Why Did Jesus Walk On The Water?

Why Did Jesus Walk On Water?

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!

It is, in fact, I.’Do not be alarmed.’ When he joined them in the boat, the wind began to drop down.Mark 6:49-50 is an example of a parable.Because He needed to go to the other side of the lake, the quick answer to the title of today’s devotional is: because He needed to get there!

HA!Although it was not a joke, truly, Jesus needed to get out to his boat in the middle of a lake that was crowded with disciples, thus He walked on water to achieve this accomplishment.Over 5,000 individuals had just been fed by him and his closest associates.

Because the Bible only mentions ″5,000 males,″ and not women or children, I believe there are more than 5,000.(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.

Anyone who is unfamiliar with the narrative will recall that Jesus multiplied enough bread and fish to feed a huge crowd—and 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 that’s 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.

Because Jesus desired the people who were following Him about to think that He was the Son of God, he went to such far as to kill himself.The only way to do this was by the performance of divine trickery, sometimes known as miracles.Because of this, He performed every miracle–in order for us to realize He was real!He would have been easily dismissed as one of the most insane guys who ever lived if it weren’t for the miracles He performed.It is His ability to do miracles that distinguishes Him as God in the flesh!His miracles were so impressive that He even warned the legalistic Jews who were attempting to stone Him, ″If you don’t accept what I’m saying, at the very least believe me based on my miracles″ (see John 10:31-39).

1. Following their successful feeding of a large number of people, Jesus and His 12 disciples walked up a mountain for some one-on-one devotional time with the Father.
2. 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.
3. When Jesus glanced out across the lake, he noticed that it was extremely windy, as if a storm had swept in.

The seas were raging, and the rowing of the disciples was doing little to assist!So, what does Jesus do in this situation?The Water-Walker simply strolls out toward them, straight into the midst of a thunderstorm!It’s not a huge deal.

• The moment they notice Him approaching, they freak out, proclaiming that He is a ghost!
• However, Jesus only draws closer and closer until, at long last, He calms them down and leaves them alone.
• ″It’s only me here, so take it easy.″ ″Do not be alarmed.″ Now, in Mark’s story, Peter does not appear to have gotten out of the boat at all (Mark 6:47-51).

Neither does John’s recounting of the occurrence in his book (John 6:15-21).We are told, however, in Matthew, about Peter stepping out of the boat and walking on water!You and I both know that Peter is an ordinary person.

Despite this, he was able to walk on water like the Son of God!Why?!How?!… Because he was concentrating on Jesus.His gaze was fixed on the majesty of Christ, rather than on the crashing seas.Jesus had just completed a 3.5-mile journey on water (see John 6:19), and I’m presuming He is a power walker based on how quickly He got out there.Maybe he simply kind of drifted through the air…

I’m not sure, but I’ll question Him about it one of these days.Because of the massive storm that is occurring all around them, as well as Jesus’ presence on the lakeshore, Peter responds, ″If it’s you, order me to come out on the sea″ (Matthew 14:28).As a result, Jesus accomplishes just that!Just think about it!

It’s like being able to walk on water!″Peter walked on water and came near Jesus,″ according to the Bible (Matthew 14:29)….Wow… I’m curious as to how that felt!Then Jesus Himself comes out onto the water, in the middle of a terrible storm, in his small dinghy, and invites him to come with him.It is risk-free.

1. ″I’m right here.″ That is really mind-boggling to me!
2. It also reveals the heart of Christ to me!
3. He is not frightened at all!

And He encourages us not to be scared!In the midst of the storm, when everything seems to be crashing and shattering around us, when we are in the midst of the storm and nothing makes sense, Jesus assures us that ″I’m with you.″ That is incredible!That gives me a sense of security!

THAT’S MY JESUS, RIGHT THERE!Even when we believe we are about to drown because we are obeying Christ as He beckons us out onto the sea, He continues to urge, ″Come with me into the storm, deeper.″ I’m right here.I’m not going to let it get to you.

″Do not be alarmed.″ So many of us are apprehensive about even getting out of the boat!Jesus, please hurry up and come aboard the boat with us, in our secure little corner!So many of us Christians want him to do just that!″No, instead, come out on the sea with me,″ He says.″I’m not going to let you drown.″ This is exactly what we need to do!

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 forward…He’s right there with the wind, waves, and everything else.

