It is difficult to tell whether the verb rendered willingly implies an unfulfilled or a fulfilled wish. That is, did Jesus actually get into the boat or not? Most English translations are ambiguous, as is the Greek, though Revised Standard Version (“they were glad to take him into the boat”) and Phillips (“so they gladly took him aboard”) indicate a fulfilled wish. Moffatt sounds as if the people in the boat took a formal vote (“so they agreed to take him on board”). In Good News Translation this same verb is translated wanted to in 7.44 and in 16.19 (both instances indicating unfulfilled wishes). In 1.43 it is translated decided to, while in 5.35 it is rendered were willing. In most languages it is not possible to be ambiguous here. One must indicate either that the disciples took Jesus willingly into the boat, or that they were willing to take him aboard, but he did not actually get into the boat.
In translating took him into the boat, it is important not to suggest that they had to rescue him from the sea. One may simply say “they received him into the boat” or “welcomed him aboard.”
And immediately (so also New English Bible and Revised Standard Version) is translated “suddenly” in New American Bible, “instantly” in Moffatt, and “in no time” in Jerusalem Bible. It seems probable that the force of this adverb is to indicate a second miracle. That is, at the very moment the disciples saw Jesus and he spoke to them, their boat reached land. Since Lake Galilee at its greatest extent is about seven miles wide and twelve miles long, it would seem that even if the disciples were crossing the lake at one of its narrower points, a second miracle is intended here, in addition to the one of Jesus’ walking on the water.
Reached land is the meaning that most translators give to the Greek; “came aground” of New American Bible might imply that the boat had an unfavorable landing. A literal rendering of the boat reached land must suggest in some receptor languages that the boat was self-propelled, that is, had a motor. A more satisfactory equivalent would be “they reached land in the boat.”
The place they were heading for may be rendered “the place to which they were going” or “the place where they wanted to land” or “the place where they wanted to arrive.”
Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .