John 6:16-21--Jesus Walks on Water

John 6:16-21
English Standard Version
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Jesus Walks on Water
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

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Again, let's set the context for this passage.  We know from other gospels that John the Baptist has died and Jesus has been trying to retreat with His disciples to have some time alone to grieve and to pray.  He even sends the disciples on ahead of Him so that He can spend the several hours in prayer, but His time of prayer and communion with the Father is interrupted when Jesus sees the disciples in distress and hears their cries for salvation even though they are out in the middle of the Sea of Galilee.

While the Sea of Galilee had storms that came up out of nowhere, this storm tested the disciples, several of whom had been fishermen on this sea for what we would presume to be their entire lives prior to meeting Jesus.  It was dark, the sea was rough, the wind was strong and blowing in a way to prevent them from reaching their destination, and they were four miles from shore. (See Matthew 14:22-33 and Mark 6:45-52)

Jesus stops what He was doing and puts His own needs aside to come and rescue them.  He walks out on the water to them and they were afraid when they saw Him because they assumed He was a ghost.  Jesus speaks to them and says "It is I; do not be afraid."

That's about all that we get from the Gospel of John.  Jesus walks on the water and gives peace to the disciples in the storm and He speaks and they are immediately transported to their destination (we read other places that they end up on the other side of the Sea at Gennesaret where he would heal many sick people.