Amanda Knapp
Jesus' walk on water is a well-known miracle recorded in the New Testament. The story appears in the Gospel of Mark, where Jesus walks on water past his disciples as they were rowing on the Sea of Galilee. The passage has been interpreted in several ways, with some commentators suggesting that Jesus intended to pass by his disciples to reveal his divinity, while others believe it reflects his sense of humour. The story also appears in the Gospels of Matthew and John, with slight variations, and is considered a significant event in Christian theology, revealing Jesus' identity and power over nature.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Intention | To pass by the disciples as he walked on the sea |
| Reason | Had a divine appointment at the other side |
| Miracle | Walking on water |
| Theme | Revelation and concealment of Jesus' identity |
| Reference | Parallels drawn with the Old Testament theophanies |
| Narrative | Theological narrative, without historical foundation |
| Symbolism | Apocalyptic genre, accentuated symbolism, and light-shadow contrasts |
| Impact | Instrumental in asserting the divinity of Jesus among early Christians |
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What You'll Learn
Jesus wanted to reveal himself as divine
The Gospel of Mark is centred on the question of Jesus' identity. The story in Mark 6 is the second of three boat stories that, together with three bread stories in Mark 8:13-21, revolve around the revelation of Jesus' identity and the failure of the disciples to fully grasp it.
The story of Jesus walking on water is interpreted by some as Jesus' decision to reveal himself as divine. The notion of God "passing by" recalls Moses' experience at Sinai (Ex 33:19, 22) and God "passing by" Elijah on Horeb (1 Kings 19:11). In both these Old Testament accounts, the same verb – παρέρχομαι – is used.
In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus makes his disciples get into a boat and go to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, to Bethsaida, while he dismisses the crowd and goes up to a mountain to pray. When evening comes, the boat is battered by waves and a strong wind, and Jesus comes to them, walking on the sea. He intends to pass by them, but the disciples are terrified and cry out, thinking he is a ghost. Jesus tells them: "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
The detail that the boat was "many stadia away" and battered by the waves emphasizes that Jesus could walk on the water far away from the shore, on a rough sea, thus establishing his dominance over nature. Scholars such as Ulrich Luz and Dale Allison view the pericope as instrumental in asserting the divinity of Jesus among early Christians. Dale Allison states that Matthew's presentation emphasizes that God the Father is willing to share divine power with his son, and that the impact of this pericope on the affirmation of the divinity of Jesus in the ecumenical creeds is undeniable.
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He had a divine appointment on the other side
The Gospel of Mark records the famous miracle of Jesus walking on water. Jesus had sent his disciples to the other side of the Sea of Galilee in a boat while he was alone on land, praying and dismissing the crowd.
Jesus saw that his disciples were struggling against the wind and, in the early hours of the morning, he came towards them, walking on the water. He intended to pass by them. However, when the disciples saw him, they were terrified, thinking he was a ghost, and cried out. Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
One interpretation of this passage is that Jesus had a divine appointment on the other side. He had every intention of passing by his disciples because he had an appointment to keep. This interpretation is supported by the fact that, after speaking to his disciples, Jesus gets into the boat with them, and they immediately arrive at their destination.
This miracle is also seen as a revelation of Jesus' identity and divinity. The act of walking on water is a demonstration of his power over nature and his identity as the Son of God. This interpretation is echoed by several commentators who identify references to Old Testament theophanies, or appearances of God, in the passage.
Furthermore, the fact that Jesus walks on water can also be seen as a metaphor for the Early Church immediately after Easter. Jesus leaves his disciples with a promise to return, just as he returns to the boat after walking on water.
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The walk symbolised God's vastness
The walk of Jesus on water symbolises God's vastness. This is a major theme in Mark, wherein Jesus' identity is both revealed and concealed. The walk on water is a miracle and a testament to Jesus' divinity.
The story of Jesus walking on water is recorded in Mark 6:45-50 (ESV). It is the second of three boat stories in Mark that link up with three bread stories in Mark 8:13-21. These triads revolve around the revelation of Jesus' identity and the failure of his disciples to fully grasp it.
