By James R. Strange, Ph.D.
Professor of Biblical and Religious studies, Samford University
THE SIGN OF HIS PRESENCE
John 6:16–21
In our fifth session on signs (miracles) in the Gospel of John, we read John’s account of Jesus walking on water, a story that also appears in Matthew 14:22–33 and Mark 6:45–56. As with the other signs, it ends with Jesus’ statement about who He is.
Jesus has just fed 5,000 men and an unknown number of women and children with a boy’s meager lunch, and the disciples collect 12 baskets of leftover fragments. Like the manna in the wilderness, Jesus demonstrates God’s abundant provision.
Thus, the fourth sign echoes the astonishing amount of wine in the first — the wedding in Cana — and in turn anticipates the miraculous catch of fish in chapter 21. These signs also set up two of Jesus’ famous “I am” statements in John: Jesus is the Bread of Life (v. 35) and the true Vine (15:1, 5).
Life without Jesus is dangerous. (16–18)
Near the place where He fed the crowd on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Jesus has withdrawn to a mountain to avoid being declared king by the people (v. 15). If they had done so, Antipas would have responded ruthlessly and violently as an agent of the Roman government.
This mountain of Jesus’ isolation is probably the plateau of the Golan Heights, and it would have taken much time and effort to climb the steep slope and descend it again to the lake’s shore.
As a result, Jesus’ disciples get into a boat that evening without Him to begin their return journey to Capernaum. They are hindered, however, by a strong wind and rough water, and they proceed only three to four miles. This puts them close to their destination but still not on firm, dry land.
Jesus’ presence brings peace. (19–20)
That must explain their terror at seeing Jesus walking near their boat. There is no shallow water here to provide an optical illusion of a miracle. Untroubled by wind or sea, Jesus treads the surface of the lake, suspended 65 to 80 feet above its floor. The disciples who were fishermen must have known of people who drowned much closer to land.
Jesus knows they are afraid and soothes them. He says to them, “I AM. Fear not.”
Many translations render Jesus’ statement, “It is I,” but in John’s telling, Jesus speaks the words that God said to Moses in the Greek translation of Exodus 3:14. When Moses asks the Voice from the burning bush the name of the One who is sending him, the reply is, “I AM the One Who Is.” There is a simpler way in Greek to say “I am,” but to identify Himself, Jesus has chosen the familiar, biblical words of divine revelation, and they must have rung in the disciples’ ears. Once again, He has made Himself equal to God (5:18).
Jesus’ presence will see us through. (21)
Surely the disciples understood the miraculous arrival at their destination as proof of Jesus’ claim.
Although John doesn’t say so, the wind and waves must have calmed, which is another thing that only God accomplishes (Ps. 65:7, 89:9, 107:29; Jon. 1:15; Is. 51:10; compare Matt. 8:26; Mark 4:39; Luke 8:24).
Jesus speaks as the “I AM” who redeemed Israel from bondage, and it is He who speaks assurance to their fear and calm to the winds that buffet them.
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