• And He is inviting us in with a warm smile and a hand held out in the air, as if to say, ″Come.″ Peter was able to concentrate for a short period of time.
• In the beginning, he tried to walk on the water, but he became terrified and began to sink.
• ″Lord, please save me!″ he shouted aloud.
• (See Matthew 14:30)…
• and, in fact, Jesus did.

″You of little faith, why did you doubt?″ he said as he reached down into the water and raised him to his feet.(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 couldn’t believe what they were seeing for the first time!And there’s Jesus, all alone in the middle of the room.I believe He was beaming from ear to ear the entire time.

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).I’d 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!

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!

1. As a result, you are not bound by any natural rule since you are the Creator of nature!
2. You have revealed to me by your Spirit that this is why and how Jesus walked on water.
3. I believe this to be the case.
4. The very rules of physics that allow our planet to float and spin–as well as to be at precisely the proper distance from the sun to provide us with light and warmth–were established by you!
5. Make it possible for these wonderful readers to believe in your brilliance!

Help them to understand that you built everything for us–so that we might have a place to call home for the rest of our lives.But, even more importantly, you designed our existence so that we may join you in a loving relationship for the rest of our lives, beginning right now.In the name of Jesus, I pray, amen.This devotional is taken from the book 60 Days for Jesus, Volume 1, and it is titled Get your hands on a copy right now!

What Is the Meaning and Significance of Jesus Walking on Water?

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.

This indicates that the narrative of Jesus walking on water has been recorded by three different eyewitnesses, which lends credibility to the story’s truthfulness.This is crucial since walking on water is considered a miracle by many people.Why did Jesus choose to walk on water?What exactly does it mean?

Some academics see connections between this event and the story of Moses bringing the children of Israel across the Red Sea during the Passover celebrations in the Old Testament.We won’t go into as much into on the symbolism in this section.The relevance of the narrative for us today will be found by comparing and contrasting the three different versions of it that were all recorded shortly after Jesus fed the multitude of five thousand people.

Jesus Walks on Water in Mark 6

Watch for the difference between how Mark begins and how he ends at the conclusion of the video.The number of guys who had eaten reached a total of five thousand.He immediately ordered his followers to get into the boat and accompany him to the other side of the lake, to Bethsaida, while dismissing the rest of the multitude.

When he had said his goodbyes to them, he climbed up on top of the mountain and prayed.And by the time dusk arrived, the boat was out at sea, leaving him alone on the shore.And he noticed that they were making terrible progress since the wind was working against them.And he arrived to them at the fourth watch of the night, strolling on the sea.

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.

″ Be brave and do not be scared.″ And as he got into the boat with them, the wind stopped blowing.And they were completely taken aback, for they had no idea what was going on with the loaves, and their hearts had hardened (Mark 6:44-52).Mark begins with a matter-of-fact demeanor, but by the conclusion of the chapter, he has shown surprise.

As soon as Jesus stepped into the boat, the wind stopped, and everyone was surprised.The danger was no longer a threat.They couldn’t 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 don’t understand how.

Jesus Walks on Water in John 6

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 you’re 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.

Jesus fled to a mountain by himself once more, this time knowing that they meant to come and compel him to become king by force.He and his disciples descended to the sea, boarded the boat, and set sail across the sea to the town of Capernaum as the evening arrived.It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet arrived to meet them on the road.The sea got choppy as a result of the heavy wind blowing at the time.

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.

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.

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 don’t receive instant instructions, we should stick with what we’ve 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.

Jesus Walks on Water in Matthew 14

Matthew’s narrative goes into greater detail about the scenario than the other two accounts.They had all finished their meals and were satisfied, and the disciples collected twelve baskets full of broken bits that had been left behind.In addition to women and children, there were around 5,000 males who participated in the meal.

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 wind’s opposition.Afterwards, he came to them during the fourth watch of the night, strolling on the water.

However, when the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were startled and said, ″It’s 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.

″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.

As he began to descend, his last words were, ″Lord, save me.″ ″O you of little faith, why did you doubt?″ Jesus said as he put out his hand and grabbed him by the shoulders.And as soon as they got onto the boat, the wind stopped blowing.And they in the boat prostrated themselves before him, proclaiming, ″Truly, you are the Son of God″ (Matthew 14:20-33).Following in the footsteps of Mark, Matthew describes Jesus’ instructions and the situation as though it were newsworthy.Matthew, on the other hand, is the only one that chronicles Peter’s reaction to the circumstance and their eventual affirmation of Jesus’ divinity.

