The Events Of John 6 occurred over a two-day period. During that short time, Jesus healed many sick people and performed two of his most notable miracles, the feeding of the 5,000 and walking on water. Like the other miracles, or signs, of John’s gospel, the miracles recorded in this chapter contain lessons in symbol. The feeding of the 5,000, which is the fourth sign, is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels. As such, it is a fitting symbol for Christ’s earthly ministry. Christ’s calming of the sea, which is the fifth sign, is symbolic of the time after Christ’s ascension, the time when he is no longer with his disciples, and they struggle in his absence. Its lessons, therefore, are of particular interest to us as we weather life’s storms and await our Master’s coming.
The background
The events of this chapter really begin with the execution of John the Baptist, which precipitated Jesus’ departure into the mountain with his disciples. The multitude followed him there. They brought sick people, who desired to be healed, and Jesus showed compassion on them.
The love and care that Jesus showed to the multitude is remarkable given his insight into their attitude. He knew that many of the people pressing themselves upon him would uncharitably turn their backs on him the next day when he tried to expound the holy things of God to them. Yet, he was nevertheless willing to stay with them awhile and comfort them. And, in so doing, he provided a powerful example to us.
Christ continued to show love through the miraculous provision of food to the people. The miracle of feeding the 5,000 gave the people a reason to believe in him, and the people responded to it enthusiastically. Indeed, they wanted to make him king. But their desire was motivated entirely by human emotion and was not guided by divine principles. They wanted to make Christ king by acclamation after the Roman fashion, thereby following the example of the nation for which they expressed so much hatred.
It appears even the disciples lost their spiritual bearings at this point and were caught up in the wave of human emotion. The Bible does not record them doing anything to calm the people. Mark’s record of the account implies that they might have been supportive of the people’s wish to make Christ king. And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people (Mark 6). The fact the disciples had to be constrained (anagkazo “to compel”) to get into the ship and depart suggests that they sympathized with the people’s desire to make Christ king, as does Christ’s decision to separate them from himself.
And it was dark
John 6: 16 states that Jesus withdrew from his disciples when “even was now come.” The next verse stresses the point with the statement, “and it was now dark,” and then provides a clue to the meaning of the symbol with the words “and Jesus was not come to them.”
“Light” and “darkness” are themes of John’s gospel. John 1 introduces Christ as the Word made flesh and “the true Light.” Jesus’ discourse with the Pharisees in John 8 began with his assertion, “I am the light of the world,” a subject which continues into John 9 with Jesus’ granting sight to the blind man before which he again refers to himself as the light of the world.
The time of darkness in the fifth sign must, therefore, represent the time when Jesus is away from his followers. This is the time in which we are now living, and we, like Jesus’ disciples in this account, are striving for a destination. They labored to get to Capernaum, a city that was across the Sea of Galilee. Capernaum means “city of consolation,” which is a fitting description for the kingdom of God.
Various meanings of “the sea”
Throughout scripture, the sea, waves and storms are used to represent a number of things. For example, the sea is used to represent the nations who are all around us (Isaiah 17: 12).
On their journey to Capernaum, the disciples were beset with howling winds, which represent things that trouble us on our journey to the Kingdom.
Waves can represent faithlessness: If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed (James 1:5-6). The troubling winds can also represent false teaching: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive (Ephesians 4:14).
And the sea troubled the disciples as well. It tossed them about and threatened to overwhelm them. Even though they managed to cling to the boat, the sea still sent waves crashing into them, which drenched and terrified them. The raging sea that threatened the disciples represents the wickedness of the world. When it spills into the ecclesia, it causes a great trouble, and makes everyone’s journey precipitous.
The attitude of the disciples
The spirit of the disciples in this portion of the account is fairly amazing: they continued to labor despite all the obstacles that faced them. They had a destination in mind and a determination to reach it. So, when they were no longer able to use their sails, they started to row. When the storm grew worse, they rowed harder. Mark 6: 48 records that they toiled in rowing.
There is a lesson here for us. We sometimes wish that our circumstances were different, and these desires can be well motivated. We may want a change because we think it will help us to make more progress on our journey to the Kingdom. But we have to be prepared to continue laboring, even if our situation does not change. If we cannot use our sails, we need to pick up our oars.
John 6 states that the disciples rowed 25 or 30 furlongs, which was about four miles. This put them in the midst of the sea, several miles away from their destination of Capernaum. Their situation was dire and they must have wondered if they would ever reach safety.
The action of Jesus
But unbeknownst to the disciples, Jesus was watching them. The first sentence of Mark 6: 48 reads, “And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them.” Jesus could have intervened at any time, but he chose to let his disciples labor through the night that their characters might be refined through trial. However, we can feel certain that he made mention of them in his prayers to his Father, foreshadowing his role as our helper in trial.
Christ’s appearance to the disciples during the fourth watch of the night was marvelous, a foreshadowing of the glorious appearance he will make at his Second Coming. He came to the disciples walking on the water.
Peter’s reaction
Although Peter’s knowledge was not complete and his faith sometimes flagged, he had tremendous love for Jesus, and he delighted in being near him. Therefore, when he knew that Jesus was walking on the water, he asked to come out to him. He is sometimes accused here of being presumptuous and cocky, but if that were the case, it seems unlikely that Jesus would have responded with the encouraging word: “Come.” It seems instead that Peter’s love and enthusiasm is shown as a contrast to the coolness of the other disciples.
Peter was no doubt a competent swimmer, but no amount of natural ability could enable someone to walk on water. That required faith, and when Peter saw the wind and the waves, his faith began to wane, and he started to sink. In an instant, he learned that he was not going to be able to meet his Master on the sea as an equal. He discovered in a most tangible way his dependence on Christ for salvation. “Lord, save me,” he cried. And Christ reached forth his hand and rescued him. Matthew records that Christ did so “immediately.”
Christ loved his disciples, and he applied his wisdom and his power to refine them and make them fit for the Kingdom. Earlier in the account, he permitted them to struggle because it was good for them. But when he saw Peter about to sink, he knew he had to rescue him immediately. Christ applies similar wisdom and power in overseeing our trials today, and he will not let us suffer more than we can bear.
The end of the account points forward to the time of Christ’s return. The joyful attitude of the disciples as they willingly received him into their ship points forward to those who will be faithfully awaiting Christ’s coming and “who love his appearing.” His subsequent calming of the sea is a symbol that is picked up in the Revelation for the peace that Christ will bring to the nations at his return (Revelation 15:2).
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