Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. (Mt 14:22-26)
After such a mighty miracle there would have been jubilation. At least the disciples would have been wonder struck with their master that they would enjoy their belonging to him and in fact they would have wanted to stay close him. But here we see Jesus going by himself to pray. And he asked his disciples to go on their way to the other side.
Jesus went to pray. He wanted to be in relationship with God. He was not wanting to be with his disciples and followers (he asked them to go away and he was dismissing the crowd). His mighty deeds were only to reveal God to the people and to show that God was with him and he belonged to God.
When Jesus came back to his disciples they did not recognize him. Had something happened to him while he prayed that prevented his disciples to recognize him? They were afraid to receive him because they thought that he was a ghost. Probably the disciples were not still on God’s side.
