Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 6:50
For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
50. be not afraid ] St Mark does not record St Peter’s attempt to go to his Lord upon the Lake, which is narrated only by St Matthew, Mat 14:28-30.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
50. For theyall saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them,and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: It is I; be not afraidThereis something in these two little wordsgiven by Matthew, Mark andJohn (Mat 14:27; Mar 6:50;Joh 6:20) “It is I,”which from the mouth that spake it and the circumstances in which itwas uttered, passes the power of language to express. Here were theyin the midst of a raging sea, their little bark the sport of theelements, and with just enough of light to descry an object on thewaters which only aggravated their fears. But Jesus deems it enoughto dispel all apprehension to let them know that He was there.From other lips that “I am” would have merely meant thatthe person speaking was such a one and not another person. That,surely, would have done little to calm the fears of men expectingevery minute, it may be, to go to the bottom. But spoken by One whoat that moment was “treading upon the waves of the sea,”and was about to hush the raging elements with His word, what was itbut the Voice which cried of old in the ears of Israel, even from thedays of Moses, “I AM”;”I, EVEN I, AMHE!” Compare Joh 18:5;Joh 18:6; Joh 8:58.Now, that Word is “made flesh, and dwells among us,”uttering itself from beside us in dear familiar tones”It isthe Voice of my Beloved!” How far was this apprehended by thesefrightened disciples? There was one, we know, in the boat whooutstripped all the rest in susceptibility to such sublime appeals.It was not the deep-toned writer of the Fourth Gospel, who, though helived to soar beyond all the apostles, was as yet too young forprominence, and all unripe. It was Simon Barjonas. Here follows avery remarkable and instructive episode, recorded by Matthew alone:
PeterVentures to Walk upon the Sea (Mt14:28-32).
Mt14:28:
AndPeter answered Him, and said, Lord, If it be Thou, bid me comeunto Thee on the water not “letme,” but “give me the word of command“”command,”or “order me to come unto Thee upon the waters.”
Mt14:29:
AndHe said, Come Sublime word, issuing from Oneconscious of power over the raging element, to bid it serve bothHimself and whomsoever else He pleased!
Andwhen Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked upon thewater “waters.”
tocome to Jesus “It was a bold spirit,”says BISHOP HALL,”that could wish it; more bold that could act itnot fearingeither the softness or the roughness of that uncouth passage.”
Mt14:30:
Butwhen he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid: and beginningto sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me Thewind was as boisterous before, but Peter “saw” itnot, seeing only the power of Christ, in the lively exercise offaith. Now he “sees” the fury of the elements, andimmediately the power of Christ to bear him up fades before his view,and this makes him “afraid”as how could he be otherwise,without any felt power to keep him up? He then “begins tosink”; and finally, conscious that his experiment had failed, hecasts himself, in a sort of desperate confidence, upon his “Lord”for deliverance!
Mt14:31:
Andimmediately Jesus stretched forth His hand, and caught him, andsaid unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thoudoubt? This rebuke was notadministered while Peter was sinking, nor till Christ had him by thehand: first reinvigorating his faith, and then with it enablinghim again to walk upon the crested wave. Useless else had been thisloving reproof, which owns the faith that had ventured on thedeep upon the bare word of Christ, but asks why that distrustwhich so quickly marred it.
Mt14:32:
Andwhen they Jesus and Peter.
werecome into the ship, the wind ceased.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
For they all saw him, and were troubled,…. Had it been only seen by one, it might have been thought a fancy, and the effect of mere imagination; but as every one saw it, it was out of all doubt that so it was, and which gave them the greater concern:
and immediately he talked with them; as soon as they saw him, “that very moment”, as the Syriac renders it; that so by hearing his voice their fears might be allayed:
and saith unto them, be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid;
[See comments on Mt 14:27].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
It is I ( ). These were the astounding words of cheer. They did not recognize Jesus in the darkness. They had never seen him or any one walk on the water. His voice reassured them.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
They all saw him. Peculiar to Mark.
