who were in want; in this, he acted as the Lord of nature, correcting and controlling its powers for the succour of those who were in danger and distress. Observe,
I. Christ's dismissing of his disciples and the multitude, after he had fed them miraculously. He constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, v. 22. St. John gives a particular reason for the hasty breaking up of this assembly, because the people were so affected with the miracle of the loaves, that they were about to take him by force, and make him a King; (John 6. 15.) to avoid which, he immediately scattered the people, sent away the disciples, lest they should join with them, and he himself withdrew, John 6. 15.
When they had sat down to eat and drink, they did not rise up to play, but each went to his business.
1. Christ sent the people away. It intimates somewhat of solemnity in the dismissing of them; he sent them away with a blessing, with some parting words of caution, counsel, and comfort, which might abide with them.
2. He constrained the disciples to go into a ship first, for till they were gone the people would not stir. The disciples were loath to go, and would not have gone, if he had not constrained them. They were loath to go to sea without him. If thy presence go not with us, carry us not up hence, Exod. 33. 15. They were loath to leave him alone, without any attendance, or any ship to wait for him; but they did it in pure obedience.
II. Christ's retirement hereupon; (v. 23.) He went up into a mountain apart to pray. Observe here,
1. That he was alone; he went apart into a solitary place, and was there all alone. Though he had so much work to do with others, yet he chose sometimes to be alone, to set us an example. Those are not Christ's followers that do not care for being alone; that cannot enjoy themselves in solitude, when they have none else to converse with, none else to enjoy, but God and their own hearts.
2. That he was alone at prayer; that was his business in this solitude, to pray. Though Christ, as God, was Lord of all, and was prayed to, yet Christ, as Man, had the form of a servant, of a beggar, and prayed. Christ has herein set before us an example of secret prayer, and the performance of it secretly, according to the rule he gave, ch. 6. 6. Perhaps in this mountain there was some private oratory or convenience, provided for such an occasion; it was usual among the Jews to have such. Observe, When the disciples went to sea, their Master went to prayer; when Peter was to be sifted as wheat, Christ prayed for him.
3. That he was long alone; there he was when the evening was come, and, for aught that appears, there he was till towards morning, the fourth watch of the night. The night came on, and it was a stormy, tempestuous night, yet he continued instant in prayer. Note, It is good, at least sometimes, upon special occasions, and when we find our hearts enlarged, to continue long in secret prayer, and to take full scope in pouring out our hearts before the Lord. We must not restrain prayer, Job 15. 4.
III. The condition that the poor disciples were in at this time: Their ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves, v. 24. We may observe here,
1. That they were got into the midst of the sea when the storm rose. We may have fair weather at the beginning of our voyage, and yet meet with storms before we arrive at the port we are bound for. Therefore let not him that girdeth on the harness boast as he that puts it off, but after a long calm expect some storm or other.
2. The disciples were now where Christ sent them, and yet met with this storm. Had they been flying from their Master, and their work, as Jonah was, when he was arrested by the storm, it had been a dreadful one indeed; but they had a special command from their Master to go to sea at this time, and were going about their work. Note, It is no new thing for Christ's disciples to meet with storms in the way of their duty, and to be sent to sea then when their Master foresees a storm; but let them not take it unkindly; what he does they know not now, but they shall know hereafter, that Christ designs hereby to manifest himself with the more wonderful grace to them and for them.
3. It was a great discouragement to them now that they had not Christ with them, as they had formerly when they were in a storm; though he was then asleep indeed, yet he was soon awaked, (ch. 8. 24.) but now he was not with them at all. Thus Christ uses his disciples first to lesser difficulties, and then to greater, and so trains them up by degrees to live by faith, and not by sense.
4. Though the wind was contrary, and they were tossed with waves, yet being ordered by their Master to the other side, they did not tack about and come back again, but made the best of their way forward. Note, Though troubles and difficulties may disturb us in our duty, they must not drive us from it; but through the midst of them we must press forwards.
IV. Christ's approach to them in this condition; (v. 25.) and in this we have an instance,
1. Of his goodness, that he went unto them, as one that took cognizance of their case, and was under a concern about them, as a father about his children. Note, The extremity of the church and people of God is Christ's opportunity to visit them and appear for them: but he came not till the fourth watch, toward three o'clock in the morning, for then the fourth watch began. It was in the morning-watch that the Lord appeared for Israel in the Red sea, (Exod. 14. 24.) so was this. He that keepeth Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps, but, when there is occasion, walks in darkness for their succour; helps, and that right early.
2. Of his power, that he went unto them, walking on the sea. This is a great instance of Christ's sovereign dominion over all the creatures; they are all under his feet, and at his command; they forget their natures, and change the qualities that we called essential. We need not inquire how this was done, whether by condensing the surface of the water, (when God pleases, the depths are congealed in the heart of the sea, Exod. 15. 8.) or by suspending the gravitation of his body, which was transfigured as he pleased; it is sufficient that it proves his divine power, for it is God's prerogative to tread upon the waves of the sea, (Job 9. 8.) as it is to ride upon the wings of the wind. He that made the waters of the sea a wall for the redeemed of the Lord, (Isa. 51. 10.) here makes them a walk for the Redeemer himself, who, as Lord of all, appears with one foot on the sea and the other on dry land, Rev. 10. 2. The same power that made iron to swim, (2 Kings 6. 6.) did this. What ailed thee, O thou sea? Ps. 114. 5. It was at the presence of the Lord. Thy way, O God, is in the sea, Ps. 77. 19. Note, Christ can take what way he pleases to save his people.
V. Here is an account of what passed between Christ and his distressed friends upon his approach.
1. Between him and all the disciples. We are here told,
(1.) How their fears were raised; (v. 26.) When they saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; φάντασμά ἐστι—It is an apparition; so it might much better be rendered. It seems, the existence and appearance of spirits was generally believed by all except the Sadducees,
