John 6:19

The distance the disciples had rowed in the Greek text is 25 or 30 stadia, which is between two and three-quarters miles and three and one-half miles. Matthew and Mark wrote that the disciples were in the middle of the lake probably meaning that they were well out into it (Matthew 14:24; Mark 6:47). Some scholars wishing to depreciate this miracle have translated the Greek preposition epi as "by" rather than "on." [Note: E.g., Bernard, 1:186.] However, the context and the Synoptics clearly present Jesus as walking on the water, not on the shore beside the water.

Mark reported that the disciples thought Jesus was a ghost (Mark 6:49). John simply described them as frightened. This emphasis has the effect of stressing Jesus’ alleviation of their fear. The fear of the disciples and Jesus’ ability to calm their fear is the point of John’s record of this miracle. Jesus met the disciples between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m. (Matthew 14:25; Mark 6:48).

"Sometimes we are caught in a storm because we have disobeyed the Lord. Jonah is a good example. But sometimes the storm comes because we have obeyed the Lord. When that happens, we can be sure that our Saviour will pray for us, come to us, and deliver us. . . . Jesus had led His people into the green pastures (John 6:10), and now He brought them into the still waters (Psalms 23:2). What a wonderful Shepherd He is!" [Note: Wiersbe, 1:310.]