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. Storms, on the other hand, might rage for days on end with no sign of abating. Then Jesus multiplies bread, as if from thin air, to feed the multitudes with as much as they wanted (John 6:11), just as God had provided bread from heaven to feed His people with as much as any man could eat (Ex. The very rules of physics that allow our planet to float and spinas well as to be at precisely the proper distance from the sun to provide us with light and warmthwere established by you! 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. However, although Moses came from the mountain with the law, Jesus returns from the cross with nothing more than Himself. On the way to smashup, or redemptiondepending on how you read the bookHazel's path crosses that . Peters leap of faith, on the other hand, did not result in disappointment. But Christianity is not a deist faith; it is a theist faith. as events with deep symbolic resonance. [1][2] In all three gospels it follows the feeding of the five thousand, where Jesus had withdrawn by ship to a desert place "belonging to"[3] Bethsaida after hearing of the death of John the Baptist, but was followed by the crowds who travelled on foot. Jesus walked on water in order to call us as His own. Although the story is recorded three different times, the Bible implies that it only happened once. 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! One of our friends heard the splash and very quickly dove in after her. Jesus is compassionate towards those under His care as He reaches out His powerful hand of salvation. (Isaiah 43:2).The Lord may not come at the time we think He should come, because He knows when we need Him the most. Then, 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. However, when Uncle George tells you about his encounter with the Mothman, and you know Uncle George is the most hardheaded and pragmatic sort of guy, you have to accept that something strange really happened, and whatever it was and whatever it meant, Uncle George truly did have some sort of strange experience. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Wow, what a privilege it is that you have chosen me to be alive today!Right now, I am lifting up everyone who is reading this, and I am addressing you specifically.I would appreciate it if you could assist them in comprehending just how large you are.Help them comprehend that you were the one who came up with the concept of gravity in the first place.It was your thinking that established the fundamental law of the land! 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. [19], Catholic scholar John P. Meier believes that the miraculous walk on water is a purely theological narrative, without historical foundation. Instead of being terrible and punitive, however, the signs Jesus performs are gracious and restorative (John 6:2, 11). 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. 11:22), just as Philip tells Jesus that two hundred denarii of bread would not be enough (John 6:7). Your email address will not be published. Like us, Peter is plagued with the depravity of human nature. An further allusion to the chapter from Job. But why? if you wish. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. She lives with her husband in Michigan, close to her adult children and grandkids.For additional information or to get in touch with Danielle, please visit her website. Now, according to a scientist, it is possible that small patches of ice developed on the surface of the Sea of Galilee during Jesus' lifetime. They said, It is a ghost! and they cried out in fear. This is the sea where Peter took a faltering step toward Jesuson the water. In the book of Exodus, I AM was the name God revealed to His people just before He rescued them from slavery. Therefore, in John 6, Jesus is revealed as the One who brings about the new exodus, that is, the true liberation of Gods people from slavery to sin, the inevitability of death, and the just judgment of God. 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). This event convinced the 12 disciples that Jesus is indeed the living Son of God. 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. Studies show two groups do really well: conservative Protestants and Mormons; two groups that dont do well are mainline Protestants and Roman Catholics. "What is scary, and I can't say for sure if this is connected or if it's just a . It seems to me that any speculation about a miracle, sign, or wonder without an audience is rather pointless. Often we fear the difficult experiences of life such as illness, loss of loved ones, and financial hardships only to discover that these experiences can bring Jesus closer to us. Liberal rationalism here we come. After being invited by Jesus to come, Peter got out of his boat and for a brief few moments walked on water (Matthew 14:28-33). Your email address will not be published. Jesus both saved Peter from his sins and moved him to share His faith with others. We pulled in shortly before check-in, so my husband took our three-year-old out to the water. But it was the revelation of Jesus walking on the water that, more than any other, convinced Jesus' disciples . God also sends sin to the sea, as Micah (7:1819) explains, where it will be judged by the Lord, pardoned, and forgotten for all time. 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. One of His encounters with them was at the road to Emmaus. And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. In essence, Jesus was testing the disciples faith, and this meant removing every human prop. [21] Others have held that the entire episode is a "pious legend" (B.H. Jesus didnt come as King in order that we could have everything we want on earth. Theism not deism. / In every high and stormy gale, /My anchor holds within the veil. Is it True for Christians That 'Once Saved, Always Saved'? 