John 6:19–20

Followeth the miracle itselfe, or Christs coming unto them in a miraculous way, for their comfort in this distresse; which they mistaking, are more affrighted, ver. 19. till he by his speaking unto them, do comfort and assure them, ver. 20. And these are some of the consequents of his miraculous appearance. From ver. 19. learn. 1. As it is a mercy in a strait, to have any known duty, wherein to employ our selves; so no difficulty should deterre nor discourage us from dutie, but the faster difficulties do grow, we should be the more busie, even albeit it should be to smal purpose so to do; for, so is imported here that they rowed forward, and they were toiling with it, Mark. 6.48. Albeit they could promove little thereby, by reason of the storme and contrary winde; yet, since Christ had commanded they should make forward, they hold at the dutie. 2. What ever be the pressing need of Christs followers in troubles, and their constant cleaving to dutie for all that; And whatever be Christs purpose of love toward them; Yet he seeth it fit oft-times, not to come to them at first, but will let the trial go on, till it come to an height, and be a trial indeed, and put them seriously to it; for, before he came, he lets them row about five and twenty, or thirty furlongs (the last of which make neare four miles, eight furlongs going to a mile) and Mark. 6.48. he came not till the fourth watch of the night, which is the morning watch. We are indeed very sparing of our selves in trouble, and do soon begin to think that we are low and tried enough, and therefore would be delivered: But our wise Lord seeth that we need more. 3. What ever be Christs delaying to help his people in trouble, and whatever may be their fears and apprehensions, upon the extremitie of their troubles; Yet deliverance, in his due time, will certainly come unto them, and when their difficulties are at the height, his help will be nearest, for, here after all their toile, he cometh. 4. Christ needs not our diligence, to move him to help us in trouble, but his own knowledge and observation of our case will plead for pitie and help, when the trial is perfected; for, he cometh unto them, when there is no mention of their crying to him, because (as it is, Mark. 6.48.) he saw them toiling in rowing. Albeit it be our duty to call on him in trouble, yet his affection and sympathy will read supplications from our necessitie. 5. Christ is not only a careful observer, and tender sympathizer in his peoples trouble; but he is ready to come over all impediments, and to make up the distance betwixt them and him, that he may help them; for, when it was impossible for them to come to him, he is at the pains, and walks on the Sea and draws nigh. 6. Christ is omnipotent to bring deliverance unto his people, and to remove impediments out of the way, of their help; And nothing will impede him to come to them in their need, but he who is Lord of all, will make a way through greatest difficulties: for, he walks on the Sea, and draws nigh; whereby he proves himselfe greater then Moses, who went only through a divided Sea, whereas he walks on the Sea it selfe; and proveth that a deep Sea, and a great storme lying betwixt him and his people, will not withhold his company. We are not here to conceive any change wrought in Christs body, as if it were denyed of its natural properties that so he might thus walk; for, we finde Peter walking also on the Sea, Matth. 14.29. But herein appeared the power of his Godhead, carrying his manhead upon the Sea, and any change that was, was wrought on the Sea, which his omnipotency did turn into a pavement to walk on. 7. It is a sweet sight of our difficulties, to consider that what doth most affright and trouble us, yet Christ is secure of it, and hath it under his feet; for, this was the first dawning of their deliverance, that Christ treads upon that Sea, and makes a walk and way of that which threatned to devoure them, and so he proved himselfe Lord of it, though they were not yet delivered from it. 8. As Christs followers do meet with more trials then others, so shall they be made witnesses of moe proofes of his power and love then others; for, beside the former miracle, whereof they and the multitude were witnesses, this new trial brings them the sight of a new miracle. 9. Christ, even when he comes to deliver his people in a remarkable way, may be mistaken, and even mercies may be matter of fear and terrour to them; for, when he thus cometh, they were affraid, supposing it to be a spirit, and not dreaming of him, as is marked by the rest. This needs not seem strange if we consider. 