Spake with them [ ] . Both Matthew and John give the simple dative, aujtoiv to them. Mark’s with them is more familiar, and gives the idea of a more friendly and encouraging address. It is significant, in view of Peter’s relation to this gospel, that Mark omits the incident of Peter’s walk on the waves (Mt 14:28 – 31).
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “For they all saw Him,” (pantes gar auton eidan) “Because they all saw Him,” all the disciples and apostles who were on the ship, Mar 6:45.
2) “And were immediately troubled.” (kai etarachthesan) “And they were disturbed or troubled,” in fear and uncertainty, much as they once were when He appeared to them after the resurrection, Luk 24:36-40; Joh 14:27; Joh 16:33.
3) “And immediately He talked with them,” (ho de euthuselalesen met’ auton) “Then He immediately talked to and with them,” Mat 14:27.
4) “And saith unto them,” (kai legei autois) “And said to them all,” to quiet their fears, Joh 6:20.
a) “Be of good cheer (tharseit) “You all be of good cheer,” be encouraged in your disposition, as Paul challenged the storm tossed passengers on board the ship with him after he had talked with the Lord, Act 23:11; Act 27:22; Act 27:25; Act 27:36.
b) “It is I;” (ego eimi) “it is l,” the self-existing, eternal one, the one who makes men free, even from fear of death, Joh 8:32; Joh 8:36; Heb 2:15.
c) “Be not afraid.” (me phobeisthe) “You all be not afraid,” in a state of fear, for fear has torments, and the redeemed are not to exist in a fear-state, 1Jn 4:18; Rom 8:15.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
‘But he immediately spoke with them and says, “Be of good cheer. It is I. Do not be afraid.” And he went up to them in the boat and the wind ceased.’
Jesus immediately assured them that all was well. They had failed the test but they would learn from it in the future. It was at this time that Peter made his attempt also to walk on the water (Mat 14:28-31). Then having assured them that it was really He, He approached the boat and clambered in. And to their surprise the wind immediately ceased. But note that this was the cessation of a contrary wind, not the stilling of a storm.
’
It is I’. The Greek is ‘ego eimi’ – ‘I am’. While Jesus simply meant ‘it is I’ (this is the regular Greek for that), it is possible that Mark intends us to get the inference that He is the ‘I am’, the God of the covenant (Exo 3:14-15). That is why they do not need to be afraid.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.
Ver. 50. It is I? ] with an emphasis; q.d. It is I; not a spirit. A concise kind of speech, importing his haste to comfort them. He comes “leaping over the mountains of Bether,” all lets and impediments,Son 2:17Son 2:17 .
51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.
52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.
54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,
55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.
56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
50. ] ., peculiar to Mark. After this follows the history respecting Peter, which might naturally be omitted here if this Gospel were drawn up under his inspection but this is at least doubtful in any general sense.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 6:50 . Not quite an instance of Mark’s habit of iteration: explains how they came to think it was a phantasm. All saw what looked like Jesus, yet they could not believe it was He, a real man, walking on the water; therefore they took fright and rushed to the conclusion: a spectre!
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
they all saw Him. A Divine supplement, here.
talked with them = spoke with them. Matthew and John = to them.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
50.] ., peculiar to Mark. After this follows the history respecting Peter, which might naturally be omitted here if this Gospel were drawn up under his inspection-but this is at least doubtful in any general sense.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
it is I: Isa 43:2, Mat 14:27, Luk 24:38-41, Joh 6:19, Joh 6:20, Joh 20:19, Joh 20:20
Reciprocal: Gen 45:3 – for they Mat 14:26 – they were Mar 16:5 – and they Luk 1:29 – she was Luk 24:37 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Mar 6:50. For they all saw him and were troubled. A proof that this story was not due to the over-heated imagination of a few of them. At this point Peters attempt to walk on the water occurred.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Verse 50
Were troubled; were afraid.