‘And immediately he constrained the disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him to the other side, until he should send the crowds away.'
‘Immediately He constrained.' The urgency behind these words would be difficult to understand had we not had the explanation in John's Gospel. Some of the crowds were beginning to get ideas about proclaiming Him king (John 6:15). This was the last thing that He wanted, and He did not want His disciples involved in such ideas. So He packed them off hurriedly in their boat while He Himself despatched the crowds. Hid disciples were to go before Him to the other side, probably across the top North West corner of the Lake. Thus they might expect that, like the crowds had done previously, He Himself would make His way round on the shore.