Commentary on Saint John the Apostle and Evangelist, Homilies 1–47

Homily 43

436 SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM Homily 43 (fohn 6.16-25) 'Now when evening had come, his disciples went down to the sea. And getting into a boat, they went across the sea to Capharnaum. And it was already dark, but Jesus had not come to them. Now the sea was rising, because a strong wind was blowing.'! It was not only when Christ was present bodily with His disciples, but also when He was away from them, that He took thought for their well-being. In fact, because He is both powerful and wise, He brings about one and the same effect by completely opposite means. Notice, for example, what He did in this instance. He sent away His disciples and went up to the mountain. When evening had come, the disciples, who had been left behind by their Master, went down to the sea and waited for Him until sunset, thinking that He would come to them. But as evening came on, they could no longer restrain themselves from going in search of Him, so great was the love of Him that possessed them. Indeed, they did not say: 'It is already evening and night has overtaken us; where shall we go now? The place is dangerous; the time is perilous.' But, on fire with longing for Him, they embarked in their boat. It is not, therefore, merely casually that the Evangelist mentions the time, but to show by this their burning love of Him. Why, then, did He send them off and depart from them? Further, why did He appear again, alone, walking on the sea? It was to teach them by the former what it is to be left by Him, and to make their longing for Him greater, and by the latter to show His power once more. Just as, with regard to His teaching, they did not listen to everything in the presence of the crowd, so also with regard to His 1 John 6.16-18. HOMILIES 437 miracles: they did not witness all of them in the company of the multitude. Indeed, it was necessary for those who were going to be entrusted with the spiritual leadership of the world to have something more than the rest. 'But what sort of miracles did they see when by themselves?' you will ask. The transfiguration on the mountain,2 this miracle on the sea, the many remarkable ones which took place after the Resurrection.3 And judging from these, I think there were others besides. Now, they went toward Capharnaum, without any definite knowledge, but expecting to find Him there, or even in the middle of the voyage. At least John implies this by the words: 'And it was already dark, but Jesus had not come to them. Now the sea was rising because a strong wind was blowing.' What, then, did they do? They became alarmed; and there were many and varied causes which made them become so. They were perturbed because of the time, of course, for it was dark; and because of the storm, for the sea was rising; and because of the place, for they were not near land, but 'they had rowed some twenty-five stadia'; and, finally, because of the unexpectedness of it all, for 'they beheld him walking upon the sea.' When they grew very much alarmed, He said to them: 'It is I, do not be afraid.' Why, then, did He appear? To show that it was He who controlled the storm. The Evangelist certainly implies this in the words: 'They desired to take him; and immediately the boat was at the land.' He made the journey not only safe, but even prosperous. But He did not show Himself to the people, as He walked upon the sea, for the miracle was too great for their imperfect understanding. Indeed, He was not seen doing this for long even by the disciples, but, as soon as He had been seen, He withdrew from them. It seems to me that this miracle is different from the one 2 Cf. Matt. 17.1·8; Mark 9.1·7; Luke 9.28-36. 3 Cf., especially, John 20-21; Luke 24. 438 SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM in Matthew.4 There is evidence on many counts that it is different. For He frequently performed the same miracles so as to bring it about, not so much that the witnesses of them...