Matthew 14:22

As soon as the people had finished eating, Jesus "immediately compelled" (Gr. eutheos enagkasen) His disciples to enter a boat and depart for the other side of the lake. There appear to have been several reasons for His unusual action. First, this miracle appears to have refueled the enthusiasm of some in the crowd to draft Jesus and to force Him to lead the nation (cf. John 6:15). Perhaps Jesus wanted to spare His disciples from this attractive temptation. [Note: Lenski, p. 568.] Second, Jesus wanted to get away to pray (Matthew 14:23). Third, He wanted to prepare to get some rest (Mark 6:31-32). Fourth, He had an important lesson to teach them.

". . . there are two kinds of storms: storms of correction, when God disciplines us; and storms of perfection, when God helps us to grow. Jonah was in a storm because he disobeyed God and had to be corrected. The disciples were in a storm because they obeyed Christ and had to be perfected." [Note: Wiersbe, 1:51.]

Evidently Jesus sent the disciples up the eastern Galilee coast toward Bethsaida Julias with orders to wait for Him but not beyond a certain time (John 6:17). [Note: B. F. Westcott, The Gospel According to St. John , 1:218; Leon Morris, The Gospel According to John, pp. 348-49.] He planned to travel north by foot. They proceeded west across the lake by boat when He did not appear by the prearranged deadline.