the sea toward them meant that he was coming with omnipotent power, one that made the water bear his weight and prevented wind and water from disturbing him in the least. With such power he was now at hand. Mark alone adds that Jesus “wanted to go by them,” the imperfect ἤθελε intimating that something followed to alter this completely. While Jesus went toward (πρός) the boat he took a course that would have led him by (παρά in the verb) the boat; and ἤθελε states that Jesus did this purposely.