Walking On Water

When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea, embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum. It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they began to be afraid. But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” They wanted to take him into the boat, but the boat immediately arrived at the shore to which they were heading. (John 6:16-21)

This miracle of walking on water reminds me of the Old Testament and Elijah and Elisah: Elijah took his mantle, rolled it up and struck the water: it divided, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground. When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Request whatever I might do for you, before I am taken from you.” Elisha answered, “May I receive a double portion of your spirit.” He replied, “You have asked something that is not easy. Still, if you see me taken up from you, your wish will be granted; otherwise not.”…He gripped his own garment, tore it into two pieces, and picked up the mantle which had fallen from Elijah. Then he went back and stood at the bank of the Jordan. Wielding the mantle which had fallen from Elijah, he struck the water and said, “The LORD, the God of Elijah—where is he now?” He struck the water: it divided, and he crossed over.

I’m also reminded of Moses: But Moses answered the people, “Do not fear! Stand your ground and see the victory the LORD will win for you today. For these Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again. The LORD will fight for you; you have only to keep still.” Then the LORD said to Moses: Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to set out. And you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea, and split it in two, that the Israelites may pass through the sea on dry land…Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind all night long and turned the sea into dry ground. The waters were split, so that the Israelites entered into the midst of the sea on dry land, with the water as a wall to their right and to their left. (Exodus 14:13-22)

John makes it clear that Jesus was greater than Moses and Elijah, and what better way to do that than by Jesus walking on water rather than by splitting it to walk on dry land to cross over.  Note that Moses said to the threatened people: “Do not fear!”  Jesus said to the frightened disciples: “Do not be afraid.”

Each of us should be guided by our personal faith and beliefs regarding this walking-on-water episode. Helping us interpret is Dr. Brant Pitre, a contemporary biblical scholar, whose video presentations were viewed during Lent at Christ the King.  The program was facilitated by Don Frederico and Father Healey.  Dr. Pitre said Jesus walking on water is a theophany whereby Jesus revealed his divinity through a miracle.  

Regardless of what interpretation we embrace, we all have own “boats” in which we row.  We often find ourselves many miles from shore with waves breaking all around us.  Fortunately, Jesus walks near and around our boats and says to us: “It is I. Do not be afraid.” That’s comforting. He is our Savior.

Deacon David Pierce