John Chrysostom

Christ provideth for the good of his disciples not only when He is present in the body, but also when far away; for having abundance of means and of skill, He effecteth one and the same end by contrary actions. Observe, for instance, what He hath done here. He leaveth His disciples, and goeth up into a mountain; and they, when even was come, went down unto the sea. …

Homily on the Gospel of John 43 ↗

Cyril of Alexandria

The first sign having been miraculously accomplished, His flight and withdrawal are economically found to be the root again and occasion of another, and the Wonderworker proceeds, as it is written, from might to might. For since He was being sought as King by them who were astonished at that great miracle, and was Himself refusing worldly honours according to the preceding account; it was altogether necessary that He should depart from the place, yea, rather from their whole country. …

Commentary on the Gospel of John, Book 3 ↗

Augustine of Hippo

Behold, Jesus is on the mountain, and the disciples are in the ship. He on the mountain is on high, and they on the sea are on the low level. And yet He left them not who was at a distance from them: just as also He leaves not us (for with Him is our hope), even in that we are delayed in this body, until the end of the world come. And with the ship on the sea the blast rose mightily, and they were tormented by the tossing. It cannot be that the faith of Christ is without tempest in this world. …

Tractates on John 25 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Now he considers the third effect of Christ's miracle, the search for Christ. First, by his disciples; secondly, by the people. As to the first, he does two things. First, he tells of the eagerness of the disciples; and secondly, enlarges upon this (v 17b). He does two things about the first. First, he tells that they went down to the shore. Secondly, he tells of their journey across the sea (v 17). Note, about the first, that Christ went up into the mountain without the knowledge of his disciples. …

Commentary on John ↗

Bonaventure

Here the descent of the disciples to depart is touched upon; for the Lord wished to dismiss the crowds secretly, so that they would not find him: therefore he sent his disciples ahead, so that descending from the mountain they might cross over. For this reason he says: "But when evening had come" — this is the hour of returning to lodging — "his disciples had descended to the sea," namely, so that they might cross over. …

Commentary on John, Chapter 6 ↗