The New Oxford Annotated Bible with Apocrypha: New Revised Standard Version

by Pheme Perkins

He intended to pass them by. ⁴⁹ But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out; ⁵⁰ for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Why is Jesus almost passing by and the disciples are in need of His help? May be Jesus want them to discover that without Him they are helpless. If he see them struggling and immediately run to help them, then they won’t know what struggle is. Our struggles are ment to awaken us to the sense that we need the Lord. Without him, we are helpless.

As he came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” ² Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.”