Early in the chapter, King Herod beheads John the baptizer because John told Herod that he was in an unscriptural marriage. That’s verses 1-12. After hearing that his coworker was killed (ver. 13), Jesus withdraws to a secluded place by Himself. But the crowds would not leave Jesus alone, so He heals them.
That evening, Jesus realizes that the crowd has been with him long enough that they need food. So He feeds all 5,000 of them, not counting the women and children. That’s verses 13-21.
Verse 22 begins “Immediately” Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of them to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. John’s account records that the crowds wanted to take Jesus by force and make Him King (John 6:15). Maybe that’s the reason Jesus sent away His disciples; He wanted to keep His disciples from getting caught up in the mis-guided crowds who did not understand the nature of His kingdom.
With the disciples in the boat, headed over to the other side of the sea, Jesus sends the crowds away, and He goes up into the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone (ver. 23).
What did Jesus pray for? For His own fears? For His own need to trust His heavenly Father and Jehovah God’s plans? Did He pray for His own disciples’ fears? For their need to trust Him?
If that is so, then the storm on the sea of Galilee was an opportune time for Jesus to reveal His powerful nature to them. He goes walking to them on top of the water and they cry out in fear. Jesus answers: “Take courage; it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter asks if he can walk on water and Jesus gives him that authority. Peter steps out of the boat and begins to walk to Jesus on the water. When he takes his eyes off Jesus, he sees the storm, gets scared and begins to sink.
Jesus reaches out, takes Peter by the hand, and they get into the boat. Immediately the wind stopped. The apostles in the boat all fall down before Jesus and worshiped Him, declaring that He was the Son of God (14:33)!
If a certain amount of anxiety sends us to the Great Physician, it can be helpful. If it saps our faith, then it is dangerous. We cannot allow fear in our spouse to keep him or her from being the person God designed them to be.
Pray for your spouse or friends, that they will grow in their trust so they will fear less.
Paul Holland