Matthew’s tale can give us hope that, no matter how we begin, we will be able to complete our journey with Jesus successfully.When Jesus climbed into the boat, the wind died down.But first, at the direction of Jesus, Peter walked on the water, confirming his authority as the Word of the Living God.This was demonstrated once more when Jesus calmed the storm with nothing more than his word.

Meaning of Jesus Walking on Water

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.

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 14:32–33; Mark 10:32–33).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.

Author, coach, and speaker Danielle Bernock is an international award-winning author, coach, and speaker who specializes in assisting individuals in embracing their worth and healing their hearts through the power of God’s love.A Bird Named Payn, A Bird Named Payn, Love’s Manifesto, and Because You Matter are among the books she has authored, and she also hosts the Victorious Souls Podcast.Danielle has been a committed disciple of Christ for many years.

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.

What Jesus Showed the Apostles by Walking on Water

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.

Because of its religious significance, the narrative serves as the foundation for numerous fundamental life teachings that guide believers in their religious practices.

Key Verses

• When they saw him, they were all scared, according to Mark 6:50–51. Jesus, on the other hand, talked to them right away. It was his way of saying, ″Don’t be frightened.″ ″Do not be afraid! ″I have arrived!″ After that, he went inside the boat, and the wind died down completely. They were completely taken aback (NLT)
• The Bible says in Matthew 14:29–31 that Jesus said, ″Yes, come.″ As a result, Peter climbed over the side of the boat and began walking across the sea toward Jesus. However, when he saw the tremendous wind and the waves, he became afraid and began to sink into the water. ″Lord, save me!″ he cried out in desperation. As soon as Jesus saw him, he reached out and grasped him. ″You have such a small amount of faith,″ Jesus responded. ″Can you tell me why you were so skeptical of me?″ (NLT)

Scripture References

In the Gospels, Jesus walks on water in Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, and John 6:16-21, as well as other places. The allusion to the apostle Peter walking on water is not present in the gospels of Mark and John, on the other hand.

Bible Story Summary

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.

According to Matthew chapter 27 verse 27, Jesus instructed them, ″Take a deep breath and go for it!It is, in fact, I.Don’t be intimidated.″ (NIV) Peter said, ″Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the sea,″ and Jesus encouraged Peter to do just that, which Peter gladly accepted.While walking on the sea, Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and saw only the wind and waves, which caused him to begin to sink.

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.

Following their witnessing of this miracle, the disciples prostrated themselves before Jesus and said, ″Truly you are the Son of God.″

Lessons From the Story

• According to Christians, this narrative has life lessons that go beyond what is immediately apparent: Making place for God: Jesus dispatched his followers so that he could go alone to a mountaintop and pray alone in solitude. Despite his hectic schedule, Jesus made spending time with God a primary priority in his daily life. The narrative serves as a reminder to Christians of the need of making space for God in their lives.
• Recognizing the Lord’s 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. The narrative serves as a reminder to Christians that when the Lord appears to them in the midst of their own personal troubles, they may not recognize him.
• Concentrating on Jesus: Peter did not begin to sink until he took his eyes off of Jesus and began to gaze about him at the wind and the seas. According to the lesson, when Christians take their eyes off of Jesus and concentrate on their challenging circumstances, they begin to crumble under the weight of their issues and eventually perish. If we call out to Jesus in trust, he will come and take our hands in his and lift us over what appears to be insurmountable circumstances.
• Restoring faith after a lapse: When Peter got off the boat, he had excellent intentions, but his faith began to wane as time went on. Peter’s leap of faith, on the other hand, did not result in disappointment. His voice rang out to the Lord even though he was terrified, knowing that Jesus was the only one who could assist him. This incident serves as a reminder to believers that a temporary loss of faith is only that: a temporary loss of faith. The Lord is still there for believers when they call out to him.
• Weathering the storm with Jesus: As soon as Jesus entered into the boat, the storm subsided completely. 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.

What was the meaning of Jesus walking on water?

