5. JESUS WALKING UPON THE SEA Mark 6:45-52 (Matthew 14:22-33; John 6:15-21) 45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him unto the other side to Bethsaida, while he himself sendeth the multitude away.--The disciples could row some distance away before the great multitude could be dispersed, as the women and children must needs be cared for; and the selection of places at which to lodge that night would require more or less time; so Jesus sent the disciples first on their way. The day was about gone when all had left the grounds. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he departed into the mountain to pray.--Matthew (Matthew 14:23) says: "He went up into the mountain apart"--that is alone--where he spent most of the night in prayer. 47 And when even was come, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.--He is now separated from both the disciples and the multitudes. This season of prayer alone with God lasted several hours, for it began in the evening after sunset, and he does not come to his disciples till the fourth watch, or between 3 and 6 o'clock the next morning. 48 And seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them,--They, while trying to go in one direction, were hindered by the wind going the opposite direction. about the fourth watch of the night--The ancient Hebrews divided the night, probably the period from sunset to sunrise, into three watches. (Judges 7:19; Lamentations 2:19; Exodus 14:24 1 Samuel 11:11.) The Greeks appear to have had the same division. But after Pompey's conquest (B.C. 63) the Jews gradually adapted the Roman fashion of four watches. At this season of the year, soon after the vernal equinox (John 6:4), Note: the "fourth watch" would be from 3 to 6 o'clock. he cometh unto them, walking on the sea;--Jesus knew his disciples were in distress in the sea. From the mountainside and through the darkness of the night he looked down upon them in their toil and trouble. No doubt his prayer embraced them. When, exhausted and helpless, they needed him, he appeared, "walking on the sea." When they have done all they could, he does the rest. and he would have passed by them:--He did this to detract their attention and to reveal themselves to themselves. The disciples were not expecting Jesus to come in that way. This was a new miracle to them. 49 but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;--They did not recognize it was Jesus but thought it was rather an apparition, and hence to them a sign of disaster or death. 50 for they all saw him, and were troubled.--Disturbed at the scene. This was natural. They had no knowledge of what the object seen was. Matthew (Matthew 14:26) says, "They cried out for fear." They were frightened. But he straightway spake with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.--You are in no danger, I am on the scene and will protect you from all harm. It is not uncommon for Jesus to come to our help in unexpected ways, and we are afraid of his coming though he is bringing blessings in disguise. 51 And he went up unto them into the boat; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves;--Jesus helped Peter back into the ship; and when they entered it, the wind ceased. 52 for they understood not concerning the loaves,--They comprehended not, so as to understand that he who had exercised such power over the loaves and fishes could exercise a similar power over the wind and sea. They did not perceive that all the elements of nature were under his control, those of wind and sea as well as those of loaves and fishes. but their heart was hardened.--Dull, sluggish, insensible, so as not to recognize sufficiently his divine power and nature, and draw just conclusion from what they had previously seen. Jesus had bidden them cross the sea; and although it was rough and the winds were contrary, they should have considered that they were in the path of duty, and that Jesus never forsakes one so long as he does as Jesus bids him, and that he who could magnify the loaves and increase the fishes until they would feed thousands could walk upon the water and still the tempest, but they did not consider this.