John 6:16–18

Followeth, to ver. 22. the second part of the chapter, containing a second miracle, of Christs walking on the Sea, to come to the disciples in their need, with the antecedents and consequents thereof The antecedents thereof are recorded, ver 16, 17, 18. the miracle it selfe, ver. 19.—and the consequents of it, ver.—19, 20, 21.

In these verses we have the antecedents of this miracle, that the disciples, at his command, go to Sea without him, and being at Sea in the night time, they are tossed with a violent tempest and contrary winde, as is observed, Matth. 14.24. It is here said they went toward Capernaum, where the succeeding Sermon was preached, ver. 59. yet Matth 14.34. they came into the land of Genesareth; and Mark. 6.45. they are commanded to go unto Bethsaida. But this is easily reconciled; for their way was toward, and by Bethsaida, and Genesaret was the name of the Country where Capernaum stood, and though he landed not at the City, yet he stayed not till he came to it. Doctrine. 1. It is not unusual, that upon the back of sweetest refreshments and manifestations of Christ, the people of God meet with a stormy and sharp exercise; Such was the lot of the disciples after this miracle; for. 1. A constant gale of sweetnesse is not easily born while we are within time, but we must be exercised with changes. 2. It is meet that he take proofe of our preficiency by former manifestations, as being given not only for present delight, but for a future use; as here he tries how the disciples faith was strengthened by the former miracle, and so is marked, Mark 6.51, 52. 3. It is by these changes that men get new proofes of their own weaknesse, and new proofes of his goodnesse, for the confirmation of their faith. All which they would want, if they had not renewed exercise. Doctrine. 2. As men should be clear of a calling from God to any thing they undertake, that this may support them in what they may meet with, (as the disciples were constrained to this journy by Christ; Matth. 14.22.) So they ought not to judge of the rightnesse of a way, by what they meet with in it; Seeing sharpest trials may meet men in Gods own way, and in the way of their duty; for, when they are going over the Sea toward Capernaum, at Christs command, the storme ariseth. 3. The Lords people may expect, that their trials will be measured out according to their grouth, and according to the time which they have had, wherein to make proficiency; for, whereas before this, the desciples had a tempest, Matth. 8.23, 24, &c. yet this is now a sharper trial; Then, Christ was with them, though a sleep, now he is away; Here it is dark night, which we read not of there; Here they have not only a storme of winde, as there, Mark. 4.37. but a contrary winde, Mark. 6.48. They are also not neere the shore, but in the midst of the Sea, ver 19. Matth 14.24. And it is long ere Christ come to them, Matth. 14.25. with which they are not tried in the other storme. 4. In the trials of the Lords people, they may expect that all circumstances will concurre, that may sharpen the trial, and make the exercise deep: And trials may be compleatly dreadful, wherein yet the Lord will give a good issue; for, so was this trial ordered in every afflicting circumstance before marked. See Lam 2.22. 5. It is a sad addition to the trials of the Lords people, that ordinarily they are attended with much confusion, darknesse, and perplexing irresolution, so that they cannot see through their troubles, nor what to do under them; So much may be gathered, by analogy, from this circumstance, that it was now dark, when the storme arose, so that they could not know where they were. And frequently trouble gets the name of darknesse, as the saddest ingredient in it. 6. It is Gods way so to order his dealing with his people, as easie and successeful-like beginings may have a very hard procedure, before the way and work be ended; for, here they entred at even, and it is still faire till dark night, and that they are far in. By this, Christ on the one hand, doth train on and engage his people in his way, and on the other hand, he tries them being engaged, and warnes them to be humble and sober, when all things inwardly or outwardly succeed well with them. 7. It is also a great addition to trouble, when Christ is absent, or hides or withdraws himselfe; The want of him may raise a storme in the greatest calme, and his presence can make a calme in a storme, and therefore it must be sad when both they are in trouble and misse him; So much may be gathered from this circumstance, and Jesus was not come unto them. It is true the text speaks of his bodily presence, which did not alwayes hold off a storme, Matth. 3.23, 24. But if the want of that was sad to them, how much more must it be sad, when his spiritual presence by faith is wanting in trouble? Yet as he is not alwayes absent, when he is not seen, so it is needful sometime to be exercised with that in trouble, because otherwise trials would not be trials. 8. They who, through abundance of enjoyments, are but little sensible of their own mercy, or tender of the need of others, are justly put to essay the case of such in their own experience, that they may know the hearts of strangers; for, the disciples, who through constant enjoying of Christs company, were oft-times little sensible of the case of poor ones, who got but now and then an opportunity to meet with him, and who even at the last miracle would have had the people sent away, Mark. 6.35, 36. are now put to know what it was to want his company in a time of need, that they might love it the better, and pitie others the more. 9. When a people are in a very desolate and low condition in their own eyes, it may be, they are yet so far from issue, that harder and sadder trials are yet to come; for, when they are disconsolate by reason of the dark night and Christs absence; and that before the storme came (as appeares from the order of the narration;) Christ, instead of coming, sends a sad storme, to adde to their bitter condition by the trysting of all these together, and the Sea arose, &c. See Jer. 14.19. 10. The Lords people may expect in troubles, that though they will not be drowned nor swallowed, yet they will have sad and fearful tossings, before they see an outgate; for, the Sea arose, whence the ship was tossed with waves, Matth. 14.24. And this is a fit Embleme of the condition of the Church, and the Lords people in it. For. 1. As Mariners are often tempest-beaten, by reason of the unsettlednesse of the Element wherein they travel; so this world is so uncertain and unsettled, and there are so many raging lusts of wicked men in it, that it is a wonder if the Church get but one hour for breathing in it. 2. Tempests do so tosse Mariners, that they stagger, and are put to their wits end, Psal 107.27, and so are the Church and godly, in their afflictions, oft-times staggering and like to fall, tossed, and put from all their resolutions, Psal. 109.23. Isa. 54.11. 2 Cor 7.5. 3. Tempests are dreadful in this, that present death is before men, and but very little betwixt them and it, even a poor thin vessel, and it much beaten: And so also may afflictions pursue the Lords people, as there will be little betwixt them and death in their own account, and they may have deliverance to seek betwixt the jaw bones of death, Psal. 9.13. Yet in all this, it is sweet that it is the Lord who raiseth the storme, and hath the winds in his fists. Doctrine. 2. It is yet a sad addition unto trouble, when the Lords people are not only afflicted under their present lot, but there is a strong course and streame of providence meeting them in the teeth, and crushing, and making ineffectual, all their endeavours to help themselves; for, so much may be gathered from this, that there was a great winde that blew, which not only caused the sea to arise, but was contrary to them in their course, Matth. 14.24. as if heaven were opposing any course they should essay in this extremity, See Psal. 80.4.