Answer to the question Immediately following His miraculous feeding of the 5,000 with only five loaves of bread and two fish (as recorded in three of the Gospels; Matthew 14:22–36; Mark 6:45–56; John 6:16–21), Jesus performed the miracle of walking on water (Matthew 14:17).Jesus’ disciples were convinced that He was the Son of God by the miracle of His walking on the water (Matthew 14:32–33), but it was the miracle of Jesus walking on the water that convinced them the most.The action of the story takes place at the Sea of Galilee, which is located in the lower portion of the Jordan Valley, in a mountain range that rises to 4,000 feet above sea level and is home to the apostle Jesus.

Despite its name, the lake is 700 feet below sea level in the Mediterranean Sea.One of the most notable characteristics of this body of water is that it is extremely vulnerable to storms that can come on suddenly and be extremely violent.This type of storm is triggered by the collision of cold air rushing down from the mountains surrounding it with warm, moist air rising from the surface of the water itself.After sunset, his disciples went down to the lake, where they boarded a boat and began their journey to Capernaum.

By this time, it was dark, and Jesus had not yet arrived to join them.There was a strong wind blowing, and the water became choppy.At about three or three and a half miles into their row, they noticed Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water, and they were frightened.

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 6:16–21).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.

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake” (Matthew 14:24–25).Though they were only to travel a short distance, the storm was so violent that, despite all their efforts to control their boat, the storm had driven them nearly four miles out into the very midst of the sea.Being the fourth watch of the night (3:00 AM to 6:00 AM), they had been rowing and straining at their oars for approaching nine hours!They were totally exhausted.Mark tells us that, when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the lake, they thought He was a ghost.

They cried out, because they all saw Him and were terrified (Mark 6:48–50).And this brings us to the second significant point of this miracle.Jesus always comes to us in the storms of life.This is reminiscent of the words of God to Isaiah: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you” (Isaiah 43:2).(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.

1. Jesus had waited until the boat was as far from land as possible, when all their hope was gone.
2. In essence, Jesus was testing the disciples’ faith, and this meant removing every human prop.
3. Why did Jesus choose to walk on water?

To show His disciples that the very thing they feared, the raging, seething sea, was merely a set of steps for Him to come to them.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.But we have to ask, why did they not recognize Jesus?The answer is they were not looking for Him.

• Had they been waiting by faith, they would have known Him instantly.
• Instead, they jumped to the false conclusion that His appearance was that of a ghost.
• 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.

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 14:32–33).

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).(Matthew 8:2).

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).(Matthew 14:33).

And this is what worship is, acknowledging who God is and praising Him both for who He is and for what He has done.It was in this story that the disciples took the first step and worshiped Jesus as the Son of God.Return to: Questions about Matthew What was the meaning of Jesus walking on water?

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Why Did Jesus Walk on Water?

Jesus’ miraculous crossing of the Sea of Galilee occurs immediately after the feeding of the five thousand, according to each of the four Gospels that describe it.Afterwards, the crossing is followed by a miraculous cure at Gennesaret, according to the gospels of Matthew and Mark (Matt.14:34–36; Mark 6:53–56).

In John’s case, this is not the case.As a result, the account of Jesus walking on the sea (John 6:16–21) appears to be almost like a break in an otherwise uninterrupted narrative of Jesus feeding the five thousand and revealing His identity as the Bread of Life (John 6:1–15, 23–71).It is crucial to remember that John did not have to include this miracle in his account of Jesus’ life.1 As a result, the decision to include this miracle at all, as well as where John places it and how he depicts it, has a particular significance.

We don’t 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.

The Exodus: Take 2

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.

7–11).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.

11:13).With identical words, Philip approaches Jesus with the same question (John 6:5).A similar worry is expressed by Moses (Num.

11:22), who believes that God would not be able to give enough food, just as Philip informs Jesus that ″two hundred denarii of bread would not be enough″ (John 6:7).It’s also worth noting that Moses’ reservations about God’s capacity to give meat followed the miraculous gift of manna (Numbers 11:7–9).Despite this, Philip’s reservations regarding Jesus’ capacity to feed five thousand people arise following Christ’s miraculous provision of wine for a wedding feast (John 2:1–11) in the Gospel of John.

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).(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 18:15–18).As a result, they strive to establish Him as king (John 6:15; see also Deut.

33:4–5).And, while He rejects their promise of kingship without the crucifixion (cf.Matt.4:8–9; Luke 4:5–7), Jesus does not deny the relationship to Moses that they have made with Him.As a matter of fact, He builds on the comparison by mounting a mountain by himself (John 6:15), just as Moses had done before Him (Ex.19:1–3).