1. That natural infirmitie, in sinful man, is apt to be affrighted with strange apparitions, as they conceived this to be. 2. It is natural to men to misconstruct of the Lords dealing, and to misapprehend his best dispensations, and to create groundlesse fears unto themselves; and when it is otherwise, it is his special gift and mercy to them. 3. Crushing of spirit with many troubles, will make any thing take a deep, and readily a wrong, impression on men; As they, being now much broken with their former tossing and crosse dispensations, look upon this through the same perspective. Mindes broken and crushed with many troubles, are but ill judges of Gods dealing. 4. The conscience of guilt, when it is awaked in a storme, will readily judge of dispensations, rather according to mens deservings, then according to what Christ may intend in them. 5. Christs method and way, in bringing about deliverance, is oft-times so strange, and the means and wayes of it, so unlikely, and contrary, in appearance, and so like himselfe, and his power and wisdome; that it is no wonder our shallow conceptions do not take him up at first; for, such was his way here. 6. Mens want of faith in trouble, and their limiting of Christ to their way and means, not leaving him a latitude, may occasion many mistakes when he appeares; for, it appears they were not beleeving that help would come from him, far lesse, that he would walk upon the Sea, and therefore they mistake. All these being considered, may afford us many necessary cautions, and may teach us, that it is our own apprehensions and mistakes that puts an edge on many of our trials, and not his dealing, if it were rightly understood. See Isa. 40.27, 28. Doctrine 10. When Christ hath appeared to deliver his people, he may see it fit, to put them yet to deeper exercise and fear, before they come to the comfortable issue; He may let trouble be augmented, when he comes to remove it, and may let out the sharpest pang and darkest hour, when delivery and day-light are nearest; for, whatever was their weaknesse in this mistake and fear, yet Christ not only drew nigh, but in his providence ordered that it should be so, and for this end, he would have passed by them, Mark. 6.48. that so he might make his appearance conspicuous, and might trie them, as Luk. 24.28. This way of dealing contributes to humble his people yet more, to fit them for deliverance, and to make it sweet, when it cometh.

From ver. 20. learn. 1. Albeit Christ may, sometime, delay to appear for his people, and to manifest himselfe unto them in trouble; Yet when the trial is come to an extremity and height, he will not faile speedily to appeare and speak warmly to them; for, now when they are not only afflicted, but in extremitie of fear, he will not have them tortured with it, but saith unto them, it is I. 2. Christ must not only appeare, but must discover himselfe, before we can discerne him, or be free of mistakes concerning him; for, though he was in their view, yet that did not availe till he said, it is I. 3. Christs speaking and word is the infallible and sure mean, whereby he discovers himselfe unto his people, without which, his dealing will be readily mistaken; And it is from his word that they must got the first comfortable sight of their condition, and their begun deliverance must be laid hold on there; for, it was his silence made his dealing to be mistaken, and therefore he begins their deliverance and comfort by his word, which will loose many doubts, but he saith unto them, it is I. 4. Faithlesse discouraging feare is that which the Lords people most readily are inclined to under trouble, as being but the expression of the drosse of their hearts, and that which is more easily a tained, then humility or any other good use; Such was their condition here, they were affraid. 5. It is acceptable service to God, to oppose faithlesse fears in trial, and to be wrestling against them, when they most violently assault us; for, there is a command of Christ for so doing, be not affraid. 6. It is the great victory of the Lords people, and a sufficient deliverance unto them, if when they are in greatest extremities, they be delivered from slavish feare; for, such is Christs antidote and issue allowed on his disciples, when they are in great danger and perplexity, be not affraid. 7. The soveraigne remedy against fear in troubles, and the onely right sight of troubles, is, to see Christ in them, whose presence, and manifesting of himself, takes away all cause of slavish fear, and who being seene to have the chief hand in his peoples trials, it doth warrant them to expect no hurt by them; for, this is the sovereign remedy of fear, It is I, be not afraid. 8. When Christ hath propounded most ample ground of encouragement, yet our endeavours thereupon will not remove our fears, nor rectifie our dispositions, till he interpose also, and apply the encouragement, by his word of command; for, Christ counts it not sufficient to propound that comfortable doctrine, It is I, leaving the use thereof to be gathered by themselves, but he enforces the inference with his command, It is, be not afraid.