Jesus had sent his disciples across the Sea of Galilee to Bethsaida while he was alone on land, praying and dismissing the crowds. The disciples were rowing in the middle of the sea when a storm hit, and they struggled to make headway. Jesus came towards them, walking on the sea, and he intended to pass by them. The disciples were terrified and screamed, thinking that they were seeing a ghost. Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
The act of walking on water can be interpreted as a reference to God's vastness and transcendence. This interpretation is supported by passages in the Old Testament, such as Job 9:8, where Job describes God's vastness: "He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea." The notion of God "passing by" also recalls Moses's experience at Sinai (Ex 33:19, 22) and Elijah on Horeb (1 Kings 19:11).
The walk on water is a powerful symbol of God's vastness and Jesus' divinity, revealing Jesus' identity to his disciples and establishing his dominance over nature.
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It was a turning point in the disciples' belief in Jesus' deity
The Gospel of Mark, in particular, revolves around the question of Jesus' identity, with the story in Mark 6 being the second of three boat stories that link up with three bread stories in Mark 8:13-21. These two triads together revolve around the revelation of Jesus' identity and the failure of the disciples to fully grasp that identity.
The story of Jesus walking on water is a significant miracle and a turning point in the disciples' belief in Jesus' deity. After feeding the 5,000, Jesus sent his disciples across the Sea of Galilee to Bethsaida while he dismissed the crowd and went up to a mountain to pray. The disciples were rowing in the middle of the night, and the wind was against them, causing them to struggle. Jesus came towards them, walking on the sea, and initially intended to pass by them. The disciples, terrified, thought he was a ghost and cried out. Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
This event was a pivotal moment in the disciples' understanding of Jesus' divine nature. They witnessed Jesus performing a miraculous act, walking on water, which was beyond human capability. This miracle would have deeply impacted them and reinforced their belief in Jesus' deity.
The apostle Peter's reaction further highlights the significance of this event. Peter, wanting to confirm that it was indeed Jesus, asked him to command him to come to Jesus on the water. Jesus obliged, and Peter stepped out of the boat, walking on the water towards Jesus. However, when Peter became frightened, he began to sink. Jesus reached out, grabbed him, and asked, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
This entire episode, including Peter's experience, solidified the disciples' faith in Jesus' divinity. They recognized that Jesus had power over nature, calming the storm and walking on water, and this miracle left an indelible impression on them.
Additionally, this event also holds symbolic significance in Christian teachings. It has been interpreted as a metaphor for the Early Church immediately after Easter, with Jesus leaving his disciples temporarily but promising to return and occasionally visiting them, similar to how he sent the disciples ahead while he remained behind to pray.
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It was a display of dominance over nature
The Gospel of Mark, Chapter 6, recounts the story of Jesus walking on water. This event is also described in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 14, and the Gospel of John, Chapter 6. In this narrative, Jesus sends his disciples ahead of him by boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee while he remains behind to pray and dismiss the crowds.
Jesus' act of walking on water can be interpreted as a display of dominance over nature. This interpretation is supported by several details in the narrative. Firstly, the boat was a significant distance from the shore, indicating that Jesus was walking on water far from the safety of the shore. Secondly, the boat was battered by strong winds and waves, suggesting that Jesus was able to walk on rough waters. These elements emphasize Jesus' power and control over the natural elements.
The disciples' reaction of fear and terror upon seeing Jesus walking on the water further highlights the extraordinary nature of the event. They cried out, thinking that they were seeing a ghost. Jesus' ability to walk on water, unaffected by the turbulent waters and seemingly impervious to the laws of physics, demonstrated his divine power and authority over nature.
Moreover, the walking on water miracle serves as a revelation and confirmation of Jesus' identity as the Son of God. This event aligns with the theme in Mark's Gospel, where Jesus' identity is both revealed and concealed. By performing this miracle, Jesus provided a glimpse of his true nature and established his dominance over the natural world, reinforcing his divinity.
In conclusion, Jesus' act of walking on water as he approached the boat can be interpreted as a display of dominance over nature. This miracle not only showcased his supernatural abilities but also served as a powerful revelation of his divine identity to his disciples.
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Frequently asked questions
Jesus wanted to walk past the boat to reveal himself as divine.
Jesus was walking on the water to join his disciples in the boat.
Jesus walked on water to perform a miracle and establish his dominance over nature.
The disciples thought Jesus was a ghost and cried out in fear.
Jesus said, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."
