John 6:16-21
“It is I; do not be afraid.”
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Caper′na-um. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing.
When they had rowed about three or four miles,[b] they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, but he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
What do the Fathers say?
St John CHRYSOSTOM. And at last He appears quite unexpectedly: They see Jesus walking upon the sea, drawing nigh. He reappears after His retirement, teaching them what it is to be forsaken, and stirring them to greater love; His reappearance manifesting His power. They were disturbed, were afraid, it is said. Our Lord comforts them: And He says to them, It is I, be not afraid.
He appeared to them in this way, to show His power; for He immediately calmed the tempest: Then they wished to receive Him into the ship; and immediately the ship was at the land, where they were heading. So great was the calm, He did not even enter the ship, in order to work a greater miracle, and to show his Divinity more clearly.
St AUGUSTINE. But why did He flee; for they could not have detained Him against His will? He fled alone into the mountain, because He is descended from above all heavens.
But on His ascension a storm came upon the disciples in the ship, i. e. the Church, and it became dark, the light, i. e. Jesus, having gone.
As the end of the world draws nigh, error increases, iniquity abounds. The waves and storms and winds then that agitate the ship, are the clamours of evil speaking, and love waxing cold.
Howbeit the wind, and storm, and waves, and darkness were not able to stop, and sink the vessel; because he that endures to the end, the same shall be saved. (Matt. 10:22)
The law is fulfilled by the Gospel. To those then who fulfil the law Jesus comes treading on the waves, i. e. trampling under foot all the swellings of the world, all the loftiness of men: and yet such tribulations remain, that even they who believe on Jesus, fear lest they should be lost.
St THEOPHYLACT. Observe the three miracles here; the first, His walking on the sea; the second, His stilling the waves; the third, His putting them immediately on shore, which they were some distance off, when our Lord appeared.
When either men or devils try to terrify us, let us hear Christ saying, It is I, be not afraid, i. e. I am ever near you, God unchangeable, immoveable; let not any false fears destroy your faith in Me. Observe too our Lord did not come when the danger was beginning, but when it was ending. He suffers us to remain in the midst of dangers and tribulations, that we may be proved thereby, and flee for succour to Him Who is able to give us deliverance when we least expect it. When man’s understanding can no longer help him, then the Divine deliverance comes. If we are willing also to receive Christ into the ship, i. e. to live in our hearts, we shall find ourselves immediately in the place, where we wish to be, i. e. in heaven.