Today's reading tells us how Jesus calmed the storm that arose on the Lake of Gennesaret while His disciples were crossing to the other shore. And it is usually this very fact that makes the greatest impression on the reader, for in this way...
Today's reading tells us how Jesus calmed the storm that arose on the Lake of Gennesaret while His disciples were crossing to the other shore. And it is usually this very fact that makes the greatest impression on the reader, for in this way Jesus' power over the forces of nature, which are beyond the control of an ordinary person, is emphasized.
Yet here too what stands before us is once again nothing other than a manifestation of the fullness of the Kingdom. It truly begins to penetrate our world, which is not yet fully transformed, and to change its nature. In essence, what we see here is not the calming of the storm, but its disappearance in the peace in which the Kingdom always abides. It differs from mere calming in exactly the same way as the healings performed by Jesus differ from ordinary cures achieved by purely medical means. Jesus does not cure diseases; He simply brings a person into the Kingdom, where there is no place for them, and the person is made well. The same is true of the storm: bearing the Kingdom within Himself, Jesus does not calm it, but transforms nature, making it part of the Kingdom, where there is no place for a storm. It is no accident that He Himself does not sail, but walks on the water. Apparently, in the Kingdom the very nature of water changes so greatly that a person can walk on it, whereas in our untransformed world he can walk in this way only on land.
One might, of course, suppose that only Jesus Himself was capable of this, but that is disproved by the fact that Peter too was able to walk on the water just like his Teacher (vv. 28–29). But only for as long as he looked at Jesus. As soon as he looked at the raging lake, fear seized his heart and he began to sink (v. 30).
Here again we see a manifestation of the Kingdom. Indeed, Peter could walk on the water as long as he looked at Jesus and abided in the Kingdom together with Him. It was the only reality for Peter, and so he could walk on the water and the storm did him no harm, for there is no storm in the Kingdom. But as soon as he allowed fear to take possession of his heart, that fear instantly separated him from the Kingdom. It disappeared, leaving only the raging elements around him. And had it not been for the Saviour's outstretched hand, things might have ended very sadly for Peter (v. 31). It is no accident that, as Jesus reaches out His hand to His disciple, He immediately asks him about his lack of faith. Today, as the Kingdom penetrates our world more and more deeply, our own faith alone determines whether it becomes for us a genuine and supreme reality or remains merely a beautiful dream and an unattainable ideal.
14
14:22 He constrained his disciples - Who were unwilling to leave him. Mar 6:45; Joh 6:15.
14:24 In the evening - Learned men say the Jews reckoned two evenings; the first beginning at three in the afternoon, the second, at sunset. If so, the latter is meant here.
14:25 The fourth watch - The Jews (as well as the Romans) usually divided the night into four watches, of three hours each. The first watch began at six, the second at nine, the third at twelve, the fourth at three in the morning. If it be thou - It is the same as, Since it is thou. The particle if frequently bears this meaning, both in ours and in all languages. So it means, Joh 13:14, Joh 13:17. St. Peter was in no doubt, or he would not have quitted the ship.
14:30 He was afraid - Though he had been used to the sea, and was a skilful swimmer. But so it frequently is. When grace begins to act, the natural courage and strength are withdrawn.
14:33 Thou art the Son of God - They mean, the Messiah.
14:35 Mar 6:45.