And this is his clue to the meaning of all that follows. A: In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus met the two women as they walked, but only met the disciples at a mountain in Galilee and from there sent them forth to teach all nations. After all, they knew the Roman authorities had put Jesus to death, and that His body had been taken down from the cross and sealed in a tomb. In the days of Noah, the sea was the instrument of Gods deadly judgment (Gen. 6:17). 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 . Meaning of Jesus Walking on Water. The disciples were staring at Him in astonishment, praising Him, and understanding that a reality had suddenly become obvious to them.I can almost hear Him remark, with his eyebrows arched, See? They received tangible evidence that would compel them to radically alter their lives: Truly, you are the Son of God, they were told (Matthew 14:33).Id want to say a prayer for you: God bless you in the morning!Thank you for providing us with yet another day on your world! His belief in the resurrection of Jesus is based on a vision of the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus. What can we learn from the account of Peter walking on water? Comparison in other versions at BibleGateway. These three instances reveal Jesus care for His people by supplying their every need. But it was the revelation of Jesus walking on the water that, more than any other, convinced Jesus' disciples . Jesus Walks on Water Bible Story Study Guide. Despite this, he was able to walk on water like the Son of God!Why?!How? This incident serves as a reminder to believers that a temporary loss of faith is only that: a temporary loss of faith. Every one of his deeds and teachings may be seen through this prism of understanding. He contends that these methods of exegesis rely on factual interpretations and fail to capture the full meaning of the text based on its structure. / When all around my soul gives way, / He then is all my hope and stay. . 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. 349 views, 7 likes, 2 loves, 2 comments, 6 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Woodridge Baptist Church: Guest speaker, Saleim Kahleh's sermon from. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. 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. In particular, the narrative part of the story seems to fall into the apocalyptic genre, meaning by this term a genre characterized by an accentuated symbolism and light-shadow contrasts. 2023 Proven Way 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. Jesus says, It is I; do not be afraid. In other words, Jesus is still with us in the storm, reminding us of what Hes done, strengthening us for the trials we face, and encouraging us not to forget that our biggest problems have already been solved. Night fell and the sea arose as the ship became caught in a wind storm. In Matthew, Jesus isnt just calling out to them to bring their attention to the fact that He is present. Careful readers will note that the words translated It is I (. 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. 32 And when they were gone up into the boat, the wind ceased. Rather, He entered into our humanity to show Himself as the true bread of life (John 6:35). debate, where people kept asking a Protestant minister who was also a TE The miracles of Jesus are miraculous deeds attributed to Jesus in Christian and Islamic texts. [13], Richard Cassidy states that this episode sheds special light on the position of Peter who had faith in Jesus and acknowledged Jesus' extraordinary powers, and by considering to walk on water himself, wanted to share in the act of Jesus before the other disciples for he considered himself closest to Jesus. In him and by him everything was created. It also reveals the heart of Christ to me! 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. Lord. In contrast to Mark, John does not mention Jesus instructions to the disciples to cross the lake, but rather credits initiative to the disciples to do what they are familiar with.Then, when they found themselves in difficulties, they were delighted to invite Jesus into the boat, and they arrived at their destination almost swiftly.The story of John can inspire us to pay attention to how Jesus is at work in our lives.Also, if we dont receive instant instructions, we should stick with what weve already been informed until we do receive them.Finally, when we find ourselves in danger, we should put our trust in Jesus, knowing that he will see us through to the other side. It is common in parts of our society to dismiss the power of God, to reduce theism (belief in a personal interactive God) to deism (belief in a God who got everything started). You have revealed to me by your Spirit that this is why and how Jesus walked on water. In the Gospels, Jesus walks on water in Matthew 14:22-33 and also in Mark 6:45-52 and John 6:16-21. "What is scary, and I can't say for sure if this is connected or if it's just a . This is where the waves whipped up around the disciples' boat and frightened them into waking Jesus during the storm. Every time the In the Gospel of John, Jesus is said to have performed seven miraculous signs that characterize his ministry, from changing water into wine at the start of his ministry to raising Lazarus from the dead at the end. In the past, I have seen some theistic evolutionists act, well, kind A few minutes behind them, I meandered over towards the dock full of people I knew. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God. Jesus walking on the water, or on the sea, is depicted as one of the miracles of Jesus recounted in the New Testament. 21:1). Now study the following paragraph from Psalm 77.When I thought about it, I thought, Ill make an appeal to the years when the Most High extended his right hand. 11 I will recall the works of the Lord; yes, I will recall your wonders that occurred a long time ago.12 I will think on all of your accomplishments and reflect on all of your magnificent exploits. 13 Gods methods are pure and unblemished.Is there a god who is as great as our God?14 The people see you as the God who works miracles, and you demonstrate your authority among them.15 You redeemed your people, the offspring of Jacob and Joseph, with your powerful arm. Because of its religious significance, the narrative serves as the foundation for numerous fundamental life teachings that guide believers in their religious practices. However, like with the last lake-miracle (Matthew 8:23-27), the disciples are in a precarious situation and are afraid when they see Jesus approaching them. All of this has no bearing on my view of the mechanism of creation. 29 And he said, Come. And we know that He can do this, because Christ tells us who He is. 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). Mary accompanied Jesus during His ministry in Galilee before seeing His crucifixion, burial and . Furthermore, John tells us that not only is the dark, chaotic sea the origin of Gods enemies, but it is also symbolic of their end (Rev. However, He still could not keep his fear at bay in order to stay afloat. 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). , 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. Mary Fairchild is a full-time Christian minister, writer, and editor of two Christian anthologies, including "Stories of Calvary.". Liberal rationalism here we come. k.A was an eighth of a mile, or a little more than 600 feet (192 meters) in length.John 6:19 translates the word as three or four mile in the original Greek.The fourth watch of the night was when they first saw Jesus, or shortly before dawdling time.wn.If the disciples departed at twilight, about 8PM, and it was approximately 5:30AM when they returned, they would have been struggling against the wind for over nine hours. John's Gospel specifies that they were five or six kilometers away from their departure point. Jesus, on the other hand, walked on the water. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. In the forty days after the resurrection, Christ stayed on the earth to prepare His disciples for the work before them. As Jesus performs these miracles, He is giving the disciples just a snippet of who He really is. Can you tell me why you were so skeptical of me? (NLT). I imagine that moment going from white caps, strong wind, and seasickness to the water looking like glass. In order to demonstrate to his disciples that he is more than a miraculous worker or charismatic leader, k on water? Some scholars would question how early the empty tomb story is. Hence, they attempt to make Him king (John 6:15; see Deut. 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. Why Do We Need to Be Crucified with Christ? (NIV). Happily, we dont have to guess what it is. Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, and John 6:16-21 all record an eyewitness testimony of this miracle. This event convinced the 12 disciples that Jesus is indeed the living Son of God. There is, however, another incident that occurred in the sea that people confuse with the miracle of walking on water. And here in John 6:1621, Jesus stands above the sea as One with authority over it all. 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. He chides them for not believing what the prophets foretold regarding the Messiah then explains to them all the Biblical verses that pertained to him. Miracles, Peace, Strength, 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. Don't be afraid." 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). In fact, He builds on the parallel, ascending a mountain alone (John 6:15) as Moses had before Him (Ex. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/jesus-walks-on-water-700220. What were the miracles of Jesus? There are also others who not only reject this miracle, but also reject the reality that this miracle exposes as well.Who could believe that Jesus story of walking on water was a fairy tale after hearing the Nicene Creed read aloud at Mass, affirming that he is God from God, Light from Light, Very God of Very God, begotten not made, consubstantial with the Father by whom all things were made, and then claim that it was just a fairy tale?Modernism.I despise it with a ferocious zeal. Peter exposes mans inability to command the natural elements of the world, while Jesus shows Himself victorious over fear, death, and the created world. Weathering the storm with Jesus: As soon as Jesus entered into the boat, the storm subsided completely. The New Testament Bible tale of Jesus walking on water is one of the most commonly repeated narratives and one of the most significant miracles performed by Jesus in his lifetime.The incident takes place immediately after another miracle, the feeding of the 5,000 people, had taken place.This experience persuaded the twelve disciples that Jesus is, in fact, the Son of God who is still alive. In view of all this, it seems that John wants the reader to see the crossing of the Sea of Galilee as a symbolic fulfillment of the crossing of the Red Sea in the exodus/Passover narrative. 