seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 6: 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[b] they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.
22 The next day the crowd that had stayed on the opposite shore of the lake realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples, but that they had gone away alone. 23 Then some boats from Tiberias landed near the place where the people had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 Once the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum in search of Jesus.
b. John 6:19 Or about 5 or 6 kilometers
The Sea of Galilee is 700 feet below sea level. It is encircled by mountains.... grassy mounds of mountains.... so that particular area is known for its weather.
I'm not sure if this is the same event Matthew talked about. I'm not going in to the differences. Some commentaries want to make Jesus walk on water twice.... once for John and once of Matthew and Mark. I don't think it was a side show He pulled off twice. The gospels were really put to pen and paper until decades later.... so the author does have some say over what he chooses to write..... I think the story in Matthew and Mark is the same story in John. Apparently Mark was impressed that Peter got out of the boat too.... but Mark remembered why Jesus didn't join them in the boat ride..... Mark says Jesus wanted to go up on the mountainside and pray. John just chose not to idolize Peter by telling that part. I'm pretty sure he knew Matthew would write all about it. I think the only reason John even brings it up is to be the second witness to the fact Jesus could and did walk on water. I don't think John was interested in Peter's part in the story.
There are three witness that Jesus walked on water. John, His best friend, Mark interpreted what Peter said, and Matthew was a tax collector. Three different men... totally.... and three different versions. John is the author the plainest of them.... not mentioning Peter's courage or lack of courage.
So.... after the huge pot luck.... Jesus sent the men back to Capernaum where Peter's place was. He said He wanted to spend some time in prayer. They had just seen him turn a few loaves of bread and a couple dried fish into a buffet that fed 5,000 men along with unnumbered women, children, and slaves. I don't think they questioned Him when He said He would catch up with them. I bet, however, being humans..... I bet they thought He would catch the next boat in the morning. I'm sure they had assignments..... they just figured He would catch the next boat.
These men were fishermen. They knew the sea intimately. It was well known that when the evening cool came.... the change in temperature in an area 700 feet below sea level causes a change in barometric pressure.... bringing winds that would whip up the seas. The men were aware of that.... but they were caught by surprise. It was a rough row..... and night was falling. I'm sure they were skirting the shore as much as possible while staying away from the crashing waves. It says they had already gone three or four miles when Jesus showed up.
A couple of His disciples were there when He changed the water into wine. A few of them were with Him at the pools in Bethesda when He cured the old guy who had been crippled for 38 years [on the Sabbath]. Now they had just cleaned up after the massive pot luck He hosted without working every baker in town to death. And now... they were witnessing a human walking on water... and not just a calm walk skimming along the top as if on the beach with the lazy leftovers of the last wave rippling over the sand.... this was a storm that was nearly impossible to row against.
Jesus was impressive.... no doubt about it... and this miracle was for the disciples. It was almost as if Jesus says.... "you think the pot luck was something... wait 'til you see this!"
While I watch all that television that I watch during this retirement in quarantine.... I crochet or embroider. Lately I have been crocheting little dolls, about 9" tall that resemble "the child" from the Mandalorian. "The child" can levitate things and do other extraordinary things. As I was reading this part of the chapter it occurred to me... "the child" was captured by the bad guys because after a huge levitation, or other extraordinary feat, he had to rest. It would sap his energy.
Jesus didn't need to rest after He fed the 5,000 men, along with the unnumbered women, children, and slaves on the grass that day. He did need to thank God though. So prayer was His revitalizer. John said Jesus sent them out in a boat.... and John didn't say what Jesus was going to do. John just knew Jesus was going to show up in Capernaum.
So.... This story tells us that Jesus had control over gravity.... gravity has been my enemy for almost my whole life. Gravity is what the scales measure. The reason I am heavy [overweight] is gravity. The reason I sink when I try to walk on water... is gravity. Jesus wasn't dragged down by gravity.
