Exposition of John, Chapter 6 · Verse 13 – Verse 14
Verſe 19. So when they had rowed about five and twenty, or thirty furlongs, they ſee Jeſus walking on the Sea, and drawing nigh unto the ſhip, and they were afraid.
20. But he ſaith unto them, it is I, be not afraid.
Followeth the miracle itſelfe, or Chriſts coming unto them in a miraculous way, for their comfort in this diſtreſſe; which they miſtaking, are more affrighted, ver. 19. till he by his ſpeaking unto them, do comfort and aſſure them, ver. 20. And theſe are ſome of the conſequents of his miraculous appearance. From ver. 19. learn. 1. As it is a mercy in a ſtrait, to have any known duty, wherein to employ our ſelves; ſo no difficulty ſhould deterre nor diſcourage us from dutie, but the faſter difficulties do grow, we ſhould be the more buſie, even albeit it ſhould be to ſmal purpoſe ſo to do; for, ſo is imported here that they rowed forward, and they were toiling with it, Mark. 6.48. Albeit they could promove little thereby, by reaſon of the ſtorme and contrary winde; yet, ſince Chriſt had commanded they ſhould make forward, they hold at the dutie. 2. What ever be the preſſing need of Chriſts followers in troubles, and their conſtant cleaving to dutie for all that; And whatever be Chriſts purpoſe of love toward them; Yet he ſeeth it fit oft-times, not to come to them at firſt, but will let the trial go on, till it come to an height, and be a trial indeed, and put them ſeriouſly to it; for, before he came, he lets them row about five and twenty, or thirty furlongs (the laſt of which make neare four miles, eight furlongs going to a mile) and Mark. 6.48. he came not till the fourth watch of the night, which is the morning watch. We are indeed very ſparing of our ſelves in trouble, and do ſoon begin to think that we are low and tried enough, and therefore would be delivered: But our wiſe Lord ſeeth that we need more. 3. What ever be Chriſts delaying to help his people in trouble, and whatever may be their fears and apprehenſions, upon the extremitie of their troubles; Yet deliverance, in his due time, will certainly come unto them, and when their difficulties are at the height, his help will be neareſt, for, here after all their toile, he cometh. 4. Chriſt needs not our diligence, to move him to help us in trouble, but his own knowledge and obſervation of our caſe will plead for pitie and help, when the trial is perfected; for, he cometh unto them, when there is no mention of their crying to him, becauſe (as it is, Mark. 6.48.) he ſaw them toiling in rowing. Albeit it be our duty to call on him in trouble, yet his affection and ſympathy will read ſupplications from our neceſſitie. 5. Chriſt is not only a careful obſerver, and tender ſympathizer in his peoples trouble; but he is ready to come over all impediments, and to make up the diſtance betwixt them and him, that he may help them; for, when it was impoſſible for them to come to him, he is at the pains, and walks on the Sea and draws nigh. 6. Chriſt is omnipotent to bring deliverance unto his people, and to remove impediments out of the way, of their help; And nothing will impede him to come to them in their need, but he who is Lord of all, will make a way through greateſt difficulties: for, he walks on the Sea, and draws nigh; whereby he proves himſelfe greater then Moſes, who went only through a divided Sea, whereas he walks on the Sea it ſelfe; and proveth that a deep Sea, and a great ſtorme lying betwixt him and his people, will not withhold his company. We are not here to conceive any change wrought in Chriſts body, as if it were denyed of its natural properties that ſo he might thus walk; for, we finde Peter walking alſo on the Sea, Matth. 