9 Christians You Don't Want to Sit Beside on Sunday Morning, 7 Ways Anxiety Dominates the Christian Mind, 7 Tests to See if Your Worship Is Truly Christian or Pagan. Its only me here, so take it easy. Do not be alarmed. Now, in Marks story, Peter does not appear to have gotten out of the boat at all (Mark 6:47-51). 21 They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat: and straightway the boat was at the land whither they were going. 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. 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. What can we learn from Jesus feeding of the 5,000? He wascompletely innocent in both deed and word: no deceit ( doJloz, dolos;cf. (see Mark 6:44).After everything is said and done with my hypothetical idea, Jesus had just fed the tummies of almost 10,000 individuals by the time you add up the spouses, widows, and children. They grumbled against the Lord (John 6:41, 61), just as Israel had (Num. In the forty days after the resurrection, Christ stayed on the earth to prepare His disciples for the work before them. The details presented differ slightly, but the cornerstone of each is the declaration of who Jesus is. The miracles are reported as taking place years apart from each other, but in both miracles apostles are fishing unsuccessfully in the Sea of Galilee when Jesus tells them to try one more cast of the net, at which they are rewarded with a great catch (or "draught", as in "haul" or "weight"). 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. He walked on top of the water in the middle of a raging storm. But what about the major exodus event of the crossing of the Red Sea? I like your writings here on the Bible; theyre the best thing on 11:13).With identical words, Philip approaches Jesus with the same question (John 6:5).A similar worry is expressed by Moses (Num. 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. In order to demonstrate to his disciples that he is more than a miraculous worker or charismatic leader, k on water? Then we have the institution of the Passover in Exodus 12 and the allusion to the same in John 6:4. Some of Jesus followers are fishermen who are accustomed to being on the Sea of Galilee at the time of his death. 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. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. [24] Rudolf Bultmann pointed out that the sea-walking theme is familiar in many cultures. Hence, they attempt to make Him king (John 6:15; see Deut. 4-5). 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 Walks on Water Bible Story Study Guide." [1] The fact that the John account also lacks this detail suggests that this account of "St. Peter's venture"[6] is a redactional addition by Matthew. The waves saw you, God, and they writhed in convulsions; the very depths were convulsed by your presence.Your arrows flew back and forth across the sky as the clouds poured down rain and thunder from the skies.Despite the wind, your thunder could be heard, and your lightning illuminated the whole planet, causing earthquakes and earthquake-like vibrations.19 Your journey took you across the sea, your way through the vast seas, though no one could see your tracks.Because he exposes himself to be God incarnate, Jesus arrives on the waves, walking on water.To be sure, the tale finishes with the disciples declaring that Jesus is really the Son of God. Probably inert. Jesus, according to Matthew, not only fulfills particular prophesies from the Old Testament, but also serves as a living embodiment of the Old Testament in all he says and does, which is more essential than that. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Take heart; it is I.. Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, and John 6:16-21 all record an eyewitness testimony of this miracle. Jesus is saying I AM. 33 And they that were in the boat worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. Matthew 14 says: Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. Night fell and the sea arose as the ship became caught in a wind storm. 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. You have revealed to me by your Spirit that this is why and how Jesus walked on water. 7:1819). In Mark and John, however, the reference to the apostle Peter walking on water is not included. 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. 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). 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. The point is this: fear and faith cannot live in the same heart, for fear frequently blinds the eyes to the presence of the Lord. In each of the Gospels that record it, Jesus miraculous crossing of the Sea of Galilee follows the feeding of the five thousand. Biologos. 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. The sea is seven-and-a-half miles long and thirteen miles wide at its widest point. Jesus did this to strengthen, teach, and confirm the faith of His disciples. Kenda Deans newbook is called Almost Christian: What the Faith of Our Teenagers is Telling the American Church []. 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. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea. As Paul writes in Romans 1:4, Jesus "was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead.". 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. Different times, the signs Jesus performs are gracious and restorative ( John 6:41, 61 ), as. Days on end with no sign of abating ), just as Israel had (.! With no sign of abating how Jesus walked on did jesus walk on water before or after his resurrection to demonstrate His... Hand of salvation hence, they attempt to make him King ( John 6:7 ) American Church [.! Punitive, however, the signs Jesus performs are gracious and restorative ( John ;... In a wind storm the ship became caught in a wind storm smashup, or wonder an! Allusion to the apostle Peter walking on the sea arose as the ship became caught in wind... 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