Policy Regarding Personal Information The information on this page was last updated on January 4, 2022. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. It is true that the disciples were scared because their hearts had been hardened as a result of their failure to comprehend the loaves. He didnt swim out and stand on a sand bar. What made you lose your nerve like that?" Learn Religions, Sep. 7, 2021, learnreligions.com/jesus-walks-on-water-700220. What were the miracles of Jesus? In Mark and John, however, the reference to the apostle Peter walking on water is not included. More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free! In order to demonstrate to his disciples that he is more than a miraculous worker or charismatic leader, k on water? Miracle by Jesus according to the New Testament, Jack Dean Kingsbury, Mark Allan Powell, David R. Bauer, 1999, Comparison in other versions at BibleGateway, The Life and Ministry of Jesus: The Gospels, Who do you say that I am? The people on the lake, however, thought he was a ghost when they saw him wandering about on the water.They screamed because they had all seen him and were afraid of him.Immediately, he addressed them and encouraged them, saying, Take courage! To anyone familiar with the Old Testament, John 6 reads like a reenactment of the exodus story of which the Passover is a central part. When Jesus glanced out across the lake, he noticed that it was extremely windy, as if a storm had swept in. (NIV). Growing up, every sermon I heard about Jesus walking on water focused on Gods ability to calm the storms in our lives. And the distance would be sufficient not to recognise features. Despite his hectic schedule, Jesus made spending time with God a primary priority in his daily life. : essays on Christology, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Jesus_walking_on_water&oldid=1133982716, Short description is different from Wikidata, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 16 January 2023, at 12:30. Matt. whether he though Jesus actually walked on the water. This is not a God who is unaware of our fears, failures, and faults. [12] David Cook and Craig Evans note that "of little faith" is a somewhat common expression in Matthew (e.g. In addition to the clear parallels to the exodus in John 6, the Johannine account of Jesus walking on water also mentions the sea four timesmore than any account in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). [1], At the end of the evening, the disciples boarded a ship to cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, without Jesus who went up the mountain to pray alone. Biologos. It was his way of saying, Dont be frightened. Do not be afraid! debate, where people kept asking a Protestant minister who was also a TE But what about the Red Sea crossing, which was a massive migration event in its own right?There is a similarity between this and the gospel of John.The Johannine narrative of Jesus walking on water, in addition to the obvious similarities to the Exodus in John 6, also makes four references to the seaa number that is more than any other account in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).This is even the more astonishing when you consider that Johns account is by far the shortest (86 words in Greek compared with 139 in Mark and 186 in Matthew).Furthermore, John refers to the sea four more times in the same chapter, both before and after the crossing of the Sea of Galilee by Jesus and his disciples (John 6:1, 22, 25).To the contrary, none of the other authors mentions the sea either before or after Jesus walks on its surface water. The majority are faith healings, exorcisms, resurrections, and control over nature.. If we had an undamaged, clear videotape of the incident, Other times, however, storms rage with no end in sight. [22], Finally, there are scholars who regard the story as an example of "creative symbolism", or myth,[23] which probably was understood by a part of the audience literally and by others allegorically. We were not present to witness any miracles of timing. We no longer have to be terrified of what may happen to us if we face the storms in our lives front on!We can no longer be concerned when the devil uses individuals to discourage us since we are no longer in danger!All we have to do now is keep our eyes set on Christ and continue to gaze forwardHes right there with the wind, waves, and everything else. Yet, whereas Moses returned from the mountain with the law, Jesus returns with nothing but Himself. All rights reserved. But it was the revelation of Jesus walking on the water that, more than any other, convinced Jesus' disciples . Sunday, April 9 Jesus miraculously appears to two men while they are walking to Emmaus (Luke 24:13 - 33), a small village that was roughly seven miles (11.2 kilometers) from Jerusalem. When darkness veils his lovely face, / I rest on his unchanging grace. Got Questions Ministries is a trademark of Got Questions Ministries, Inc., registered in the state of California in the year 2002. [24] Rudolf Bultmann pointed out that the sea-walking theme is familiar in many cultures. In his resurrection, Jesus was "vindicated by the Spirit" ( 1 Timothy 3:16 ). This was the first time Jesus was called the Son of God by the disciples, a statement that, in fact, built on what they had said earlier about Him in Matthew 8:27: What kind of man is this?Even the winds and the waves obey him. Here they answer their own question: Truly you are the Son of God. Though they had a long way to go in their spiritual understanding, the disciples were growing in their faith in the Lord.Also, this was the first time the disciples are said to have worshiped Jesus.In Matthew 2:11, the magi from the East worshiped Jesus.Later, a leper is said to have worshiped Jesus (Matthew 8:2). Make it possible for these wonderful readers to believe in your brilliance! Thus, the story is extremely significant to Christiansand the basis for several important life lessons that govern how believers practice their faith. 53 And when they had crossed over, they came to the land unto Gennesaret, and moored to the shore. Weathering the storm with Jesus: As soon as Jesus entered into the boat, the storm subsided completely. I like your writings here on the Bible; theyre the best thing on There was an interesting comment on Peter Ennss post Jesus and the Sea though, a comment I think worth a response and some consideration and one that relates to many of the discussions we have had here of late. 11:1), and they questioned Gods capacity to accomplish what He had promised (John 6:52; see also Ps.78:1920).It is in this way that practically every significant occurrence in the Exodus account is replicated in John 6. Learn Religions. They said, It is a ghost! and they cried out in fear. While he dismissed the multitudes, he immediately ordered his followers to get into the boat and accompany him to the opposite side of the lake.And once he had dismissed the people, he climbed up to the top of the mountain to pray on his own behalf.When the dark arrived, he was alone on the island, but the boat had already traveled a considerable distance from the shore, battered by the waves due to the winds opposition.Afterwards, he came to them during the fourth watch of the night, strolling on the water. And Peter went down from the boat, and walked upon the waters to come to Jesus. Mary Fairchild is a full-time Christian minister, writer, and editor of two Christian anthologies, including "Stories of Calvary.". Wanting to believe, Peter steps out in faith to walk on the water with Jesus. He cared for their spiritual need of salvation as He showed Himself as the great I AM, and cared for their physical need to be saved from a tumultuous storm. This is the Apostolic witness, the testimony to Jesus as Lord: John 1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. There is a parallel in Johns gospel as well. This is all the more remarkable given that Johns account is the shortest by far (86 words in Greek compared with 139 in Mark and 186 in Matthew). means to remain steady or resolute in the face of danger or difficult circumstances in English.In addition, he says, Do not be frightened, which is frequently connected with a heavenly aspect (Dan 10:12, 19, for example).Jesus declares himself by saying, It is I (It is I).This is typically connected with the name of God in the Old Testament.For example, the name of God in Exodus 3:14 is written as in the Septuagint.It is in the context of the Lord walking on the seas in the uagint that Isaiah 43:10-11 is found. The third significant point is that Jesus proved Himself to be in command of the elements, something only God can do.He revealed this truth to the disciples who recognized His divinity and responded with a confession of faith in Jesus as God: The wind died down.Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, Truly you are the Son of God (Matthew 14:3233). 3:14), which is frequently rendered as Lord, just as it is in Exodus 14:13, which is the same translation as in Exodus 3:14. Peter jumped out of the boat and began walking on the water toward Jesus, but the moment he took his eyes offof Jesus, Peter saw nothing but the wind and waves, and he started to sink. This sovereign King goes from whipping the wind into shape, to being crucified on a cross in order to bring about the redemption of His people. These texts give insight on the significance of Johns vision that the sea was no more in Gods new creation, which he saw in the book of Revelation (Rev. But he assured them, saying, It is I; do not be alarmed. Then they were willing to put him in the boat, and the boat arrived at the shore where they were headed almost immediately (John 6:1621).There are numerous essential elements to note regarding this miracle.First, Matthew informs us that the boat was already a great way from land, buffeted by the waves since the wind was against it. What do you think? It is because John wants us to see Jesus as the greater Moses, as he has already told us both explicitly ( John 1:16-17) and implicitly (Moses could only draw water from the rock, while Jesus could draw wine from the rock, the stone jars; see Ex. Jesus walked on water in order to call us as His own. For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authoritiesall things have been created through Him and for Him. Hence, they attempt to make Him king (John 6:15; see Deut. Note, too, that Moses doubts regarding Gods ability to provide meat came after the miraculous provision of manna (Numb. And though He rejects their offer of kingship without the cross (cf. The same Peter that sunk in fear, and later denied Jesus three times (Matthew 26:31-35), is the same Peter that started the church in Jerusalem (Acts 2:14-42). Anyone who is unfamiliar with the narrative will recall that Jesus multiplied enough bread and fish to feed a huge crowdand there were plenty of leftovers to go around.Besides providing what they need, he went above and above to deliver what they desired, which was more than enough!But thats exactly what Jesus does: He struts his stuff!Not only were all of His miracles for our advantage, but they were also for His benefit.He was well aware of who He was. Why did Jesus walk on the water? 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea. You have revealed to me by your Spirit that this is why and how Jesus walked on water. Here is what that experience looks like: Step one: David was set on high and was flourishing at the hand of Gods bounty (v. 7a). 14:3436; Mark 6:5356). Finally, the crowds response to Jesus mirrors Israels response to God. I am the One who forms the wind and waves, who rules and reigns over every living thing. Jesus is seeking to assure His disciples in their fear, but He is primarily proclaiming and confirming the nature of who He is. Is this not what the old hymns taught us to sing? Those who believe in Jesus can enjoy peace of mind knowing that he will calm the tumultuous waves of life when they are in his company. Lord, please save me! he shouted aloud. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. The episode occurs shortly after another miracle, the. [19], Catholic scholar John P. Meier believes that the miraculous walk on water is a purely theological narrative, without historical foundation. Jesus caught him, and commenting on his lack of faith led him back to the ship, whereupon the storm stopped. The connections are so strong that the crowds recognize Jesus as the promised prophet like Moses (John 6:14; see Deut. So the other disciples stayed in the boat and dragged in the net full of fish. Jesus is the true source of our escape since He is the Passover Lamb (John 1:29) and the One who guides His people safely across hazardous rivers (John 6:1621), among other roles.And we know He is capable of doing so because Christ has shown Himself to us.During the most difficult time of their ordeal, when they were terrified by the fury of the sea and the apparent certainty of death, the disciples overheard Jesus declare, It is I; do not be terrified (John 6:20).Do not be scared, Moses instructed the Israelites on the eve of the Red Sea crossing: Do not be terrified. Remain steady and watch for the Lords redemption, which he will bring about for you today (Ex.14:13).2 This implies that we have nothing to be afraid of as long as God is with us, as He is in Christ Jesus our Lord. To put it differently, if we can trust Jesus to resolve our deepest problems, as He does through the cross and the resurrection, then how much more can we trust Him to handle the smaller trials of life? of squirmy when such episodes are brought up. According to Meier this is a metaphor of the Early Church immediately after Easter: Jesus leaves his disciples with the ascension promising to return, but occasionally visits them during the journey to support them (through the Eucharist). / In every high and stormy gale, /My anchor holds within the veil. What was the meaning of Jesus walking on water? Ex. Jesus did this to strengthen, teach, and confirm the faith of His disciples. 2023 Proven Way / When all around my soul gives way, / He then is all my hope and stay (My Hope Is Built on Nothing Less by Edward Mote). A synagogue ruler does the same thing in Matthew 9:18.But this is the first time the disciples worshiped Him.It is also important to note that their worship is joined to their confession (Matthew 14:33). Later, when Israel sought escape from Egypt, they were trapped by the sealet the reader understanduntil God made a way for them to pass safely through it on dry ground (Ex. the sea into dry land to part the waters of the Red Sea. In the forty days after the resurrection, Christ stayed on the earth to prepare His disciples for the work before them. About 3 1/2 years later, Stephen opposed the unbelieving Hellenistic crowd. 9 Although I can see him as he passes me, I am unable to recognize him when he passes me. 4:89; Luke 4:57), Jesus doesnt reject the connection to Moses. Before the disciples got on the boat, Jesus provided bread and fish for 5,000 plus people in the middle of a desert. Once on the boat, they were delighted to have him aboard, and the boat arrived at their destination almost instantly (John 6:14-21).The feeding of the five thousand was a sign, according to John, and he recognized it.He also took notice of what the people had to say about it and how Jesus replied to their comments, which he recorded. I imagine that moment going from white caps, strong wind, and seasickness to the water looking like glass. There are three different accounts of Jesus walking on water that have been recorded in the Bible.It is crucial to notice that the event is told by three of Jesus followers, Matthew, Mark, and John, who are all named in the Bible.In Jesus earthly career, Luke was not a disciple of Jesus, thus his gospel does not include any references to Jesus walking on water. They had crossed over, they came to the apostle Peter walking water! 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