The story of Jesus walking on water is retold in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John; it is not in the Gospel of Luke. The episode occurs shortly after another miracle, the feeding of the 5,000.This event convinced the 12 disciples that Jesus is indeed the living Son of God.Thus, the story is extremely significant to Christians and the basis for several important life lessons that govern . 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 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. Bergquam noted he did not find any evidence of chemicals in the water, but anecdotally, what he did discover is jarring. It wasn't identified exactly in the Bible the year on which JESUS walk on the water but we can say it was perhaps year 33 as JESUS walkes on the water after His resurrection from the death when He . 23 And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray: and when even was come, he was there alone. However, although Moses came from the mountain with the law, Jesus returns from the cross with nothing more than Himself. He did not come to make us rich, famous, or comfortable. So the other disciples stayed in the boat and dragged in the net full of fish. In addition to being Jesus closest buddy, John was also known as the disciple whom Jesus loves. Many things he observed and documented that the others did not were picked up on by him.What do you think youre seeing here?After the people witnessed the sign Jesus performed, they started to speculate, Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world, as if Jesus were the promised Messiah. 711).In contrast to this, the signs Jesus performs are loving and restorative rather than horrific and punishing in nature (John 6:2, 11).Next, in Exodus 12, we have the institution of the Passover, as well as an allusion to the Passover in John 6:4, which are both references to Jesus.Following this, Israel traveled in the desert, and Moses prayed to God for guidance on where he could obtain enough food to feed such a large number of people (Num. For this reason, in John 6, Jesus is revealed as the One who brings about the genuine freedom of Gods people from enslavement to sin, the certainty of death, and the fair judgment of God, which is the true exodus. Although I have often interacted here with posts on other blogs, I have not generally paid a great deal of attention to the comments on those other blogs. Had Jesus been moving, his gait may have been a clue. There are accounts of this event in three GospelsMatthew, Mark, and Johnbut it is not included in the Gospel of Luke. Policy Regarding Personal Information The information on this page was last updated on January 4, 2022. For those who are familiar with the Old Testament, John 6 may appear to be a recreation of the exodus account, in which the Passover is a significant element, as it does to those who are not.In the first place, we have the proliferation of signs and wonders, similar to what happened in Egypt (cf.Ex. Because they were afraid, they screamed when they realized he was walking on the water and assumed he must be a ghost.He had intended to pass by them, but they mistook him for a ghost and screamed when they realized he was on the sea.However, he instantly addressed them and stated, Take heart; it is I. However, when he saw the tremendous wind and the waves, he became afraid and began to sink into the water. Soon doubt started forming in his mind. , Readers who pay close attention may see that the words It is I (eg eimi) in John 6:20 literally translate as I am. This is, of course, the same translation of the holy name of God in Hebrew (YHWH, see Ex. In order to demonstrate to his disciples that he is more than a miraculous worker or charismatic leader, k on water? 24 But the boat was now in the midst of the sea, distressed by the waves; for the wind was contrary. As soon as Jesus stepped into the boat, the wind stopped, and everyone was surprised.The danger was no longer a threat.They couldnt comprehend what I was saying.Although they had hardened hearts, Jesus was nevertheless able to assist them despite their lack of comprehension.The story of Mark can inspire us to accept Jesus into our insane, chaotic situations in order to provide tranquility, even when we dont understand how. When we consider the signs and wonders in recorded in scripture sometimes a natural explanation is found and the wonder is in the timing not physical cause, but on other occasions no natural cause is present. When they saw him, they were all scared, according to Mark 6:5051. Copyright 2002-2023 Got Questions Ministries. This preview shows page 17 - 19 out of 39 pages. Wanting to believe, Peter steps out in faith to walk on the water with Jesus. Matthew's and Mark's accounts end at this point, but John mentions that the next day some people from the other side of the sea that looked for Jesus, noted that the disciples left without him, but they didn't know where he went. Were you under the impression that he was merely cutting corners? Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Recognizing the Lords presence: Despite the fact that they had been with Jesus for a long time, the disciples did not recognize him as he approached them in the midst of the storm. As evidence of His divinity, He demonstrated it to His disciples, who replied with a confession of confidence in Jesus as God: And as soon as they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And they in the boat prostrated themselves before him, proclaiming, Truly, you are the Son of God. (Matthew 14:3233; Mark 10:3233).Keep your eyes and ears fixed on Jesus, no matter where you are in your spiritual journey, and you will be OK.Let us fix our gaze only on Jesus, who was the source of our faith and who will bring it to completion (Hebrews 12:2).Photograph courtesy of iStock/Getty Images Plus/MajaArgakijeva. In the book of Exodus, I AM was the name God revealed to His people just before He rescued them from slavery. The Apostles creed is a good summary: I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord: Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; He descended into hell. You have revealed to me by your Spirit that this is why and how Jesus walked on water. The New Testament Bible story of Jesus walking on water is one of the most widely told narratives and key miracles ofJesus. if you wish. Miracles, signs, and wonders are simply not believable. 19 When therefore they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they behold Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the boat: and they were afraid. Luke C23 V46, "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.". As soon as he took his eyes off of Jesus, Peter began to sink.When Peter called out to the Lord, Jesus quickly put out his hand to grab him in his arms.As Jesus and Peter clambered into the boat together, the storm came to an abrupt halt. It also reveals the heart of Christ to me! In the book of Psalms, the sea is frequently used to symbolize tremendous uncertainty and insurmountable difficulty (e.g., Pss. Jesus could have just fed the 5,000, but instead, He supplied more than they needed by providing one basket of leftover food for each disciple. 48 And seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary unto them, about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking on the sea; and he would have passed by them: 49 but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw him, and were troubled. As a result, our little difficulties are minor and transient difficulties that are preparing us for an everlasting grandeur that much transcends all of our difficulties (Rom.8:18; 2 Cor.4:17).3. Happily, we dont have to guess what it is. Oral tradition, according to Meier, is intertwined with references to the Old Testament (Jesus' answer "I am" is in accordance with the vision of Jesus as Yahweh of the Early Church) and post-resurrection perceptions. It appears that they are traveling against the wind and are being pummeled by the wave. Usually, the word battered () refers to harassment and torture (e.g., Mark 6:48 in the ESV, they were making progress painfull), but in this case, it refers to punishment.This is the traditional meaning of the word, which conveys the idea of being forced to read the material (typically via suffering, BrillD).The disciples knowledge of who Jesu is may have been tested throughout this hard night of rowing against the wind.Since they end up at Gennesa, this is the case.The distance between Tagbha and Tel Kinneret is approximately 14 miles (23 kilometers) south, at the southern tip of the l ake. He wasnt being pulled on skis by a boat. A new Exodus is described in Isaiah 43:2-3 and 43:16-17, where the imagery is used to symbolize the return of Judah from exile in a new Exodus. Best Answer. Several hours later in the night, the disciples encountered a storm that frightened them. 14:3436; Mark 6:5356). There must be a rational (read: natural) explanation. walked on the water, so the historical question is the same. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost; and they cried out for fear. 5:21; Heb. (Matthew 14:31; Mark 12:31).After that, they went onto the boat, where the storm had subsided.All of the disciples eyes were wide open and riveted on Jesus, as if they couldnt believe what they were seeing for the first time!And theres Jesus, all alone in the middle of the room.I believe He was beaming from ear to ear the entire time. He does not let us drown for a little while until we get our act together. After rowing against the wind for most of the night, the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water. Jesus committed no sin, either before orduring His suffering (cf. All of this has no bearing on my view of the mechanism of creation. I have arrived! After that, he went inside the boat, and the wind died down completely. We dont have to guess what it is, which is a relief.Because, while all four Gospel authors mention the feeding of the five thousand, only John tells us when this miracle occurred, i.e., around the time of Passover (John 6:4).And this is his key to understanding the significance of all that follows. Walking on water, which is recorded in three of the Gospels, was performed immediately after Jesus miracle feeding the 5,000 with only five loaves of bread and two fish, which was recorded in two of the Gospels (Matthew 14:17).More than anything, however, it was the revelation of Jesus walking on water that convinced His followers that He was, without a doubt, the Son of God, and that they should follow Him.Jesus revealed that He was in charge of the natural elements, which is something only God is capable of doing. In the forty days after the resurrection, Christ stayed on the earth to prepare His disciples for the work before them. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and took hold of him, and saith unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Peters leap of faith, on the other hand, did not result in disappointment. Jesus walking on water is one of the most well-known stories in the New Testament. 17:1-7; John 2:1-12). A mighty fortress is our God / a bulwark never failing; / Our helper He amid the flood / of mortal ills prevailing (A Mighty Fortress Is Our God by Martin Luther). 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). That is a departure from the Jewish . As if by magic, Jesus multiplies bread to supply as much as they desired (John 6:11) to the crowds, just as God had provided bread from heaven to feed His people with as much as any man could eat (Exodus 16:4). !) (Picture to the right: Sea of Galilee or Lake Kinneret on a rather calm day.). Then they witnessed Jesus walking toward them across the surface of the water, and their fear turned to terror because they believed they were seeing a ghost. 11:22), just as Philip tells Jesus that two hundred denarii of bread would not be enough (John 6:7). Strobel also argues that the resurrection is the best explanation for the fact that Jesus' tomb was empty on Easter morning. Peter showed the boldness of his faith as he followed Jesus out of the boat. In Matthew 14:25-32, Jesus is seen walking on water near the Sea of Galilee. [12] David Cook and Craig Evans note that "of little faith" is a somewhat common expression in Matthew (e.g. 7:1819). The amazing thing is that in faith Peter started walking on the water toward Jesus. Let me preface it. 29 And he said, Come. Peter stepped down from the boat and did walk on the water, making for Jesus. The connections are so strong that the crowds recognize Jesus as the promised prophet like Moses (John 6:14; see Deut. 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). Belief in Jesus does not leave us unfazed or unchanged. "What is scary, and I can't say for sure if this is connected or if it's just a . Identification of miracles of timing is well nigh impossible with the passage of time. Despite his hectic schedule, Jesus made spending time with God a primary priority in his daily life. That verse does not foretell Gods retribution against beachfront property; rather, it is Gods promise that everything the sea symbolizes in Scripturesin, death, and judgmentwill be abolished when Christ restores all things to their original state (Rev. They were frightened, thinking that they were seeing a spirit, but when Jesus told them not to be afraid, they were reassured. However, when the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were startled and said, Its a ghost! as they screamed in terror.Take comfort, it is I, Jesus said directly to them when they had heard him say it.Be brave and do not be scared. And Peter said, Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the sea, indicating that he believed it was. Timing is well nigh impossible with the law, Jesus is seen walking on the earth prepare..., proclaiming, Truly, did jesus walk on water before or after his resurrection are the Son of God in Hebrew YHWH... 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