And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.
When evening came after the feeding of the multitude, the disciples' boat was far out in the middle of the sea while Jesus remained alone on the land, setting the scene for their night crossing and for his coming to them on the water. It was the evening when the people took the miracle as proof that the long-awaited Deliverer had come to supply every need, defeat Rome and restore Israel, and when they and the disciples wanted to make Jesus king and claim David's throne as his rightful inheritance. The disciples had left Jesus with dissatisfied hearts, and through the night storm and contrary winds drove their boat from shore and course and forced them to row for hours in obedience to his command to go to the farther side. Though separated from them in darkness, Jesus saw their danger and distress from the distant shore and watched the storm-tossed boat with constant compassionate care that would not let them perish, even when their vessels would not obey them and they laid down their oars in despair and gave all up for lost. While the tempest threatened death they mistook Christ walking calmly on the rough waves for a sure sign of immediate death and cried out in fear, but he revealed himself as the messenger of life, told them not to be afraid, and when he joined them the storm was suddenly stilled and despair turned to joy, teaching that obedience must not be refused to the One whom even sea and waves obey and that there is no need to fear trusting his protection.
Setting After Feeding Multitude
When evening came the disciples' boat was far out in the middle of the sea while Jesus was alone on the land or shore, setting the scene for their crossing and for his coming to them walking on the water. This setting belongs to the account after the feeding of the multitude, which the people took as assurance that the long-awaited Deliverer was present and led them to expect him to supply every need, defeat Rome, and restore Israel's dominion. It was the evening after the people and the disciples wanted to make Jesus king and claim David's throne as his rightful inheritance.
The disciples had left Jesus with dissatisfied hearts, and through the night a storm and adverse winds drove their boat away from the shore and the course they were trying to reach. Separated from him out on the sea at night, they were forced to row for hours against the adverse winds before he came to them.
Christ's Watchful Deliverance
Though night and distance separated Him from the disciples, He saw their danger and understood their distress from the distant shore and watched the storm-tossed boat with constant, compassionate care, never losing sight of them and never letting them perish. They were on the sea in obedience to His command to cross to the farther side, yet that obedience did not spare them a terrible tempest in which their vessels would not obey their will. Driven back and forth until, bewildered by the uselessness of their efforts and the hopelessness of their case, they laid down their oars in despair, expected to perish, and gave all up for lost. While the tempest and billows threatened death, He appeared walking calmly upon the rough, boisterous, white-capped waves, and they at first took Him for a sure sign of immediate death and cried out in great fear. Instead He came as the messenger of life, making Himself known and telling them not to be afraid with a voice heard above the roar of the elements. When He joined them after they had rowed for hours against adverse winds, the storm was suddenly stilled, and horror and despair changed at once to the joy of faith and hope in the presence of the beloved Master. With Christ with them they felt no more anxiety nor dread of death. The verse therefore teaches that obedience must not be refused to the Source of all power whose law even sea and waves obey, and there is no need to fear to trust His protection, since not even a sparrow falls without the notice of the heavenly Father.
When evening came after the feeding of the multitude, the disciples' boat was far out in the middle of the sea while Jesus remained alone on the land, setting the scene for their night crossing and for his coming to them on the water.
It was the evening when the people took the miracle as proof that the long-awaited Deliverer had come to supply every need, defeat Rome and restore Israel, and when they and the disciples wanted to make Jesus king and claim David's throne as his rightful inheritance.
The disciples had left Jesus with dissatisfied hearts, and through the night storm and contrary winds drove their boat from shore and course and forced them to row for hours in obedience to his command to go to the farther side.
Though separated from them in darkness, Jesus saw their danger and distress from the distant shore and watched the storm-tossed boat with constant compassionate care that would not let them perish, even when their vessels would not obey them and they laid down their oars in despair and gave all up for lost.
While the tempest threatened death they mistook Christ walking calmly on the rough waves for a sure sign of immediate death and cried out in fear, but he revealed himself as the messenger of life, told them not to be afraid, and when he joined them the storm was suddenly stilled and despair turned to joy, teaching that obedience must not be refused to the One whom even sea and waves obey and that there is no need to fear trusting his protection.
Setting After Feeding Multitude
When evening came the disciples' boat was far out in the middle of the sea while Jesus was alone on the land or shore, setting the scene for their crossing and for his coming to them walking on the water. This setting belongs to the account after the feeding of the multitude, which the people took as assurance that the long-awaited Deliverer was present and led them to expect him to supply every need, defeat Rome, and restore Israel's dominion. It was the evening after the people and the disciples wanted to make Jesus king and claim David's throne as his rightful inheritance.
The disciples had left Jesus with dissatisfied hearts, and through the night a storm and adverse winds drove their boat away from the shore and the course they were trying to reach. Separated from him out on the sea at night, they were forced to row for hours against the adverse winds before he came to them.
Christ's Watchful Deliverance
Though night and distance separated Him from the disciples, He saw their danger and understood their distress from the distant shore and watched the storm-tossed boat with constant, compassionate care, never losing sight of them and never letting them perish. They were on the sea in obedience to His command to cross to the farther side, yet that obedience did not spare them a terrible tempest in which their vessels would not obey their will. Driven back and forth until, bewildered by the uselessness of their efforts and the hopelessness of their case, they laid down their oars in despair, expected to perish, and gave all up for lost. While the tempest and billows threatened death, He appeared walking calmly upon the rough, boisterous, white-capped waves, and they at first took Him for a sure sign of immediate death and cried out in great fear. Instead He came as the messenger of life, making Himself known and telling them not to be afraid with a voice heard above the roar of the elements. When He joined them after they had rowed for hours against adverse winds, the storm was suddenly stilled, and horror and despair changed at once to the joy of faith and hope in the presence of the beloved Master. With Christ with them they felt no more anxiety nor dread of death. The verse therefore teaches that obedience must not be refused to the Source of all power whose law even sea and waves obey, and there is no need to fear to trust His protection, since not even a sparrow falls without the notice of the heavenly Father.