11:1), doubting Gods ability to give what He promised to provide (John 6:52; see Ps. The video appears to have been taken roughly 15 miles downstream from East Palestine, and just north of where Little Beaver Creek feeds into the Ohio River in Midland, Pennsylvania. A tremendous fortress is our God / a bulwark that never fails, / Our helper He amid the flood / of deadly miseries that prevail (Martin Luthers A Mighty Fortress Is Our God, a hymn to Gods steadfastness). Thank you for visiting Jesus Creed. Studies show two groups do really well: conservative Protestants and Mormons; two groups that dont do well are mainline Protestants and Roman Catholics. Come, he instructed.As a result, Peter stepped out of the boat and walked across the water to reach Jesus.His fear increased, though, as he noticed the wind. 46:2; 65:7). 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. It was suggested that there is a negative correlation between taking the position that theistic evolution is the best description of Gods method of creation method and a willingness to believe in the miracles related in scripture, in the Old Testament, and more importantly in the New Testament. They left while He was still present in order to travel across the lake to the opposite side of the lake on their own own. (Ex.16:4).It is because of these ties that the multitudes accept Jesus as the prophesied prophet, just as they did Moses (John 6:14; see also Deuteronomy 18:1518).As a result, they strive to establish Him as king (John 6:15; see also Deut. Peter showed the boldness of his faith as he followed Jesus out of the boat. 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. Jesus is saying I AM. When Peter called out to Jesus to save him, Matthew 14:31 says Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him. 47 And when even was come, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. Right after Jesus calmed the disciples fear by telling them, " it is I " "Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.". Please enjoy the archives. For it was the Fathers good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven. The New Testament Bible story of Jesus walking on water is one of the most widely told narratives and key miracles ofJesus. But Jesus was by the fire, cooking. Approximately three or four miles into their journey, they noticed Jesus walking on the water and approaching the boat, which caused them to become alarmed.It is I, he assured them.Do not be alarmed, he said. 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. Suggestion of a natural cause and effect does not undermine the work of God. [10], One aspect of the pericope (passage) is how it highlights the relationship between Jesus and his apostles. Is it True for Christians That 'Once Saved, Always Saved'? Following the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus Christ dispatched his disciples ahead of him in a boat to cross the Sea of Galilee to the other side.Later that night, the disciples came upon a storm that made them feel uneasy and threatened them with death.Their dread quickly changed to horror as they saw Jesus strolling toward them across the surface of the water, and they began to believe that they were seeing the appearance of a ghost. 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. 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. When they saw him, they were all scared, according to Mark 6:5051. Note, too, that Moses doubts regarding Gods ability to provide meat came after the miraculous provision of manna (Numb. Peter cried out to the Lord, and Jesus immediately reached out his hand to catch him. 711). But then the strong wind took his focus off of Christ. It didnt actually take place. In order for these mythological components to have been late additions, the gospels would have had to be written a considerable time after the actual events of Jesus life, which is contrary to all arguments concerning a late chronology for Jesus life that have been advanced.All four gospels were completed by 80 AD, even if the most optimistic modernists choose the most recent plausible dates for their creation.That is just fifty years after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, according to the calendar.People who had been eyewitnesses to the events were still living at the time.I recall what occurred fifty years ago, do you?If not, your parents will tell you what happened. I have arrived! After that, he went inside the boat, and the wind died down completely. Here are some other blogs you may also enjoy: Red Letters with Tom Davis Recent prayer post on Prayables Most Recent Inspiration blog post Happy Reading! Article Images Copyright . (Matthew 14:33). Your email address will not be published. 5:21; Heb. Why did Jesus walk on the water? 16 And when evening came, his disciples went down unto the sea; 17 and they entered into a boat, and were going over the sea unto Capernaum. The story is recounted in Matthew 14 and illustrated in this Gustave Dore print. 21 They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat: and straightway the boat was at the land whither they were going. 18 And the sea was rising by reason of a great wind that blew. He called out to Jesus for help. [1], Matthew's account adds that Peter asked Jesus, "if it is you", to tell him, or command him, to come to Jesus on the water (waters). 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