of John 6:16-21
- Jesus comes in the storm
Mark and Matthew say that Jesus himself sent the disciples ahead, and he knew the storm would come. He did not prevent it, but he came to them in it. Believers are not promised calm seas, but they are promised his presence: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you” (Isaiah 43:2).
- Faith welcomes him aboard
The disciples’ fear turned to welcome when they recognised his voice. The crowd had wanted to force Jesus to be their kind of king; the disciples simply received him as he is. Receiving Christ by faith, on his terms, brings us safely home.
Cross-References:
Job 9:8: "He alone stretches out the heavens, and treads on the waves of the sea." Only God walks on the sea.
Matthew 14:27: "Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid." Matthew’s parallel, followed by Peter walking on the water.
Exodus 3:14: "I AM WHO I AM" God’s name revealed to Moses.
Psalm 107:29: "He makes the storm a calm, so that its waves are still." The Lord who rules the sea.
Conclusion: At night, in a strong wind and without Jesus, the disciples struggled across the Sea of Galilee until they saw him walking on the water toward them and were afraid. He calmed them with the words “It is I. Don’t be afraid,” echoing God’s own name, and when they took him into the boat they reached land at once. The sign reveals Jesus as the Lord of creation who comes to his people in their storms.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible