Беседа 43

John 6:16–18. When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea and, entering a boat, went to the other side of the sea, to Capernaum. It was getting dark, and Jesus did not come to them. A strong wind was blowing and the sea was rough. 1. Jesus Christ calms the storm. – He performs some miracles with only his disciples. – 2. Inconstancy and frivolity of the people. – The miracle of crossing the Red Sea and its difference from the miracle of Jesus Christ walking on the sea. – You need to ask only spiritual blessings from God. – Why are villains and sinners often rich? – One must love true wealth. 1. Christ, not only being body with His disciples, but also being far from them, arranges what is useful for them. As omnipotent and wise, he directs even opposite cases to one goal. Look what He does in the present case: He leaves the disciples and ascends the mountain. They, abandoned by the Teacher, since it was already late, went down to the sea and remained until the evening waiting for His return. And when evening came, they could no longer resist going and looking for Him: so strong was their love for Him. They don’t say: now it’s evening and night is coming, where will we go now? The place is dangerous and the time is unsafe. But, burning with love for Him, they board the ship. The evangelist does not mean time without a purpose, of course, but in order to thereby show their ardent love. Why does Christ leave them and move away, and even more, why does he appear alone, walking on the sea? In the first case, He taught them what it was like for them to be without Him, and wanted to increase their love for Him; and in another, He again showed them His power. Just as they did not listen to the teaching only with the people, so it was not with the people that they saw miracles. Those who were to receive power over the universe were to have something more than others. And what miracles, you ask, did they see alone? Transfiguration on the mountain, a real miracle at sea, many great miracles after the resurrection, and from these I conclude about others. They went to Capernaum, not knowing for sure, but only hoping to meet Him there, or even during the voyage. John also hinted at this when he said that “it was getting dark, but Jesus did not come to them. A strong wind was blowing and the sea was rough.” Why are they embarrassed? Many and various circumstances confused them: the time, because there was darkness, and the storm, because the sea was heaving, and the place, because they were not close to the land, but sailed “about twenty-five furlongs” (John 6:19), and finally, the extraordinary nature of the phenomenon, because they see Him walking on the sea. At this great confusion of theirs, He says to them: “It is I; do not be afraid” (John 6:20). Why did He appear? To show that He is the one who will calm the storm. The Evangelist pointed out this, saying: “They wanted to take Him into the boat; and immediately the boat landed on the shore” (John 6:21). This means (Christ) made their voyage not only safe, but also prosperous. He did not show Himself to the people walking on the sea, because this miracle was beyond his weakness. And the disciples did not see Him in this position for long, and as soon as He appeared to them, He left. It seems to me that this miracle is different, and not the one told in Matthew (Matthew 14), and that it is really different, this can be seen from many things. Christ often performed the same miracles in order not only to lead the audience into great amazement, but also to prepare them to accept these miracles with much faith. "It's me; don't be afraid." Having spoken these words, He cast out fear from their souls; but in other places He does not do so. That is why Peter said: “Lord! if it is You, command me to come to You” (Matthew 14:28). Why did they then not suddenly accept these words, but now believe them? Because then the storm continued to rock the ship, and now, along with the words of Christ, silence came; or, if not for this reason, then for the one about which I spoke before, i.e., that Christ, often performing the same miracles, through previous miracles made subsequent miracles more acceptable. Why didn’t He board the ship? To make the miracle more amazing, and at the same time to more clearly reveal His deity to them, and to show that even when He gave thanks, He did it not because he needed help, but out of condescension towards them. So, He allowed the storm to happen so that they would always look for Him, then suddenly He stopped it to show His power, and did not board the ship to make the miracle more amazing. “The next day the people standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except for one boat into which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus did not enter the boat,” and he himself entered other ships that came from Tiberias (John 6:22–24). Why does John narrate with such detail? Why not tell him: and the next day the people crossed over to the other side? With this he wants to show us something different. What is it? That Christ gave the people, although not directly, but indirectly, the opportunity to understand what happened. They saw, he says, “that there was no other there except one boat... and that Jesus did not enter the boat,” and having entered the ships of Tiberias, “they sailed to Capernaum, looking for Jesus” (John 6:24). What else, in fact, could one think, except that He crossed the sea, walking on it (because it was impossible to say that He crossed on any other ship: “there, except for one boat,” it is said, “into which His disciples entered, there was no other”). However, even after such a miracle, when they arrived, they did not ask Him how He crossed, how He arrived, and did not bother to find out about such a miracle; what do they say? “Rabbi! when did you come here” (John 6:25)? Is anyone going to argue that the word “when” is said here instead of “how”. 