61 After these things Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee—that is, the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great number of people went after him because they saw the signs which he did on those who were ill. 3 Then Jesus went up the mountain and was seated there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. 5 Lifting up his eyes, Jesus saw a great number of people coming to where he was, and he said to Philip, Where may we get bread for all these people? 6 This he said, testing him: for he had no doubt what he himself would do. 7 Philip made answer, Bread to the value of two hundred pence would not be enough even to give everyone a little. 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to Jesus, 9 There is a boy here with five barley cakes and two fishes: but what is that among such a number? 10 Jesus said, Let the people be seated. Now there was much grass in that place. And those seated on the grass were about five thousand. 11 Then Jesus took the cakes and having given praise to God, he gave them to the people who were seated, and the fishes in the same way, as much as they had need of. 12 And when they had had enough, Jesus said to his disciples, Take up the broken bits which are over, so that nothing may be wasted. 13 So they took them up: twelve baskets full of broken bits of the five cakes which were over after the people had had enough. 14 And when the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, Truly, this is the prophet who is to come into the world.
15 Now when Jesus saw that the people were about to come and take him by force to make him a king, he went away again up the mountain by himself.
16 When evening came the disciples went down to the sea; 17 And they took a boat and went across the sea in the direction of Capernaum. By then it was dark and still Jesus had not come to them. 18 The sea was getting rough because of a strong wind which was blowing. 19 After they had gone three or four miles they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near to the boat; and they had great fear. 20 But he said to them, It is I, have no fear. 21 Then they readily took him into the boat: and straight away the boat was at the land to which they were going.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 6:1-21
Commentary on John 6:1-14
(Read John 6:1-14)
John relates the miracle of feeding the multitude, for its reference to the following discourse. Observe the effect this miracle had upon the people. Even the common Jews expected the Messiah to come into the world, and to be a great Prophet. The Pharisees despised them as not knowing the law; but they knew most of Him who is the end of the law. Yet men may acknowledge Christ as that Prophet, and still turn a deaf ear to him.
Commentary on John 6:15-21
(Read John 6:15-21)
Here were Christ's disciples in the way of duty, and Christ was praying for them; yet they were in distress. There may be perils and afflictions of this present time, where there is an interest in Christ. Clouds and darkness often surround the children of the light and of the day. They see Jesus walking on the sea. Even the approaches of comfort and deliverance often are so mistaken, as to become the occasions of fear. Nothing is more powerful to convince sinners than that word, "I am Jesus whom thou persecutest;" nothing more powerful to comfort saints than this, "I am Jesus whom thou lovest." If we have received Christ Jesus the Lord, though the night be dark, and the wind high, yet we may comfort ourselves, we shall be at the shore before long.