Quotes & Notes on:     John 6:20   

• John Wesley's Notes:
  (No comment on this verse).
   

• The Fourfold Gospel:

    They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat. Superstitious fears are not always so soon allayed. His voice brought great assurance.
   

• Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

  * they willingly. Ps 24:7-10; Song 3:4; Mt 14:32,33; Mr 6:51; Re 3:20
   

• Robertson's Word Pictures:
   Be not afraid (mê phobeisthe). Prohibition with mê and present middle imperative of phobeomai. So in Mr 6:50 (Mt 14:27). John does not tell that the disciples thought Jesus was an apparition (Mr 6:49; Mt 14:26), nor does he give the account of Peter walking on the water (Mt 14:28-31).
   

• William Burkitt's Notes:

  (No comment on this verse).
   

• Family Bible Notes:

  (No comment on this verse).
   

• 1599 Geneva Bible Notes:
  (No comment on this verse).
   

• People's New Testament Commentary:

  It is I; be not afraid. This is the gospel message of peace, on the ground--the simple ground--"It is I." Christ's presence is peace to the soul. How often has he to speak this word of encouragement, even to his own! almost always when they are brought suddenly, or in an unusual way, face to face with him!
   

• Albert Barnes' Commentary:

  (No comment on this verse).
   

• Jamieson-Faussett Brown:

  It is I; be not afraid--Matthew (Mt 14:27) and Mark (Mr 6:50) give before these exhilarating words, that to them well-known one, "Be of good cheer!"
   

• Spurgeon Devotional Commentary:

  (No comment on this verse).
   

• Adam Clarke's Commentary:

  (No comment on this verse).

   

• Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:

   (No comment on this verse).
   

Quotes& Notes on   John 6:1-21   

• Gospel Harmony: 
• Feeding the Multitudes
• Matthew 14:13-21
• Mark 6:30-44
• Luke 9:10-17
• John 6:1-15 
• Walking on Water
• Matthew 14:22-33
• Mark 6:45-56
• John 6:15-21 
• It would seem appropriate on this Sunday to take our cue from the responsorialpsalm and its refrain:  "The hand of the Lord feeds us;  he answersall our needs."

- Reginald H. Fuller, Preaching the Lectionary,p. 331
• The appearance of Jesus suddenly and unexpectedly,with his reassurance "do not be afraid," reminds one of the situation inwhich his resurrection appearance takes place. 

- Massey H. Shepherd, Jr.., Interpreter'sOne-Volume Commentary, p. 717
• Every new experience of Jesus was an awe-filled surpriseto them.

- Herbert Lockyer,  All the Miraclesof the Bible, p. 201
• This is not one of the great "I Am" statements, althoughit shares the same form in the Greek.  The message is clear -- fearis banished by the realization of the presence of Jesus.

- Donald Guthrie, New Bible Commentary:Revised, p. 943
• Mark tells us that after the miracle of the feedingof the five thousand Jesus constrains His disciples to take ship and departfrom the scene of the miracle (Mark 6:45).  John supplies the reason(15):  the people would have carried Him away and acclaimed Him astheir king at the approaching feast.

- A.J. Macleod, New Bible Commentary,p. 877
• But believers, who know that he is given to them to make propitiation,as soon as they hear his name, which is a sure pledge to them both of thelove of God and of their salvation, take courage as if they had been raisedfrom death to life, calmly look at the clear sky, dwell quietly on earth,and, victorious over every calamity, take him for their shield againstall dangers. Nor does he only comfort and encourage them by his word, butactually removes also the cause of the terror by allaying the tempest.

- John Calvin, Commentary
• A striking picture of the remnant journeying on earthduring the absence of Christ, and their every wish fully and immediatelysatisfied-full blessing and rest-when He rejoins them.

- John Darby,Synopsis of  the NewTestament
•  The godly are often in peril and danger, butChrist comes to them in time, even in the midst of the tempests, and bringsthem to the haven.

- Geneva Study Bible
• Christ may be sometimes near his people, and theynot  know him; as the Lord was in the place where Jacob was, and heknew it not,  (Genesis 28:16) and as Christ was standing by Mary Magdaleneat the sepulchre, and she took him to be the gardener: and for want ofa distinct knowledge of Christ in his person, offices, and grace, personshave wrong apprehensions of him, and are filled with dread and fears, concludingthey have no interest in him; that he is a Saviour, but not of them; thattheir sins are so many, and of such a die, and attended with such aggravatingcircumstances, that though he is able to save them, he never can be willingto receive such vile sinners as they are.

- John Gill,  Exposition of the Bible
• The power and presence of the church’s King shallexpedite and facilitate her deliverance, and conquer the difficulties whichhave baffled  the skill and industry of all her other friends. Thedisciples had rowed hard, but could not make their point till they hadgot Christ in the ship, and then the work was done suddenly. If we havereceived Christ Jesus the Lord, have received him willingly, though thenight be dark and the wind high, yet we may comfort ourselves with this,that we shall be at shore shortly, and are nearer  to it than we thinkwe are. Many a doubting soul is fetched to heaven by a  pleasing surprise,or ever it is aware. 

- Matthew Henry, Commentary
• Matthew (Matthew 14:27) and Mark (Mark 6:50) givebefore these exhilarating words, that to them well-known one, "Be of goodcheer!"

- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
• This is the gospel message of peace, on the ground--thesimple ground--"It is I." Christ's presence is peace to the soul. How oftenhas he to speak this word of encouragement, even to his own! almost alwayswhen they are brought  suddenly, or in an unusual way, face to facewith him!

- Johnson, B.W., People's New Testament
• The Jews, as well as the Romans, usually dividedthe night into four watches of three hours each.  The first watchbegan at six, the second at nine, the third at twelve, the fourth at threein the morning.

- John Wesley, Notes Upon the New Testament,Matthew 14:25
•  

Word Study

• [Some manuscripts] omit "many furlongs distant from the land" and insert"out on the sea".  [Some manuscripts] omit "for they saw him" andput "all" at end of  v. 49.

- Burton H. Throckmorton, Jr., Gospel Parallels,p. 80 (on Matthew 14:24 & Mark 6:50)
• Afraid:  To fear, be afraid, phobeomai 

- Robert L. Young, Analytical Concordanceto the Bible, p. 17 
• FEAR 
• PHOBOS (noun)  first had the meaning of flight,that which is caused by being scared;  then, that which may causeflight, (a) fear, dread, terror, always with this significance in the fourGospels.  See TERROR
• PHOBEO (adjective)  in earlier Greek, to putto flight

- W.E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary ofNew Testament Words, p. 414-415
• Be not afraid (mh pobeisqe). Prohibition with mhand present middle  imperative of pobeomai. So in Mark 6:50 (Matthew14:27). John does not tell that the disciples thought Jesus was an apparition(Mark 6:49; Matthew 14:26), nor does he give the account of Peter walkingon the water (Matthew 14:28-31). 

- Robertson, A.T., Robertson's Word Pictures,vs.12

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