1. However, although Moses came from the mountain with the law, Jesus returns from the cross with nothing more than Himself.
2. Finally, the response of the audience to Jesus is a mirror image of Israel’s response to God.
3. It was they who murmured against the Lord (John 6:41, 61), just as Israel had done (Num.

11:1), and they questioned God’s capacity to accomplish what He had promised (John 6:52; see also Ps.78:19–20).It is in this way that practically every significant occurrence in the Exodus account is replicated in John 6.

Jesus Crosses the Red Sea of Galilee

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 sea″—a 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 John’s 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 it’s surface water.

1. All of this suggests that John is trying to get the reader to understand the crossing of the Sea of Galilee as a symbolic fulfillment of Moses’ and the Israelites’ journey through Egypt and into Israel during the Exodus/Passover story.
2. But why is this so?
3. In order for us to see Jesus as the greater Moses, John has previously said both expressly (John 1:16–17) and implicitly (Moses could only pull water from the rock, but Jesus could draw wine from the rock, as evidenced by Exodus 17:1–7 and John 2:1–12).
4. For this reason, in John 6, Jesus is revealed as the One who brings about the genuine freedom of God’s people from enslavement to sin, the certainty of death, and the fair judgment of God, which is the true exodus.

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 6:16–21), 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 Lord’s 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.

This is a straightforward statement.All of this is reinforced by the fact that the sea is frequently used as a metaphor for sin, death, and judgment in the Bible, as well.It is initially associated with the concepts of darkness and chaos (Gen.1:2).During the days of Noah, the sea served as God’s lethal tool of wrath against mankind (Gen.6:17).As a result, later on, when Israel attempted to flee Egypt, they were stranded by the sea (please grasp this) until God provided a way for them to safely travel over it on dry ground (Ex.

14:20–22).However, as God’s adversaries sought to pursue them, God sent the same sea that had separated them from the Israelites back over Pharaoh’s army, destroying them (Ex.15:19).For example, the sea is frequently used to represent immense uncertainty and overwhelming difficulties in the book of Psalms, as in Ps.46:2 and 65:7, respectively.

1. In Isaiah 57:20, the sea is said to represent evil because its continual waves stir up filth and dirt (see also Ps.
2. 57:20).
3. Jonah is judged by a storm, which is only halted when he is flung into the sea (Jonah 1:9–16), and he is punished.

• God also sends sin to the sea, as Micah (7:18–19) explains, where it will be judged by the Lord, pardoned, and forgotten for all time.
• A similar statement is made by Daniel in Daniel 7:3, and John, who wrote Revelation, states that the chaos of the sea is where God’s adversaries come from as well (Revelation 19:11).
• (Rev.

13:1).Furthermore, John informs us that not only is the dark, chaotic sea the source of God’s adversaries, but it is also a sign of their demise, according to the Bible (Rev.18:21).

• These texts give insight on the significance of John’s vision that ″the sea was no more″ in God’s new creation, which he saw in the book of Revelation (Rev.
• 21:1).
• That verse does not foretell God’s retribution against beachfront property; rather, it is God’s promise that everything the sea symbolizes in Scripture—sin, death, and judgment—will be abolished when Christ restores all things to their original state (Rev.
• 21:4–5).

And here in John 6:16–21, Jesus is depicted as standing above the sea as the One who has power over everything.

Calming the Storms of Life

Every sermon I heard about Jesus walking on water as a child centered on God’s capacity to calm the storms in our life, which I found to be true.Following seminary, I grew to despise such readings, believing that they were missing the ″real meaning″ of the text altogether.Yet in reality, Jesus is the One who is able to calm the storms of our life exactly because He is the One who has freed us from the bonds of sin and death and the torments of hell.To put it another way, if we can put our faith in Jesus to resolve our most difficult difficulties, as He has done through the cross and the resurrection, then how much more can we put our faith in Him to face the more minor tribulations of life?In other words, Christ has the ability to and occasionally does intervene in our troubles in the same manner as He did when He rescued His disciples from the sea (John 6:21).When that occurs, there is nothing left to do but express gratitude to God for yet another act of kindness and grace on our behalf.

1. Storms, on the other hand, might rage for days on end with no sign of abating.
2. So, what do you do?
3. ″It is I; do not be scared,″ Jesus assures them.
4. So, even in the midst of the storm, Jesus is still present, reminding us of what He has done, supporting us to face the challenges ahead, and urging us not to lose sight of the fact that our most difficult issues have already been resolved.