2. Here, too, attention should be paid to the inconstancy of their thoughts. Those who said: “This is the Prophet,” who tried to capture Him and make Him a king, having found Him, do not think about anything like that, but having forgotten, as it seems to me, about the miracle, they are no longer surprised at anything that happened before. They sought Him, but, of course, because they wanted to enjoy the meal again in the same way as before. The Jews also crossed the Red Sea under the leadership of Moses; but there is a big difference between what was there and what is here. He did everything praying and like a slave; and this one with all the power. There the water gave way to the pressure of the wind, so that it was possible to cross on dry land; here there was a greater miracle: the sea remained in its natural state and thus carried the Lord on its ridge, confirming the saying that says: “He walks on the heights of the sea” (Job 9:8). Meanwhile, He performed a miracle over the loaves in good time, intending to enter the obstinate and rebellious Capernaum. He wanted to soften the disbelief of the inhabitants of this city with miracles that not only happened in it, but also performed outside it. The flow into this city of such a multitude of people, who showed great zeal, which could not have been softened by even a stone? But nothing of the sort happened to them; no, they wanted only bodily food, and therefore Jesus reproaches them. Knowing this, beloved, let us thank God for sensory blessings, but much more for spiritual ones. This is what He wants, and for the sake of these blessings He bestows them, attracting and teaching them to the imperfect, as people still strongly attached to the world. However, if they, having received these benefits, stop at them, they are subject to condemnation and punishment. So Christ wanted to give spiritual good to the paralytic first, but those present could not stand it. To His words: “Your sins are forgiven you” (Matthew 9:2), they said: “He is blaspheming” (Matthew 9:3). Let nothing of the kind happen to us, I assure you; but let spiritual blessings be the subject of our special concerns. Why? Because when there are spiritual goods, there is no harm from the lack of physical goods. And if they are not there, then what hope, what consolation remains for us? Therefore, you should always pray to God and ask for them. Christ taught us to pray for them. And if we delve into that prayer, we will not find anything carnal in it, but everything spiritual. Even the little sensual thing that we ask for in it becomes spiritual from the image of the petition. Even one instruction not to ask for anything more than “daily” bread, that is, daily, would be a sign of a spiritual and wise mind. But look what precedes this: “Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:9–10). Then, having spoken about those sensual things, He immediately turned away and again came to spiritual teachings, saying: “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). He did not say anything about the authorities, nothing about wealth, nothing about fame, nothing about power, but he included in the prayer everything that tends to benefit the soul - nothing earthly, but everything heavenly. So, if we are commanded to abstain from everyday and real things, then how unhappy and pitiful will we be when we begin to ask God for what He commanded us to reject, even if we have it, in order to save us from worries, but what He commanded us to ask for, we will not have any care for, or we will not even desire it? This truly means idle talk. That is why, although we pray, we do not receive success. How, you say, do evil people get rich? How unrighteous, criminal, predators, covetous? It is not God who gives them this, no. But how does God allow it? As he once allowed the rich man to do, observing it for greater punishment. Listen to what was said to him: “child! You have already received your good... but Lazarus has received your evil; but now he is comforted, but you suffer” (Luke 16:25). So, so that we do not hear this voice, we, who vainly and recklessly spend our lives in luxury and add sins to sins, let us take care of acquiring true wealth and perfect wisdom. Through this we will receive the promised benefits, of which may we all be worthy, by the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom and with whom be glory to the Father with the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: