John 6:19-20
When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The disciples had rowed for hours in a storm, and just as they thought they were nearing their destination, they saw Jesus. Their fear wasn't just because it was dark and stormy, but because seeing Jesus in such an impossible way, walking on water, made Him seem utterly alien and terrifying before He revealed Himself.
After a miraculous feeding, the crowd wanted to force Jesus to be king, but he withdrew. His disciples set out across the sea in a boat that evening, but a storm arose, and darkness fell, leaving them struggling with the waves. It was in this desperate situation, miles from shore and in the middle of the night, that they saw Jesus walking on the water towards them, which naturally terrified them.
Imagine being tossed about on a stormy sea, miles from shore, and then seeing something impossible appear on the water. It's natural to be scared, right?
In John 6, the disciples are in a desperate situation. They've just witnessed Jesus miraculously feed thousands, and the crowd wanted to make Him king. But Jesus knew their understanding of His kingdom was flawed – an earthly one, not the spiritual reality He came to establish. He withdraws, and the disciples set out across the Sea of Galilee. A fierce storm hits, tossing their boat. They're battling the elements, likely exhausted and terrified. This isn't just a physical storm; it mirrors the inner turmoil of trying to grasp who Jesus truly is and the kingdom He represents, especially when it doesn't match expectations. Their fear when they see Jesus walking on the water stems partly from their misunderstanding of His divine power and authority, seeing it as something supernatural and frightening rather than a sign of His sovereign Lordship.
Seeing Jesus walking on water wasn't just unusual; it was deeply unsettling. What does this encounter reveal about the awe-inspiring nature of God?
The disciples’ fear isn't just about seeing something strange; it's a primal reaction to encountering the divine in a way that shakes their understanding of reality. The commentaries note that seeing an 'apparition' or 'phantom' would naturally cause terror. But here, it's Jesus Himself, and His very presence walking on the unstable surface of the sea is a profound display of His sovereign power over creation. This is not magic; it is the Creator demonstrating His authority. As the Psalms say, God treads on the heights of the sea. This moment forces the disciples to confront Jesus not just as a Prophet or a King, but as someone with absolute dominion. Their fear is a sign that they are grasping for the first time the sheer, uncontainable majesty of who Jesus is – a majesty that can be frightening when we’re not yet secure in His love.
Fear can freeze us, but Jesus’ words have the power to transform terror into solid peace. How does His voice bring clarity in the chaos?
Understand the original words
peripatounta · Greek Verb
To walk; the action of moving on foot. In this context, it signifies the supernatural demonstration of Jesus' authority over the physical laws of nature.
ephobēthēsan · Greek Verb
The state of being struck with sudden fear or alarm; in the presence of the divine or supernatural, it often reflects human awareness of their own inadequacy before the power of God.
Egō eimi · Greek Pronoun/Verb phrase
The literal translation of the Greek 'Ego Eimi,' which is the covenant name of God (Yahweh) revealed to Moses; Jesus uses this expression to assert His own divinity and eternal existence.
phobeisthe · Greek Verb
This event occurs in the immediate aftermath of a massive crowd attempting to force Jesus to be an earthly king. His refusal and subsequent miraculous walk on water highlight that his kingdom and power are not of this world, pushing back against the disciples' likely earthly expectations.
c. AD 30
Feeding of the Five Thousand
Jesus miraculously feeds over five thousand men, plus women and children, with only five loaves and two fish. This event garners massive popular attention and leads many to believe Jesus is the promised prophet.
Shortly after feeding miracle
Crowd attempts to make Jesus king
Seeing Jesus' power, a large crowd tries to force him to become their king, likely envisioning a political or military leader to overthrow Roman rule. Jesus withdraws to a mountain, refusing this earthly kingship.
Evening of feeding miracle
Disciples set sail for Capernaum
Jesus sends his disciples across the Sea of Galilee in their boat towards Capernaum while he stays behind to pray. As night falls, a strong wind begins to blow.
Late night, early morning— this verse
Jesus walks on water
Jesus walks on the surface of the stormy sea towards the disciples' boat, which is about halfway across the lake. The disciples, terrified by this sight, initially mistake him for a ghost.
This passage describes the same event, specifically mentioning the disciples' fear and their thought that Jesus was a ghost, adding detail to the emotional reaction in John's account.
Mark 6:48Mark's Gospel highlights that Jesus saw the disciples struggling against the wind, showing His awareness and compassion even before He appeared to them, enriching the understanding of His timing.
Job 9:8This Old Testament verse speaks of God alone spreading out the heavens and treading on the waves of the sea, providing a theological backdrop that emphasizes the divine power Jesus displayed.
Psalm 107:29This Psalm describes God calming the storm and stilling the waves, paralleling Jesus' ultimate authority over the natural elements and offering a prophetic glimpse of His power.
calvinJohn 6:14-21: "Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world."
- Those men, therefore, when they saw the miracle which Jesus had performed, said, This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world. 15. And when Jesus knew that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he again withdrew alone into a mountain. 16. And when it was evening, his disciples went down to the sea. 17. And havin…
cambridgeJohn 6:19: "So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid."
19 . five and twenty or thirty furlongs ] This pretty closely corresponds with ‘in the midst of the sea’ ( Matthew 14:24 ). The lake is nearly seven miles across in the widest part. walking on the sea ] There is no doubt that this means on the surface of the water, although an attempt has been made to shew that the Greek may mean…
The disciples had rowed for hours in a storm, and just as they thought they were nearing their destination, they saw Jesus. Their fear wasn't just because it was dark and stormy, but because seeing Jesus in such an impossible way, walking on water, made Him seem utterly alien and terrifying before He revealed Himself.
After a miraculous feeding, the crowd wanted to force Jesus to be king, but he withdrew. His disciples set out across the sea in a boat that evening, but a storm arose, and darkness fell, leaving them struggling with the waves. It was in this desperate situation, miles from shore and in the middle of the night, that they saw Jesus walking on the water towards them, which naturally terrified them.
After a miraculous feeding, the crowd wanted to force Jesus to be king, but he withdrew. His disciples set out across the sea in a boat that evening, but a storm arose, and darkness fell, leaving them struggling with the waves. It was in this desperate situation, miles from shore and in the middle of the night, that they saw Jesus walking on the water towards them, which naturally terrified them.
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The disciples’ terror is understandable, but it’s temporary. The turning point comes not just from seeing Jesus, but from hearing Him speak. The crucial phrase is His gentle command: 'It is I; do not be afraid.' This is where the deep comfort lies. While the crowd initially rejected Jesus or tried to force Him into their own plans, the disciples, despite their fear, are willing to receive Him. His voice cuts through the confusion and the supernatural spectacle, grounding them in His identity and His purpose. The commentaries suggest that while reprobate men might be struck down by His presence, believers find confidence in His words because they know He is their Savior. His voice reassures them that His presence, even in its most awe-inspiring form, is for their deliverance and peace, not their destruction.
A state of alarm or anxiety; in the presence of God or His manifestations, believers are frequently exhorted not to be afraid because of His presence, power, and promise of care.
Immediately after encounter
Jesus enters the boat
Jesus calms the disciples' fears and enters their boat. The boat immediately reaches its destination on the other side of the lake.
"When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”" — The disciples had rowed for hours in a storm, and just as they thought they were nearing their destination, they saw Jesus. Their fear wasn't just because it was dark and stormy, but because seeing J…