14.29. But herein appeared the power of his Godhead, carrying his manhead upon the Sea, and any change that was, was wrought on the Sea, which his omnipotency did turn into a pavement to walk on. 7. It is a ſweet ſight of our difficulties, to conſider that what doth moſt affright and trouble us, yet Chriſt is ſecure of it, and hath it under his feet; for, this was the firſt dawning of their deliverance, that Chriſt treads upon that Sea, and makes a walk and way of that which threatned to devoure them, and ſo he proved himſelfe Lord of it, though they were not yet delivered from it. 8. As Chriſts followers do meet with more trials then others, ſo ſhall they be made witneſſes of moe proofes of his power and love then others; for, beſide the former miracle, whereof they and the multitude were witneſſes, this new trial brings them the ſight of a new miracle. 9. Chriſt, even when he comes to deliver his people in a remarkable way, may be miſtaken, and even mercies may be matter of fear and terrour to them; for, when he thus cometh, they were affraid, ſuppoſing it to be a ſpirit, and not dreaming of him, as is marked by the reſt. This needs not ſeem ſtrange if we conſider. 1. That natural infirmitie, in ſinful man, is apt to be affrighted with ſtrange apparitions, as they conceived this to be. 2. It is natural to men to miſconſtruct of the Lords de…ling, and to miſapprehend his beſt diſpenſations, and to create groundleſſe fears unto themſelves; and when it is otherwiſe, it is his ſpecial gift and mercy to them. 3. Cruſhing of ſpirit with many troubles, will make any thing take a deep, and readily a wrong, impreſſion on men; As they, being now much broken with their former toſſing and croſſe diſpenſations, look upon this through the ſame perſpective. Mindes broken and cruſhed with many troubles, are but ill judges of Gods dealing. 4. The conſcience of guilt, when it is awaked in a ſtorme, will readily judge of diſpenſations, rather according to mens deſervings, then according to what Chriſt may intend in them. 5. Chriſts method and way, in bringing about deliverance, is oft-times ſo ſtrange, and the means and wayes of it, ſo unlikely, and contrary, in appearance, and ſo like himſelfe, and his power and wiſdome; that it is no wonder our ſhallow conceptions do not take him up at firſt; for, ſuch was his way here. 6. Mens want of faith in trouble, and their limiting of Chriſt to their way and means, not leaving him a latitude, may occaſion many miſtakes when he appeares; for, it appears they were not beleeving that help would come from him, far leſſe, that he would walk upon the Sea, and therefore they miſtake. All theſe being conſidered, may afford us many neceſſary cautions, and may teach us, that it is our own apprehenſions and miſtakes that puts an edge on many of our trials, and not his dealing, if it were rightly underſtood. See Iſa. 40.27, 28. Doctrine 10. When Chriſt hath appeared to deliver his people, he may ſee it fit, to put them yet to deeper exerciſe and fear, before they come to the comfortable iſſue; He may let trouble be augmented, when he comes to remove it, and may let out the ſharpeſt pang and darkeſt hour, when delivery and day-light are neareſt; for, whatever was their weakneſſe in this miſtake and fear, yet Chriſt not only drew nigh, but in his providence ordered that it ſhould be ſo, and for this end, he would have paſſed by them, Mark. 6.48. that ſo he might make his appearance conſpicuous, and might trie them, as Luk. 24.28. This way of dealing contributes to humble his people yet more, to fit them for deliverance, and to make it ſweet, when it cometh.
