Who Filled Noah's Ark?

The Bible features several instances of Jesus getting into a boat. In one instance, Jesus got into a boat belonging to Simon Peter and asked him to push it out into the water so he could teach a crowd of people from there. On another occasion, Jesus asked his disciples to get into a boat and go on ahead of him to the other side of a lake while he was alone, praying. Later that night, he walked on water to join them in the boat. In another instance, Jesus calmed a storm while in a boat with his apostles.

Jesus teaches from Simon Peter's boat

Jesus was preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee to a large crowd that had gathered to hear the word of God. He noticed two empty boats at the water's edge, with fishermen washing their nets nearby. Jesus stepped into one of the boats, which belonged to Simon Peter, and asked him to push it out into the water so that he could address the crowd from there.

Jesus sat down in the boat and began to teach the people. When he had finished speaking, he instructed Simon to row out into deeper water and let down his nets to catch some fish. Simon replied that they had been fishing all night without any success, but he would do as Jesus said. When they did this, they caught so many fish that their nets began to tear, and they had to call their partners in the other boat for help. Both boats were soon filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

Simon Peter was amazed by this miracle and fell to his knees before Jesus, declaring himself a sinful man. Jesus told him not to be afraid and that from now on, he would be "fishing for people". As soon as they landed, Simon Peter and the other fishermen left everything and followed Jesus.

This event, described in the Gospel of Luke, is significant as it marks the calling of Simon Peter, who became one of Jesus' most trusted disciples. It also symbolises the spread of Jesus' teachings and the importance of faith and obedience.

Jesus performs a miracle, helping fishermen catch a huge haul of fish

Jesus was preaching to a crowd on the shore of Lake Galilee. He noticed two fishing boats at the water's edge, with the fishermen nearby, rinsing their nets. Jesus climbed into the boat belonging to Simon Peter and asked him to put out a little from the shore so he could address the crowd. After he had finished speaking, he told Simon to "Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch." Simon replied, "Master, we've been fishing hard all night and haven't caught even a minnow. But if you say so, I'll let out the nets."

Simon and his partners were astonished when they enclosed a great multitude of fishes; their nets were breaking, and they had to beckon their partners in the other boat to help them. They filled both boats, and they began to sink under the weight of the catch.

When Simon Peter saw what had happened, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" Jesus replied, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will fish for people." Simon Peter and the other fishermen, including his partners, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were awestruck by the miracle. They pulled their boats to the shore, left everything behind, and followed Jesus.

Simon Peter kneels at Jesus' feet

It is at this point that Simon Peter kneels at Jesus' feet. Overwhelmed by the miraculous catch, he says: "Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man". This is a profound moment of self-awareness and repentance. Simon Peter's humility sets the stage for his transformation and future role as a leader in the early Christian church.

Jesus responds to Simon Peter's plea by saying, "Do not yield to your fear, Simon Peter. From now on, you will catch men for salvation". This marks the beginning of Simon Peter's discipleship and his commitment to following Jesus.

Jesus walks on water

The story of Jesus walking on water is recounted in the New Testament gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John, but not in Luke. It follows the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand, where Jesus had withdrawn by ship to a desert place "belonging to" Bethsaida after hearing of the death of John the Baptist. Despite trying to be alone, he was followed by crowds who travelled on foot.

Jesus sent the disciples by ship back to the "other side" of the Sea of Galilee (the western side) while he remained behind, alone, to pray. Night fell and the sea arose as the ship became caught in a wind storm. After rowing against the wind for most of the night, the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water. They were frightened, thinking that they were seeing a spirit, but when Jesus told them not to be afraid, they were reassured.

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. Peter came down out of the ship and walked on the water, but when he saw the wind, he was afraid and began to sink. He cried out to Jesus for help, who caught him and led him back to the ship. Jesus commented on Peter's lack of faith. Matthew also notes that the disciples called Jesus the Son of God.

In all three accounts, after Jesus got into the ship, the wind ceased and they reached the shore. Only John's account has their ship immediately reach the shore. Matthew's and Mark's accounts end at this point, but John mentions that the next day some people from the other side of the sea noted that the disciples left without Jesus, but they didn't know where he went. When they found Jesus in Capernaum, he told the crowd that they followed him, not because they had seen signs, but because of the free loaves they had eaten the day before. He advised them not to seek earthly gains but aim for a life based on higher spiritual values.

Jesus calms a storm

Jesus and his disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat one evening when a furious storm arose, causing waves to break over the boat. Jesus was asleep on a cushion in the stern, and the disciples woke him, asking, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

Jesus then rebuked the wind and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" The wind ceased, and the sea became completely calm. He turned to his disciples and asked, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?"

The disciples were filled with awe and wondered among themselves, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"

This miracle is distinct from Jesus' walk on water, which also involves a boat on the Sea of Galilee and appears later in the narrative. The Sea of Galilee was known for its sudden and fierce storms, and the Jews, as people of the land, were generally uncomfortable at sea, especially since they believed the sea to be full of frightening creatures.

The miracle holds instructive value for Jesus' disciples and future generations of mankind. By asking, "Why are you so afraid?" Jesus encouraged his disciples to explore the cause and origin of fear, which he attributed to a lack of spiritual principles.

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