John 6:17-18

The disciples’ ultimate destination was Capernaum, which Mark called Bethsaida (Mark 6:45). Evidently this western Bethsaida ("Fishtown") was very close to, or even part of, Capernaum. [Note: Edersheim, 2:3-4.] When Jesus did not appear by nightfall, they decided to travel on to Capernaum without Him.

In John’s Gospel darkness often has symbolic significance implying a bad situation (cf. John 3:2; John 13:30). Jesus’ absence cast another foreboding cloud over the disciples. To make the occasion even worse a strong wind came up and created a storm on the lake. The wind normally came from the west, the direction in which the disciples headed. Mark described the disciples as straining at the oars (Mark 6:48).