Day 9 of 49
Fifth Sign: Jesus Walks on Water
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,
17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.
19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened.
20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
Jn 6:16–21.
John records a shortened version of the narrative of Jesus walking on water. Once again, the other gospels fill out the lost information.
- Matt 14:22-33: Jesus urged the disciples to get into a boat while he sent away the people he had just fed. The he went up onto a mountain to pray alone. Waves beat on the boat and the wind was against the disciples. Between 3 and 6 in the morning Jesus walked towards them on water, and they thought he was a ghost. Jesus told them to not be afraid because it was just him. Peter asked to walk to him, Jesus agreed, but Peter looked at the waves instead of Jesus. When they got into the boat, the winds ceased. Those in the boat said, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
- Mark 6:45-52: Jesus made the disciples get into the boat while he dismissed the crowd, he went up the mountain to pray. Jesus saw that they were moving slowly against the wind. He came to them between 3 and 6 in the morning, and meant to just keep walking to the other side. They cried out, thinking he was a ghost, and he immediately spoke to them. When he got in the boat with them, the wind ceased. They were utterly astonished. Interesting statement: “They did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.”
After the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus sends the disciples in a boat, then went to pray alone. They waited awhile, hoping he would join them, but when it became night they took off. Storms often appeared on the Sea of Galilee, especially at night, but this group had at least four seasoned fishermen, should be no problem. They tried to make headway against the wind to no avail, and up on the mountain, Jesus watched them struggle. He let them struggle.
Superstitions about the Sea of Galilee concerning evil spirits inhabiting the sea and causing storms intimidated the people of the land. Tired and weary from rowing, seeing Jesus walking towards them in the wee hours of the morning, fear took hold and behold, a ghost.
The disciples had been on a boat with Jesus before, Jesus fell asleep and a storm came. At that point, he calmed the storm and fear filled the disciples, “Who is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Lk 8:25). The other three gospels include this narrative, John does not. (Mt 8:23-27; Mk 4:35-41; Lk 8:22-25).
Why did John include this narrative, and not the one where Jesus slept? Why didn’t John mention Peter’s attempt to walk on the water? Questions for which I have no answers.
The passage does reveal anew the power of Jesus Christ over the elements of nature, revealing his relationship to God. For any who held onto superstitions, he revealed that he is a great king above all gods.
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
2 Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
3 For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it,
and his hands formed the dry land.
6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down;
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
7 For he is our God,
and we are the people of his pasture,
and the sheep of his hand.
Ps 95:1–7.
The people watched Jesus. They saw that he stayed behind after the disciples left. They saw that he did not get on a boat to cross the sea. At the other side, people saw him arrive in the boat with the disciples.
When they ask Jesus how he arrived, he did not answer them. Instead, he said they only sought him because they ate bread. How discouraging, Jesus held out the Word of Life, and they just wanted physical bread.
Jesus Christ offers us forgiveness for all our sins, eternal life, peace and contentment…and we can’t see beyond our physical needs. The Almighty God who controls the smallest particles of the universe desires a relationship with us, and we worry about what color shirt to wear.
Lord, you are more than we can even imagine. You control the elements. You determine the times. You reveal the destinations. You love us with a love that has no dimensions.
You are beautiful beyond description
Too marvelous for words
Too wonderful for comprehension
Like nothing ever seen or heard
Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom
Who can fathom the depths of Your love
You are beautiful beyond description
Majesty, enthroned above
And I stand, I stand in awe of You
I stand, I stand in awe of You
Holy God to whom all praise is due
I stand in awe of You
Composer: Mark Altrogge
TRICIA LATHROP 