Mark 6:45-52, Jesus Walks on the Water

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida [meaning they traveled northeast], while he dismissed the crowd. [With baskets of food in hand, they are dismissed for their respite.] 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. [Did Jesus move to prayer to avert a crisis of a messianic uprising as the result of the miracle and was that the reason Jesus sent the disciples ahead so he could calm down the crowd?] 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw [because there was a full moon?] that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them [coming from the north/northeast]. [Following the direct commands of Jesus often means testing followed by deliverance.] And about the fourth watch of the night [3-6 am] he came to them [to rescue them], walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them [why?], 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost [an evil spirit trying to deceive them], and cried out [for help], 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. [Fear and confusion seem to be the natural response of the disciples—and of others—to the miraculous powers of Jesus.] But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. [Jesus uses the great “I AM” name of God.] Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. [Jesus’ presence brings immediate peace.] And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened. [Smallness of faith and hardness of heart are two constant sins even of the disciples. Hardness of heart is the lack of spiritual perceptivity of the actions of God due in part to their small faith. If Jesus can make food out of crumbs, why can he not, as God, walk on water as the Master of Creation?]