When it was evening, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. 20 But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” 21 They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading.
John places this scene immediately after the feeding of the five thousand. As evening comes, the disciples leave by boat and head toward Capernaum, the town on the Sea of Galilee that became Jesus’ base during much of His public ministry (Matt. 4:13; Mark 2:1). Darkness falls, the wind grows strong, and the sea becomes rough (v. 18). Jesus is not with them in the boat. The passage lets the reader know that the disciples are separated from Jesus, out on deep water, and facing real danger.
After rowing “about three or four miles” (v. 19), the disciples see Jesus “walking on the sea and coming near the boat” (v. 19). John means that Jesus is truly out on the water. This is not simply that He was seen near the shore. The sign shows His authority over the forces that frighten man and lie beyond man’s control. In the Old Testament, such rule belongs to God. Job says that God “treads upon the crests of the sea” (Job 9:8). By presenting Jesus this way, John is not simply describing a miracle. He is showing who Jesus is: Jesus is the Son of God, sharing the authority and power that belong to God alone.
The disciples are afraid when they see Him (v. 19). Jesus says to them, ‘It is I. Do not be afraid’ (v. 20). His words identify Him and continue to show through His signs who He is. The words “It is I” can also be understood more literally as “I am.” In this passage, the words identify Jesus, but they also recall God’s self-revelation to Moses: ‘I am who I am’ (Ex. 3:14). John often records words and signs of Jesus that reveal His divine identity. Here, by His words and actions, He makes Himself known to them.
The words “Do not be afraid” are also important. In Scripture, these are often the words spoken when God draws near to His people or when His saving action is being revealed (Gen. 15:1; 26:24; Isa. 41:10, 13-14; 43:1-3; Luke 1:30). Here, Jesus tells them not to fear because He is present. The one who comes to them on the sea is Lord over the storm.
This passage also fits into the wider biblical pattern of God’s power over the waters. Israel passed through the sea by God’s mighty action in the Exodus (Ex. 14:15-31). In this sign, Jesus does not divide the waters as Moses did by God’s command. He walks upon them. This difference is important. The sign points to one greater than Moses standing before the disciples. Earlier in the chapter the crowd had misunderstood Jesus and wanted to make Him king on their own terms (v. 15). This sign helps correct that misunderstanding. Jesus is not a political deliverer shaped by human expectations. He is the Son who bears God’s own authority.
John’s account is very brief. Jesus comes to His disciples on the sea, identifies Himself, and tells them not to be afraid. Then John adds a final detail: “They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading” (v. 21). The arrival is presented as sudden and itself belongs to the sign. He approaches them in their distress, and His presence brings them immediately to their destination.
Lord Jesus Christ, when fear rises and the way ahead is uncertain and dark, help us to recognize Your presence and trust Your word. You are not far from Your people. Draw near to us, strengthen our faith, and bring us safely where You desire us to be. Amen.
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Sources and References
- The New American Bible, Revised Edition. Washington, DC: Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, 2011. John 6:16-21 and notes.
- Hahn, Scott, and Curtis Mitch. Ignatius Catholic Study Bible: New Testament. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 2010, 173.
- Casciaro, José María, gen. ed. The Navarre Bible: New Testament, Expanded Edition. Dublin: Four Courts Press; New York: Scepter Publishers, 2008, 386.
- Brown, Raymond E., Joseph A. Fitzmyer, and Roland E. Murphy, eds. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990, 961, para. 89.
- Aguilar Chiu, José Enrique, et al., eds. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. New York / Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2018, 1138.
- Collins, John J., Gina Hens-Piazza, Barbara Reid, O.P., and Donald Senior, C.P., eds. The Jerome Biblical Commentary for the Twenty-First Century. 3rd fully revised ed. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 2022, 1404.
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