Why did Jesus walk on water?

[Fredrich]

Are there deeper meanings to our lord Jesus walking on water? I am puzzled by the “why” aspect because it seems like a peculiar thing to do, since He has a tendency to do things for powerful reasons.

Matthew 14:25 and onward
Mark 6:47 and onward.
John 6:16 and onward

There are plenty of current-day life lessons available from the details, like keep your eyes on Jesus; “no storm can shake my inmost calm”, reach out and taking His hand when you start to sink, and know that Jesus is the Son of God, etc.

However…

The incident is listed in 3 of the Gospels, which isn’t that common, and all three have different levels of curious details.

St. Peter’s incident is only mentioned in Matthew.

Mark mentioned Jesus was making as if to pass them by (Mark 6:48) and makes reference to the miracle of the loaves (Mark 6:52).

The boat was 3 or 4 miles out (John 6:19) but when Jesus entered the boat, it immediately reached their destination (John 6:21).

Old Testament references maybe?

I might just be making it more complicated than it is. Maybe our Lord was just out for a stroll the same way people go for moonlit walks along the beach (except it was a dark & stormy night).

God bless

 

[spencer2]

I think the walking on water was just another demonstration of who he was.

 

[choy]

a demonstration of what faith in him can do

Peter was able to walk on water, but when he became afraid and doubted, he began to sink. but Jesus saved him, the same way He saves us each and every day when we sink. He reminds us that if we believe in Him, we too can walk on water

 

[GEddie]

Are there deeper meanings to our lord Jesus walking on water? I am puzzled by the “why” aspect because it seems like a peculiar thing to do, since He has a tendency to do things for powerful reasons.

To emphasize just what kind of power HE had over creation. Apart from HIS capacity to redirect the processes of human biology (curing illnesses etc.), walking a human body on the surface of water requires power over the laws of physics itself (specific gravity, human buoyancy, etc) which, up there with the sundial moving back in the day of Hezekiah, or the Red Sea parting and rejoining at command, lies well beyond the power of a mere human being to produce. Our LORD was no mere human being (although HE was a human being); HE had power over creation itself.

ICXC NIKA!

 

[roveau]

I think it was also an invitation to exercise faith for the apostles there - they could all have walked on water if they had faith. Peter took the lead but when he took his eyes of Jesus (he began to have fears) he began to sink.

 

[John7]

Are there deeper meanings to our lord Jesus walking on water?

Only thing I can think of is,

Genesis 1:2 “…the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”
John 6:19 “…they see Jesus walking on the sea”

in John 6 its like Jesus,
with the Holy Spirit of God with/in him
was moving upon the face of the waters.

 

[FCEGM]

To emphasize just what kind of power HE had over creation. Apart from HIS capacity to redirect the processes of human biology (curing illnesses etc.), walking a human body on the surface of water requires power over the laws of physics itself (specific gravity, human buoyancy, etc) which, up there with the sundial moving back in the day of Hezekiah, or the Red Sea parting and rejoining at command, lies well beyond the power of a mere human being to produce. Our LORD was no mere human being (although HE was a human being); HE had power over creation itself.

ICXC NIKA!

Yes; and walking on the water would especially signify His dominion over chaos, which the sea symbolized.

 

[ElectricBlue]

To emphasize just what kind of power HE had over creation. Apart from HIS capacity to redirect the processes of human biology (curing illnesses etc.), walking a human body on the surface of water requires power over the laws of physics itself (specific gravity, human buoyancy, etc) which, up there with the sundial moving back in the day of Hezekiah, or the Red Sea parting and rejoining at command, lies well beyond the power of a mere human being to produce. Our LORD was no mere human being (although HE was a human being); HE had power over creation itself.

ICXC NIKA!

If he had power over his creation while on earth in the person of Jesus then why are we told that Jesus emptied himself in Phillipians 2:7. Jesus said to His apostles that all the things they saw him do that they would do all those things and more through the power of the holy spirit. So did the holy spirit make him walk across water or did he choose to exercise his God power at certain times? I find it strange that he would do that if it is said that he emptied and humbled himself and became one of us.

I mean I know that he is God in the flesh but I didn’t know that he used his heavenly power on earth without the holy spirit intervention.

 

[bmullins]

If he had power over his creation while on earth in the person of Jesus then why are we told that Jesus emptied himself in Phillipians 2:7. Jesus said to His apostles that all the things they saw him do that they would do all those things and more through the power of the holy spirit. So did the holy spirit make him walk across water or did he choose to exercise his God power at certain times? I find it strange that he would do that if it is said that he emptied and humbled himself and became one of us.

I mean I know that he is God in the flesh but I didn’t know that he used his heavenly power on earth without the holy spirit intervention.

Did Jesus choose to heal the lame, cure the sick, and give the blind sight? I think by emptying himself he did not remove his divinity, he simply suppressed them so he could have a human experience. For instance, the human experience doesn’t see the future. I don’t think Jesus the man could see the future, he trusted God to take care of him though. He still had God in him. I also don’t think Jesus the man was omnipresent… he emptied himself of that.

He did everything including walk on water, heal etc through the Holy Spirit, but I don’t think the Holy Spirit “made him” do it. Probably guided him in God’s will, like God does with us… but we still decide to do things. Sometimes I feel like God is telling me to go talk to someone. So I do… But I still chose to talk to them. Now if I pray for them, and they get healed that wouldn’t be me doing the healing… but I still would have chosen to do the praying… God didn’t make me do it, he just guided me to it.

 

[wiggbuggie]

there are old testament references to God (Jesus) walking on water:

job 9 :8

He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.

psalm 77:19

Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.

psalms 107 23-31

*Others went out on the sea in ships;
they were merchants on the mighty waters.
They saw the works of the Lord,
his wonderful deeds in the deep.
For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that lifted high the waves.
They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in their peril their courage melted away.
They reeled and staggered like drunken men;
they were at their wits’ end.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for men. *

 

[Fredrich]

Thanks everyone! Great answers especially wiggbuggie’s!

 

[wiggbuggie]

thanks, i’m surprised that bibles don’t footnote or comment to these verses.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Did Jesus choose to heal the lame, cure the sick, and give the blind sight? I think by emptying himself he did not remove his divinity, he simply suppressed them so he could have a human experience. For instance, the human experience doesn’t see the future. I don’t think Jesus the man could see the future, he trusted God to take care of him though. He still had God in him. I also don’t think Jesus the man was omnipresent… he emptied himself of that.

He did everything including walk on water, heal etc through the Holy Spirit, but I don’t think the Holy Spirit “made him” do it. Probably guided him in God’s will, like God does with us… but we still decide to do things. Sometimes I feel like God is telling me to go talk to someone. So I do… But I still chose to talk to them. Now if I pray for them, and they get healed that wouldn’t be me doing the healing… but I still would have chosen to do the praying… God didn’t make me do it, he just guided me to it.

I hear that. But also there are some catholics who believe that God performs his miracles using the natural physical laws. He does not break his own laws hence the harmony between science and catholic teachings. Does Jesus’ walk on water not defy the physical laws as we know them? Just asking.

 

[rebeccanew]

I think the answer has something to do with the fact that they reached their destination instantly. Time is a creation of man.

 

[GEddie]

I think the answer has something to do with the fact that they reached their destination instantly. Time is a creation of man.

Well no it isn’t. Time itself is an aspect of the physical universe.

Experiential/linear (human) time is the effect of the entropy cooking off inside our heads and bodies.

As long as we have a body that is chemically powered and produces heat, and a mind that relies on that body for sensation, movement and data storage, we will have experiential “time”.

ICXC NIKA

 

[JesuisSean]

TO PROVE HE WAS A VERY FAST WALKER ???

If you walked around the world, then you walked around the world. If, however, you walked very very fast, you would be cancelling the effect of gravity, thus you could walk on water, now that you have gone into a low level orbit.

Or perhaps he was saying that believing in ones self, is a powerful tool indeed.

 

[PJM]

=Fredrich;6883273]Are there deeper meanings to our lord Jesus walking on water? I am puzzled by the “why” aspect because it seems like a peculiar thing to do, since He has a tendency to do things for powerful reasons.

Matthew 14:25 and onward
Mark 6:47 and onward.
John 6:16 and onward

There are plenty of current-day life lessons available from the details, like keep your eyes on Jesus; “no storm can shake my inmost calm”, reach out and taking His hand when you start to sink, and know that Jesus is the Son of God, etc.

However…

The incident is listed in 3 of the Gospels, which isn’t that common, and all three have different levels of curious details.

St. Peter’s incident is only mentioned in Matthew.

Mark mentioned Jesus was making as if to pass them by (Mark 6:48) and makes reference to the miracle of the loaves (Mark 6:52).

The boat was 3 or 4 miles out (John 6:19) but when Jesus entered the boat, it immediately reached their destination (John 6:21).

Old Testament references maybe?

I might just be making it more complicated than it is. Maybe our Lord was just out for a stroll the same way people go for moonlit walks along the beach (except it was a dark & stormy night).

God bless

Matthews is the FIRST Gospel written [time wise] so the others did not feel compelled to repeat everything he wrote…

Consider the following verses: 2 Tim. 3:16; Mt. 28:19-20 and John.14: 26 “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you”

Jesus walking on water is signifiant in that it shows that He as God controls everything. And just as the miracles point to God and God’s majesty, this act for shadows the Eucharist as being in the realm of possibily for God. HOW?

**God can only do “good”. If the Eucharist is true [IT IS!:[/COLOR]thumbsup:] then it is the GREATEST possible good in the history of God and humanity because God and His Created actually becone “ONE”

The fact that it was a “dark and stormy night” too was by intent. God QUELLED the storm, which is to remind US that He can and will quell the storms of our lifws IF we permit it.

God Bless,
Pat**

 

[timotheos]

Because it was the straightest path from point A to point B.

Jn 1:23 “Make straight the way of the Lord”

While for us, the ‘straight path’ is a figure of speech, I think he did this to show that he had the authority to tell us to stay on it. Kind of like his authority to forgive sins was demonstrated by his ability to cure the paralytic man.

Just a thought. Maybe it’s just that simple.