Jesus Walks On Water
JESUS WALKS ON WATER
JOHN 6:16-24
If you’re in a situation today which makes you afraid, believe Christ’s promise and invite him to deal with you too.
Verses 16-21. After the feeding of the five thousand Jesus again demonstrates that he is Lord over nature by walking on the surface of the Sea of Galilee. Some have suggested that there is a further point of exodus typology here and that this symbolizes a new crossing of the Red Sea. The evidence for this is rather slim and it is better to take it as showing the power of Christ to help and guide even in the face of adverse natural conditions (cf. Mark 6:45-51). His presence banishes fear and guarantees arrival at their destination.
6:22-24. These verses give a somewhat complicated explanation of how the crowds on the east shore of the lake discovered that Jesus and his disciples had gone over to the west shore and how they followed across as soon as there was transport available for them. They were sufficiently impressed by what he had done to be anxious to search for him, though their motives were materialistic (6:26). We need to have a proper assessment of such seekers today.
Notes 6:16: they were presumably given instruction by Jesus in order to avoid the attentions of the crowd. 6:17: they expected Jesus to join them somehow. 6:19: the lake was about eight miles across, but this may have been a shorter crossing near the northern end. “On the sea”: the Greek phrase could mean simply “on the seashore.” The story in Mark 6:45-51 and the general context here make it most unlikely that this is what was intended. (Even less probable are the “rationalizing” theories concerning the feeding miracle which suppose that when the boy took out his sandwiches many of the others followed suit!) 6:20: “It is I.” The Greek ego eimi may mean this, or simply “I am,” or “I am he” (18:5). In view of the “I am” sayings in the Gospel and such a claim as is found in 8:58, it is probable that there are intended to be overtones of divinity in the expression.