Mark 6:48

ἰδὼν αὐτοὺς βασανιζομένους. There is no need to suppose supernatural power of sight. The Paschal moon would give light enough. See on Mark 5:7. Syr-Sin. has “tormented with the fear of the waves.”

ἐν τῷ ἐλαύνειν.See on Mark 4:4. It was too stormy for sailing, and for hours they had been rowing against the wind making very little progress. Syr-Sin. omits.

τετάρτην φυλακήν. Mk (Mark 13:35) and Mt. (Mark 14:25) follow the Roman division into four watches. Lk. (Luke 12:38) probably follows the Jewish division into three (Judges 7:19); but see Acts 12:4. Syr-Sin, omits the mention of the hour.

ἐπὶ τῆς θαλάσσης. Cf. ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς (Mark 6:47), and περιπατῶν ὡς ἐπʼ ἐδάφους ἐπὶ θαλάσσης (Job 9:8). Christ was walking not by the sea, but on it, over the surface of its stormy waters. His walking by the sea would not have terrified them, nor could He and they have conversed. We may refuse to believe the miracle, but the narrative has not arisen through misinterpretation of language. Nor is it an imitation of O.T. miracles; Christ does not divide the Jordan and walk over on dry land (Joshua 3:14-17; 2 Kings 2:8; 2 Kings 2:14). “These attempts are usually unconvincing, and provoke the remark how much ingenuity can be combined with a lack of common sense” (Salmon, Human Element, p. 323). It is rash to be positive as to what would be possible or impossible for a unique Personality such as that of Jesus Christ.

ἤθελεν παρελθεῖν. Cf. Mark 7:27; Luke 24:28; and for the conative imperf. Matthew 3:14; Luke 1:59. We have here the impression of an eye-witness; the figure looked as if it meant to pass by them. Mt. omits this; see on Mark 1:45 and Mark 7:24.