'And straightway Jesus constrained His disciples to get
into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side,
while He sent the multitudes away. 23. And when He had
sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain
apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was
there alone. 24. But the ship was now in the midst of
the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went
unto them, walking on the sea. 26. And when the
disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were
troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out
for fear. 27. But straightway Jesus spake unto them,
saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28. And Peter answered Him and said, Lord, if it be
Thou, bid me come unto Thee on the water. 29. And He
said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the
ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30. But
when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and
beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31. And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and
caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith,
wherefore didst thou doubt. 32. And when they were come
into the ship, the wind ceased. 33. Then they that were
in the ship came and worshipped Him, saying, Of a truth
Thou art the Son of God. 34. And when they were gone
over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. 35. And
when the men of that place had knowledge of Him, they
sent out into all that country round about, and brought
unto Him all that were diseased; 36. And besought Him
that they might only touch the hem of His garment: and
as many as touched were made perfectly whole.'
--MATT. xiv. 22-36.
The haste and urgency with which the disciples were sent away,
against their will, after the miracle of feeding the five thousand,
is explained in John's account. The crowd had been excited to a
dangerous enthusiasm by a miracle so level to their tastes. A
prophet who could feed them was something like a prophet. So they
determine to make him a king. Our Lord, fearing the outburst,
resolves to withdraw into the lonely hills, that the fickle blaze
may die down. If the disciples had remained with Him, He could not
have so easily stolen away, and they might have caught the popular
fervour. To divide would distract the crowd, and make it easier for
Him to disperse them, while many of them, as really happened, would
be likely to set off by land for Capernaum, when they saw the boat
had gone. The main teaching of this miracle, over and above its
demonstration of the Messianic power of our Lord, is symbolical. All
the miracles are parables, and this eminently so. Thus regarding it,
we have--