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45 Then he made his disciples get into the boat(A) and precede him to the other side toward Bethsaida,[a] while he dismissed the crowd. 46 [b]And when he had taken leave of them, he went off to the mountain to pray. 47 When it was evening, the boat was far out on the sea and he was alone on shore. 48 Then he saw that they were tossed about while rowing, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea.[c] He meant to pass by them. 49 But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. 50 [d]They had all seen him and were terrified. But at once he spoke with them, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!” 51 He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were [completely] astounded. 52 They had not understood the incident of the loaves.[e] On the contrary, their hearts were hardened.(B)

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Footnotes

  1. 6:45 To the other side toward Bethsaida: a village at the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee.
  2. 6:46 He went off to the mountain to pray: see Mk 1:35–38. In Jn 6:15 Jesus withdrew to evade any involvement in the false messianic hopes of the multitude.
  3. 6:48 Walking on the sea: see notes on Mt 14:22–33 and on Jn 6:19.
  4. 6:50 It is I, do not be afraid!: literally, “I am.” This may reflect the divine revelatory formula of Ex 3:14; Is 41:4, 10, 14; 43:1–3, 10, 13. Mark implies the hidden identity of Jesus as Son of God.
  5. 6:52 They had not understood…the loaves: the revelatory character of this sign and that of the walking on the sea completely escaped the disciples. Their hearts were hardened: in Mk 3:5–6 hardness of heart was attributed to those who did not accept Jesus and plotted his death. Here the same disposition prevents the disciples from comprehending Jesus’ self-revelation through signs; cf. Mk 8:17.