From ver. 20. learn. 1. Albeit Chriſt may, ſometime, delay to appear for his people, and to manifeſt himſelfe unto them in trouble; Yet when the trial is come to an extremity and height, he will not faile ſpeedily to appeare and ſpeak warmly to them; for, now when they are not only afflicted, but in extremitie of fear, he will not have them tortured with it, but ſaith unto them, it is I. 2. Chriſt muſt not only appeare, but muſt diſcover himſelfe, before we can diſcerne him, or be free of miſtakes concerning him; for, though he was in their view, yet that did not availe till he ſaid, it is I. 3. Chriſts ſpeaking and word is the infallible and ſure mean, whereby he diſcovers himſelfe unto his people, without which, his dealing will be readily miſtaken; And it is from his word that they muſt got the firſt comfortable ſight of their condition, and their begun deliverance muſt be laid hold on there; for, it was his ſilence made his dealing to be miſtaken, and therefore he begins their deliverance and comfort by his word, which will looſe many doubts, but he ſaith unto them, it is I. 4. Faithleſſe diſcouraging feare is that which the Lords people moſt readily are inclined to under trouble, as being but the expreſſion of the droſſe of their hearts, and that which is more eaſily a tained, then humility or any other good uſe; Such was their condition here, they were affraid. 5. It is acceptable ſervice to God, to oppoſe faithleſſe fears in trial, and to be wreſtling againſt them, when they moſt violently aſſault us; for, there is a command of Chriſt for ſo doing, be not affraid. 6. It is the great victory of the Lords people, and a ſufficient deliverance unto them, if when they are in greateſt extremities, they be delivered from ſlaviſh feare; for, ſuch is Chriſts antidote and iſſue allowed on his diſciples, when they are in great danger and perplexity, be not affraid. 7. The ſoveraigne remedy againſt fear in troubles, and the onelyonly right ſight of troubles, is, to ſee Chriſt in them, whoſe preſence, and manifeſting of himſelf, takes away all cauſe of ſlaviſh fear, and who being ſeene to have the chief hand in his peoples trials, it doth warrant them to expect no hurt by them; for, this is the ſovereign remedy of fear, It is I, be not afraid. 8. When Chriſt hath propounded moſt ample ground of encouragement, yet our endeavours thereupon will not remove our fears, nor rectifie our diſpoſitions, till he interpoſe alſo, and apply the encouragement, by his word of command; for, Chriſt counts it not ſufficient to propound that comfortable doctrine, It is I, leaving the uſe thereof to be gathered by themſelves, but he enforces the inference with his command, It is, be not afraid.
Verſe 21. Then they willingly received him into the ſhip, and immediately the ſhip was at the land whither they went.
In this verſe we have the warme entertainment given by the diſciples unto Chriſt, after they knew him, and ſo were delivered from their late feare; together with the iſſue of their whole trial, in that they get to land, and that immediately. And theſe are the reſt of the conſequents of this his miraculous coming unto them. Whence learn, 1. As Chriſts company ſhould alwayes be ſweet, and welcome to his own; ſo trials ought to make their eſtimation thereof to grow, and a known Chriſt will be found ſweet company in trouble; for, then they willingly received him into the ſhip. 2. Love to Chriſt, even among diſciples, may grow ſo cold and remiſſe, that there will be need of trials and ſeparation for a time, to quicken it again; for, this was one chief cauſe of all this diſtance and triall, that they who were (ſo to ſay) cloyed with his company, and therefore thought but little of their condition who came to him upon occaſion; might after this ſeparation and ſtorme, make him more welcome, and willingly receive him. Thus doth the Lord cure drowſineſſe and ſecurity, by withdrawing, and making even deſertions bring about much good. See Cant. 5.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, &c. 3. Whatever be the toſſings and perils wherewith Chriſts followers may be exerciſed; Yet they will not periſh, but will certainly come ſafe to land, one way or other, either ſooner or later, here or hereafter; for, ſo much may be gathered from this inſtance, that the toſſed ſhip and diſciples came to land. …. Chriſts preſence being manifeſted to his afflicted people, will produce ſweet changes, and heaps of mercies and wonders, to them, and for them; for, beſide his coming to them in a miraculous way, now there are two wonders more, one, that the ſtorme is calmed, as it is, Matth. 14.32, and another, that they were immediately at land. 5. Whatever be the toſſings of the Lords people, yet none of his purpoſes toward them ſhall be made void, and their following of commanded duty ſhall have a good and deſired iſſue; for, it is not their merciemercy onelyonly, that they get to land any where, (which yet is a merciemercy to tempeſt beaten men, who may be driven farre from their courſe) nor doth the contrary winde drive them back to the land from whence they came; But the ſhip was at the land whither they went, and ſo their voyage held good. 6. Chriſt will let his people loſe none of their toile, wherein they ſpend themſelves (as would appear) to little purpoſe; But he will make it all up with his preſence; and when he cometh, he will further them as much as trouble hath hindered them; for, they who were toiled in rowing againſt a contrary winde, are, upon his coming, immediately at the land, &c.