Walking on Water

We are in the homestretch now as we keep working our way through the seven miracles of Jesus recorded in the gospel of John. We have already covered the first four; today we look at number five. This one is connected to what we saw last week, so let me give some context from where we left off last time in order to see how this passage today fits into the larger story which is unfolding.

We have already seen the two miracles at Cana with the water-to-wine and the healing of the sick child. We have seen John’s portrayal of a courtroom scene in Jerusalem after Jesus heals the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda. And last week we examined the way in which Jesus was re-enacting the Passover exodus event by providing bread in the wilderness for a large multitude of people.

Today’s story tucks right into the middle of that miraculous feeding we saw last week. The feeding of the 5000 takes place in the opening verses of John 6. But the whole lesson about Jesus being the bread of life comes at the end of John 6 when the crowd finds Jesus again the next day teaching at the Synagogue in Capernaum. Today’s passage comes right in the middle of those two scenes. So, we pick up the action in today’s reading understanding that this happens on the very same day as the miraculous feeding we looked at in last week’s message.

John 6:16–24 NIV

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, 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.

Let’s start with a quick reminder of the setting for this story. There was a great multitude of people from the towns on the west side of the sea of Galilee who had followed Jesus across the lake to the east side of the sea of Galilee. It was over on that more desolate wilderness side of the lake that Jesus provided the miracle of feeding thousands of people using only five small loaves of bread and two fish. We made the connection in that story between this miracle of Jesus and the manna God provided for the Israelites in the desert. Take one more step back from the story and remember that John tells us right in the opening of chapter 6 that all of this is taking place near the time of the Passover festival.

don’t not lose sight of the overlapping theme of Old Testament Passover exodus

Now then, all of this is significant background to tell us that this next miracle we see today out on the sea of Galilee happens at a particular place in a much bigger story. We should not lose sight of the overlapping theme of Old Testament Passover exodus which is so important to understanding the deeper lesson of this miracle on the waters.

I have given this reminder every week in this series that John breaks his gospel in two sections. All of the events in the first half of John are intended to point the readers forward into the second half of the gospel—in which John focuses his attention on just one week; from Palm Sunday to Easter. All of these seven miracles which we are looking at in this season of Lent are all intentionally chosen by John for his gospel because they all have a way of pointing us forward to the cross and resurrection of Jesus.

Last week as we began our way into chapter 6 we also noticed the particular way in which John uses the miracle lunch as a way of connecting back to the Old Testament as well as pointing forward to the cross and resurrection. We ought to be looking at this water-walking scene today through those same lenses. John still has us in that Passover exodus connecting moment, and is still pushing us forward to the cross as well.

A story that points back

Now this is becoming a much more obvious connection because it fits so perfectly with everything else John is arranging in the way he tells his gospel story. So, I wonder if there is any other story from the Old Testament within the Passover exodus narrative in which a strong wind blew across the waters of the sea? What Old Testament Passover exodus event might Jesus be re-enacting when he crosses over the sea on foot by walking right through the middle of it from one side to the other? Is there a story like that somewhere in the Passover exodus narrative?

walking over the water — parting of the Red Sea

I am being cynical; of course there is a story like this in the Passover narrative. John is using this miracle of walking over the water as a connection to the parting of the Red Sea from Exodus 14. In Exodus 14 we see the story in which God provided a strong wind throughout the night; and during the night God led his people safely through the sea to the other side.

the variation of this re-enactment is meant to point us forward to something new

We can certainly note that the story is not an exact match as an accurate re-enactment. After all, Jesus did not part the water, but is walking on the water. And it is not all the people being led to walk through, it is only Jesus walking through. So, there is something a bit different in making this story a connection to the Red Sea event in Exodus. But let’s also remember that John uses these stories as a way to point us forward as well. So, maybe the variation of this re-enactment is meant to point us forward to something new. We will get back to that in a little bit.

“It is I” — Greek ego eimi literally “I am I” (Hebrew yahweh “I am who I am”)

Before we move on to making the forward connections, consider one more detail in the way John tells us about this miracle. Jesus only has one line in this story. The only words of Jesus are spoken to his disciples to identify himself and tell them to not be afraid. In just about all of our English translations Jesus identifies himself by saying, “It is I.” The Greek words used here are unusual though. In Greek it is a repetition of one Greek word in two forms, ego eime. It would literally translate into English as “I am I.” It is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word YHWH (“I am that I am”). It is the divine name of God spoken and revealed to Moses at the burning bush on Mount Sinai. When Moses encountered God at the burning bush, Moses hid his face from God because he was afraid. So often, doesn’t it seem like God needs to tell his people to not be afraid when they are confronted with the revelation of God’s glory and power? It is no different in this story from John 6. Jesus declares himself to his disciples using words that connect with the divine name of God. And then Jesus tells his chosen followers to not be afraid. So much of the Exodus narrative is coming alive for us in this story from John 6.

