“And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.”
Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him — the detail just as he was communicates the immediacy of departure: Jesus is not transported in a specially prepared vessel but taken as he is, presumably still sitting in the teaching boat. The other boats with him are mentioned only here and serve to establish that the miracle had multiple witnesses beyond the twelve. They are not mentioned again after the storm, which suggests they turned back or were not significantly affected.
Church Fathers on Mark 4:36
After His teaching, they come from that place to the sea, and are tossed by the waves.
Therefore He allowed them to fall into the fear of danger, that they might experience His power in themselves, who saw others benefitted by Him. But He was sleeping upon the pillow of the ship, that is, on a wooden one.
Or else the ship into which He embarked, is taken to mean the tree of His passion, by which the faithful attain to the security of the safe shore. The other ships which are said to have been with the Lord signify those who are imbued with faith in the cross of Christ, and are not beaten about by the whirlwind of tribulation; or who, after the storms of temptation, are enjoying the serenity of peace.
Read all 6 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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