Jesus Walks on the Water
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[16] When evening came, His (Jesus') disciples went down to the sea, [17] got into the boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. [18] The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing. [19] When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, [20] but He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." [21] Then they were glad to take Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
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Commentary:
16-21. It seems the disciples were disconcerted because darkness had fallen, the sea was getting rough and Jesus had still not appeared. But our Lord does not abandon them; when they had been rowing for some five kilometers (three miles), He arrives unexpectedly, walking on the water--to strengthen their faith, which was still weak.
In meditating on this episode Christian tradition has seen the boat as symbolizing the Church, which will have to cope with many difficulties and which our Lord has promised to help all through the centuries (cf. Matthew 28:20); the Church, therefore, will always remain firm. St. Thomas Aquinas comments: "The wind symbolizes the temptations and persecution the Church will suffer due to lack of love. For, as St. Augustine says, when love grows cold, the sea become rougher and the boat begins to founder. Yet the wind, the storm, the waves and the darkness will fail to put it off course and wreck it" ("Commentary on St. John, in loc.").
| John | |||
| English: Douay-Rheims | Latin: Vulgata Clementina | Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000) | |
| John 6 | |||
| 16. | And when evening was come, his disciples went down to the sea. | Ut autem sero factum est, descenderunt discipuli ejus ad mare. | ως δε οψια εγενετο κατεβησαν οι μαθηται αυτου επι την θαλασσαν |
| 17. | And when they had gone up into a ship, they went over the sea to Capharnaum; and it was now dark, and Jesus was not come unto them. | Et cum ascendissent navim, venerunt trans mare in Capharnaum : et tenebræ jam factæ erant et non venerat ad eos Jesus. | και εμβαντες εις το πλοιον ηρχοντο περαν της θαλασσης εις καπερναουμ και σκοτια ηδη εγεγονει και ουκ εληλυθει προς αυτους ο ιησους |
| 18. | And the sea arose, by reason of a great wind that blew. | Mare autem, vento magno flante, exsurgebat. | η τε θαλασσα ανεμου μεγαλου πνεοντος διηγειρετο |
| 19. | When they had rowed therefore about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking upon the sea, and drawing nigh to the ship, and they were afraid. | Cum remigassent ergo quasi stadia viginti quinque aut triginta, vident Jesum ambulantem supra mare, et proximum navi fieri, et timuerunt. | εληλακοτες ουν ως σταδιους εικοσι πεντε η τριακοντα θεωρουσιν τον ιησουν περιπατουντα επι της θαλασσης και εγγυς του πλοιου γινομενον και εφοβηθησαν |
| 20. | But he saith to them: It is I; be not afraid. | Ille autem dicit eis : Ego sum, nolite timere. | ο δε λεγει αυτοις εγω ειμι μη φοβεισθε |
| 21. | They were willing therefore to take him into the ship; and presently the ship was at the land to which they were going. | Voluerunt ergo accipere eum in navim et statim navis fuit ad terram, in quam ibant. | ηθελον ουν λαβειν αυτον εις το πλοιον και ευθεως το πλοιον εγενετο επι της γης εις ην υπηγον |