John 6:19

they see Jesus--"about the fourth watch of the night" (Mat 14:25; Mar 6:48), or between three and six in the morning. walking on the sea--What Job (Job 9:8) celebrates as the distinguishing prerogative of GOD, "WHO ALONE spreadeth out the heavens, and TREADETH UPON THE WAVES OF THE SEA"--What AGUR challenges as GOD'S unapproachable prerogative, to "GATHER THE WIND IN HIS FISTS, and BIND THE WATERS IN A GARMENT" (Pro 30:4) --lo! this is here done in flesh, by "THE SON OF MAN." drawing nigh to the ship--yet as though He "would have passed by them," Mar 6:48 (compare Luk 24:28; Gen 18:3, Gen 18:5; Gen 32:24-26). they were afraid--"cried out for fear" (Mat 14:26), "supposing it had been a spirit" (Mar 6:49). He would appear to them at first like a dark moving speck upon the waters; then as a human figure, but--in the dark tempestuous sky, and not dreaming that it could be their Lord--they take it for a spirit. (How often thus we miscall our chiefest mercies--not only thinking them distant when they are near, but thinking the best the worst!)

In this chapter we have, I. The miracle of the loaves (Joh 6:1-14). II. Christ's walking upon the water (Joh 6:15-21). III. The people's flocking after him to Capernaum (Joh 6:22-25). IV. His conference with them, occasioned by the miracle of the loaves, in which he reproves them for seeking carnal food, and directs them to spiritual food (Joh 6:26, Joh 6:27), showing them how they must labour for spiritual food (Joh 6:28, Joh 6:29), and what that spiritual food is (v. 30-59). V. Their discontent at what he said, and the reproof he gave them for it (Joh 6:60-65). VI. The apostasy of many from him, and his discourse with his disciples that adhered to him upon that occasion (Joh 6:66-71).

6:19 The disciples’ fear of the storm was now surpassed by their fear of Jesus, who came walking on the water to help them. This act recalled Moses, who led Israel through the water (Exod 14; see Ps 77:19-20).