Homilies on the Gospel of St. John and the Epistle to the Hebrews

NPNF (V1-14)St. Chrysostoma cause that the Evangelist hath declared 1215 the time also, but by it to show the warmth of theirlove.Wherefore then doth Christ let them go, and not show Himself? 1216 And again, 1217 whereforedoth He show Himself walking alone upon the sea? By the first He teacheth them how great (anevil) it is to be forsaken by Him, and maketh their longing greater; by the second, again, He showethforth His power. For as in His teaching they heard not all in common with the multitude, so in thecase of the miracles they saw them not all with the mass of people, since it was needful that theywho were about to receive in charge the presidency 1218 of the world, should have somewhat morethan the rest. “And what sort of miracles,” saith some one, “saw they by themselves?” TheTransfiguration on the mount; this on the sea, and those after the Resurrection, which are manyand important. And from these I conjecture that there were others also. They came to Capernaumwithout any certain information, but expecting to find Him there, or even in mid passage; this theEvangelist implies by saying that “it was now dark, and Jesus was not yet come to them.”“And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.” What did they? They were troubled,for there were many and various causes which forced them to be so. They were afraid by reasonof the time for it was dark, of the storm for the sea had risen, of the place for they were not nearland; but,Ver. 19 . “Had rowed about five and twenty 1219 furlongs.”And, lastly, by reason of the strangeness of the thing, for,“They see Him 1220 walking upon the sea.” And when they were greatly troubled,Ver. 20 . “He saith unto them, It is I, be not afraid.”Wherefore then appeareth He? To show that it was He who would make the storm cease. Forthis the Evangelist hath shown, saying, 1221Ver. 21 . “They were willing to receive Him, 1222 and immediately the ship was near the land.”1223He not only gave them a safe passage, but also one with a fair wind.To the multitude He showeth not Himself walking upon the sea, for the miracle was too greatto suit their infirmity. Indeed, even by the disciples He was not seen long doing this, but He appeared,and at once retired. 1224 Now this seems to me to be a different miracle from that found in Matthewxiv .; and that it is different is clear from many reasons. For He worketh often the same miracles,1215al. “ signifies. ”1216al. “ and retire. ”1217al. “ but rather. ”1218προστασίαν1219“ five and twenty or thirty, ” N.T.1220“ they see Jesus, ” N.T.1221al. “ is shown (or It shows by the Evangelist, saying, ” &c.).1222[into the ship,] N.T.1223“ at the land whither they went, ” N.T.1224al. “ withdrew from them. ”236