15 “Jesus therefore perceiving that they were about to come and take him by force, to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain himself alone. 16 “And when evening came, his disciples went down unto the sea; and they entered into a boat, and were going over the sea unto Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. And the sea was rising by reason of a great wind that blew. When therefore they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they beheld Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the boat; and they were afraid. But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat; and straightway the boat was at the land whither they were going. 22 “On the morrow the multitude which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there was none other boat there, save one, and that Jesus entered not with his disciples into the boat, but that his disciples went away alone. (Howbeit there came boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks); when the multitude therefore saw that Jesus was not there, neither his disciples, they themselves got into the boats, and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. And when they found him on the other side of the sea, they said unto him, Rabbi, when camest thou hither? Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, 27 Ye seek me, not because ye saw signs, but because ye ate of the loaves, and were filled. Work not for the meat which perisheth, but for the meat which abideth unto eternal life, which the Son of man shall give unto you; for him the Father, even God, hath sealed.”
QUESTIONS.
1. After seeing such a display of Christ’s power, what did the people purpose to do?
2. How did Christ prevent this?
3. Where did the disciples go at even?
4. For what port did they start?
5. Had Jesus joined them?
6. What sort of weather did they experience?
7. Toward morning what unusual sight met their eyes? What effect did it have upon them?
8. What did Jesus say to them?
9. How did they respond to his words?
10. What effect did his presence have in completing the voyage?
11. What facts did the people observe the next day?
12. From what other place had boats come?
13. For what place did the people then set sail? For what purpose?
14. After finding Jesus, what did they say to him?
15. What did he declare to be their reason for seeking him?13
16. What food did he urge them to labor for? Who could supply it? Why?
NOTES.
1. By usurpation and fraud Satan had established his kingdom in the earth. Christ came to win back the dominion which had been betrayed by man into the hands of Satan, and to reëstablish his own authority over those who would willingly yield allegiance to him. So he preached concerning his kingdom from the first (Mark 1:14, 15) of his ministry until his ascension (Acts 1:3); but he found great difficulty in freeing his disciples’ minds from the idea that his kingdom was a temporal one, and in impressing them with the belief that the kingdom which he came to establish would be a greater boon to them than to be delivered from the rule of the Roman power. The miracle of the loaves had made a deep impression upon the minds of the people. “His teachings and work of healing had already nearly convinced them of his divinity, and this miracle crowned their growing conviction with entire belief. . . . They quietly consult among themselves, and arrange to take him by force, and bear him upon their shoulders, proclaiming him the king of Israel. . . . This, to the faithful followers of Jesus, seemed the golden opportunity to establish their beloved Master as Israel’s king.” But this is entirely out of harmony with the work which Jesus came to accomplish, and so he sent away his disciples, and then dismissed the multitude. “There were men of strong minds and firm determination in that throng, but the kingly bearing of Jesus, and his few quiet words of authority, quelled the tumult in a moment and frustrated all their designs.”
2. From another record (Mark 6:46) we learn that Jesus went into the mountain to pray. “He needs that communion with the Father which is his very soul’s life, and the more so that the hatred of the priestly party and the enthusiastic but unspiritual admiration of the Galileans are more and more complicating his position and embarrassing his work.” “Our Saviour identified himself with our needs and weaknesses, in that he became a suppliant, a petitioner, seeking from his Father fresh supplies of strength, that he might come forth braced for duty and trial. . . . His humanity made prayer a necessity and a privilege. He found comfort and joy in communion with his Father. And if the Saviour of men, the Son of God, felt the need of prayer, how much more should feeble, sinful mortals feel the necessity of fervent, constant prayer. . . . The life must be like Christ’s life,—between the mountain and the multitude.”
3. “He could not maintain the heavenly life in his soul without continually separating himself from man, and communing with his Father. . . . What a lesson for every Christian! . . . Nothing can atone for the loss of secret and direct intercourse with God. . . . The law of the heavenly manna, that what is heavenly can not remain good long upon earth, but must day by day be renewed afresh from heaven, still holds good. . . . It is from heaven alone that the power to lead a heavenly life on earth can come. . . . Christ-like praying in secret will be the secret of Christ-like living in public.”
4. The narrative in verses 16–21 is a perfect picture of the experience of those who are trying to get along without Jesus. There was no lack of effort. They were “toiling in rowing,” but the fourth watch found them only “five and twenty or thirty furlongs” from their starting-place. But when they had received Jesus, they “immediately” reached their destination.
5. When the people had come across the sea and found Jesus, “they began to inquire how and when he had crossed the sea. They were astonished when the disciples related to them the events of the preceding night. The fury of the storm, and the many hours of fruitless rowing against the fury of adverse winds, the appearance of Christ walking upon the water, the fears thus aroused, his reassuring words, the adventure of Peter and its result, with the sudden stilling of the tempest and landing of the boat, were all faithfully recounted to the wondering crowd, amid frequent interruptions and exclamations of amazement. . . . As soon as the discourse was ended, they gathered around the Saviour, questioning him, hoping to receive from his own lips a fuller account of his mighty work of the previous night. . . . Jesus declared to them that they did not seek him from any worthy motive. He bade them not to labor for the meat which perisheth, but to seek for spiritual food, that wisdom which endures unto everlasting life.”
Suggestions for Further Study.
1. It was on a mountain that Christ gave the law, delivered his longest sermon, was transfigured, ascended to heaven. Note other important events which have occurred upon mountains. What lessons have been connected with mountains as used in comparisons?
2. It is no new thing for Christ to control the winds. As God’s agent he had done it at the Red Sea (Ex. 14:21; 15:10), and the stormy wind fulfils his word (Ps. 148:8).
3. In connection with the sealing of Christ by the Father, study Lev. 2:4 (the meat-offering anointed) and Heb. 1:9.
4. Observe the displays of royal power and authority by One who would not allow himself to be made king.
5. In what way is life through Christ again taught in this lesson?