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

1. For example, in Luke 9, the story of the feeding of the five thousand is told without any mention of Jesus walking on water, which is significant. ↩︎
3. 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
4. see Ex. 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. ↩︎
6. Isn’t this what we were taught to sing in the old hymnals? ″A tremendous fortress is our God / a bulwark that never fails
7. / Our helper He amid the flood / of deadly miseries that prevail″ (Martin Luther’s ″A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,″ a hymn to God’s steadfastness). The hymn ″It Is Well with My Soul″ by Horatio Spafford begins, ″Whatever Satan buffet / though tribulations approach, / Let this blest certainty control: / That Christ has respect for my helpless position / And has bled his own blood for my soul.″ Edward Mote’s poem ″My Hope is Built on Nothing Less″ says, ″When darkness obscures his lovely face / I rest on his unchanging grace. / In every high and stormy gale / My anchor holds within the veil. / His blood, His oath, His covenant, / Support me in the whelming flood. / When all around my soul gives way, / He then is all my hope and stay.″ ↩︎

Why Does Jesus Walk on the Water? Matthew 14:22-33

During his miracle of walking on water in Matthew 14:22-33, Jesus provides an answer to the question posed in the Nazareth synagogue, ″Where did Jesus acquire his authority to teach and perform miracles?″ Following up on his revelation that he was a provider of food in the desert in the account of the Feeding of the Five Thousand (Matthew 14), Jesus shows himself in this story to be the one who walks on water as if it were dry land.Each of Jesus’ miracles makes use of biblical imagery to proclaim that he is God’s Son, and the only appropriate response is to worship him in that capacity.Following the miraculous feeding miracle, Jesus departs the crowds on the opposite side of the lake after pressing his followers to do so on their own (Matt 14:22-23).I should say that he ‘compelled’ them to cross the lake in a boat rather than forcing them to do it on their own.The word (v) has a forceful connotation (Judaizers compel Gentiles to be circumcised), but most commentators interpret it as aggressively encouraging the disciples to begin crossing the segregated segregation line.1.

1. (Consider a mother instructing her child to take out the trash: the tone of voice may be sufficient to compel the youngster to do the chore).
2. 2.
3. !) Following Jesus’ dismissal of the throng, he spent some time alone on a hilltop praying.
4. Is this a foreshadowing of Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt 26:36-42).

Is this the second occasion in Matthew that Jesus withdraws himself from his followers to pray in private?In order to cross the lake, the disciples must go against the wind, which results in limited progress.A vast distance separated the boat from the shore.s.f.This helps to smooth out the ″many stadiums″ that Greeley has.

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.

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.

1. In Mark 6:45, Jesus instructed them to travel to Bethsaida, which is roughly seven miles south of Tabgha, despite the fact that the winds were blowing them south to Gennesa.
2. Some of Jesus’ followers are fishermen who are accustomed to being on the Sea of Galilee at the time of his death.
3. They are well-versed in their craft.

• 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.
• In Matthew 14:25-32, Jesus is seen walking on water near the Sea of Galilee.
• Walking on the sea is linked with the prophet Elijah in the Old Testament.

″In antiquity, people were fascinated by the prospect of walking on water—not just and not exclusively the J It was a dream, a fascinating I dreamed about it.If humans do not have a particular relationship with God or attain divine abilities through magic (Luz, Matthew, 3), it is impossible for them to do so and it is only possible for God to do so.″ The account of Jesus walking on the water, according to Matthew, was written with the goal of evoking memories of the Exodus.This would then build on the imagery of the Exodus in the feeding of the 5000 as being akin to God’s supply of manna in the wilderness, as well as the Exodus imagery in the feeding of the 5000.

• Mark 6:52 establishes a stronger connection between the two stories.
• It is true that the disciples were scared because ″their hearts had been hardened″ as a result of their failure to comprehend the loaves.
• ″When repeating the story of the Exodus, the Old Testament presents God as walking on the Sea,″ says the author.
• 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.

The Bible depicts God as cutting a road through the water to guide Moses, Aaron, and the people like a flint to the promised land.Only God has the ability to walk on water.According to Job 9:8, God is characterized as the one who ″alone stretched forth the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea.″ eas.It is more similar to Matthew in the Septuagint, where Job 9:8 reads ″walks about on the sea as if it were a grou.″ ″When the disciples first see Jesus, they are scared and believe he is a ghost (14:1).No matter what happens, the disciples are not expecting to see someone walking on the sea towards them.It is only used here and in Mark 6:49 and Luke 24:37 (again, the disciples believe Jesus is a ghost after the crucifixion) that the Greek () is used.

When it comes to ghosts in the ancient world, they were considered to be a negative omen; in the LXX Isaiah 28:7, a comparable phrase () is rendered as ″a foul omen.″ Take heed, disciples, as Jesus reaches out to them and instructs them to ″take heed.″ eart!″ (imperative from eart!) 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.

During the Exodus, the Lord states that he is the only God and that there is no rescuer besida.In Matthew, Peter will call out for the one walking on the water to swerve away from him.Please forgive him.Isaiah 43:10– The Lord reveals in verse 11: ″You are my witnesses, and my servant whom I have selected, so that you may know and trust me, and comprehend that I am he ().″ (There was no god before me, and there will be no god after me.) ft er me.11 I, I am the Lord, and there is no rescuer (plural of savior) apart from me (participle from savior).m ).Why does Jesus waltz throughout the world?

1. In order to demonstrate to his disciples that he is more than a miraculous worker or charismatic leader, k on water?
2. an instructor.
3. He is showing to his followers that he is the God of the universe.

The Exodus is a biblical story.

Why Did Jesus Walk on the Water?

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Why Did Jesus Walk on the Water?

Have you ever paused to consider and giggle at the miracle account of Jesus walking on water?I’m sure you have.What exactly was the point of that?The fact that he cured people, drove out devils, and fed the hungry is understandable; these are all commendable and logical things for a good teacher and miracle worker to accomplish.The walking on water, though, was a mystery to me.Was it some sort of prank?

1. Was he trying to show off?
2. Were you under the impression that he was merely cutting corners?
3. Then he said to the group: ″Hey guys, sorry I was late, but why did you all go without me?″ Like the account of the feeding of 5,000 people, this is both amazing and terrifying.
4. ″Well, this tale was added by the early church in order to make Jesus more of an awesome God-like persona,″ the modernists would claim.

″It didn’t 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.

The gospels, on the other hand, may be safely dated far earlier.This is something I’ve talked about elsewhere on the site.Essentially, the Acts of the Apostles is completed while St Paul is still alive, which is a significant accomplishment.Prior to his execution in 65 AD, he wrote this letter.If Luke wrote Acts of the Apostles as a sequel to his gospel, Luke’s gospel must have been written in the early 1960s or late 1950s, based on the dates of the gospels.If Luke used Mark’s gospel and a proto-Matthew as sources (a proto-Matthew is a hypothetical earlier Hebrew-Aramaic collection of Jesus stories and sayings), then Mark must have been composed in the mid-50s and proto-Matthew must have been composed in the early fifties, or even as early as 45 AD, according to some scholars.

Is the narrative based on true events?When we read the gospels, the raw truth of the stories is what hits us the most.These are not imaginative fictions, but rather eyewitness testimonies from the time of the events.A further point to consider is that the more ridiculous the narrative, the more probable it is that it is a true account of genuine events, rather than an invention.While it’s understandable if someone is writing fantasy fiction, we shouldn’t be surprised if bizarre events occur.

1. 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.
2. So what was Jesus’ motivation for walking on water?
3. What was the goal of it all?

• Keeping in mind that Matthew is writing to his fellow Jews and that it is his purpose to expose Jesus as the Son of God and the fulfillment of the entire Old Testament history of the Jewish people is the key to understanding the passage.
• Every one of his deeds and teachings may be seen through this prism of understanding.
• 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.

So, here’s a chapter from the book of Job that talks about the Creator: He is the only one who can stretch out the sky and walk on the waves of the sea.9 He is the creator of the constellations of the Bear and Orion, as well as the Pleiades and the constellations of the south.Ten miracles that cannot be numbered are performed by him.

• He produces wonders that cannot be comprehended.
• 9 Although I can see him as he passes me, I am unable to recognize him when he passes me.
• ″He was going to pass them by,″ according to Mark’s account, as Jesus was walking on the waves and passing them by.
• An further allusion to the chapter from Job.

Now study the following paragraph from Psalm 77.When I thought about it, I thought, ″I’ll 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 God’s 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.

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.

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.

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