We need to trust and prioritize the authority of Christ above our own feelings, and learn to depend entirely upon his will. In walking on water, Jesus is demonstrating he is God; he also identifies himself as the "I Am" of the scriptures.

Mark seems to have been a scribe for Peter; Peter taught (mainly to a Roman audience) and Mark recorded it. The Romans likely would have understood the references to Jesus' divinity, as walking on water was understood by Romans to be a sign of the divine.

An interesting possibility: In 1 Kings 19:19, where Elijah passes by Elisha and just leaves his mantle for him... Elijah may be drawing from Exodus, letting his glory pass before Elisha, like God did for Moses on Sinai. Perhaps having God's glory pass before you is a way to receive the mantle, to have the call of God passed on to you. This could be what's happening here as Jesus passes by the apostles on the water before turning and joining them.

When the apostles were afraid, Jesus comforted them immediately.

A thought:

v49... the apostles were exhausted and terrified when they think they see a ghost. But in their worst moment, they were on the verge of being their best! That's when God shows up. Just like the cross, darkest before dawn.... in the Exodus, things were at their worst, then God sent the plagues to free his people. The same with Elijah and the widow of Zerapheth. Gideon and the winepress. Paul and the Phillippian jailer who was about to take his own life... then God showed up.

God so often moves just when things seem darkest! He lets us experience the trials because he loves us and wants us to grow in faith; then he swoops down and saves the day.

It's important we ground ourselves in the Word of God so when God has us go through valleys, we will deepen in our faith!