As soon as the disciples are assured that it is Jesus, John tells us that the boat immediately arrives at its destination on the shore. But the story does not end there. John takes out attention back across the lake again to rejoin the crowd of people who were part of the miraculous feeding story just the day before. Apparently there are still several people from this crowd that stayed there overnight. John tells us that the crowd witnessed the disciples getting into the one-and-only boat at dark without Jesus in their company. When morning comes they are looking for Jesus—thinking he must be near because he did not take the boat with the rest of his disciples.

the people who are left across the lake go back over to Capernaum to keep searching for Jesus

only the disciples witness this miracle

But when it is obvious that Jesus cannot be found anywhere on that eastern shore, the people who are left there grab a ride back over to Capernaum in order to keep searching for Jesus. Jesus walks through the sea, but everybody else takes boats. Jesus re-enacts the Red Sea story, but everyone else is left out. In fact, only the disciples witness this miracle; the rest of the crowd who saw the miracle with the bread misses out on seeing this miracle upon the water.

So, what is happening here? What is John trying to show us about Jesus in this water-walking event? And remember too that this all happens right in the middle of the whole bread-of-life story; that one is still in play and not yet resolved. There is a lot happening here all at once.

A story that points forward

John is pointing us forward to the cross — Jesus walks that journey alone

neither OT Israel nor we have ever been able to walk forward in perfect obedience to the covenant

only Jesus is able to step in perfect covenant obedience

Well, once again John is using this story to push our attention forward to the cross. And there is something new in this miracle on the sea that points us to the cross. You see, in this particular miracle we look back and see a connection to a time when God provided a way for all of his people to walk safely through the sea—a reminder of Exodus. But now John is pointing us forward to something new and different. John is pointing us forward to the cross; and Jesus walks that journey alone. In the Old Testament exodus, God places a path through the sea for all of his people to step forward into his perfect holy covenant. But neither they nor we have ever been able to walk forward in perfect obedience to that covenant. Only Jesus is able to take those steps to perfect covenant obedience. Jesus fulfills a covenant journey that we are incapable of doing on our own. I think John is using this story to point us to that. Only Jesus is capable of taking those steps that lead to the cross. Jesus walks where we cannot.

Matthew tells this story in a slightly different way — Peter doesn’t get very far until he begins sinking and needs Jesus to pick him up and help him back into the boat

Matthew’s gospel tells this story in a slightly different way. Matthew tells us that when the disciples see Jesus walking out on the water, Peter requests to get out of the boat and walk on the water over to Jesus. But Peter doesn’t get very far until he begins sinking and needs Jesus to pick him up and help him back into the boat.

Twenty years ago Christian author John Ortberg published a book with the title, If You Want to Walk on Water, You’ve Got to Get Out of the Boat. It was a hugely successful book and helped launch Ortberg’s career as a writer. He revised the book and republished it again in 2015 under the same title. As much as Ortberg has good things to say in his book about being courageous in faith, I am completely disappointed in the title of the book which draws upon this miracle of Jesus. Because it seems obvious to me that the point of the story is that you CAN’T walk on water because you are NOT Jesus! John is showing us that only Jesus is capable of walking on water; only Jesus is capable of taking those steps that lead to the cross.

the disciples are not left alone to sink in the storm — people searching for Jesus are not left wandering around aimlessly in the wilderness

Where does this story leave us, then? Let’s affirm a few details we see coming through John’s telling of this miracle. Yes, Jesus is the only one who walks on the water. But this noes not mean the disciples are left alone to sink in the storm. Neither does this mean that the crowd of people searching for Jesus are left wandering around aimlessly in the wilderness across the sea of Galilee. Even though Jesus alone walks through the sea, he does so in order to seek out his disciples and bring them to the safety of their destination. The whole crowd of people who so dramatically misunderstood the miraculous feeding the day before are drawn back to Jesus again the very next day.

Jesus walks a path that only he can walk, but does so in a way which allows all people to be drawn unto him

Jesus walks a path that only he can walk, but does so in a way which allows all people to be drawn unto him. These are people who are flawed in their thinking and their assumptions. These are people who have failed to recognize all that Jesus is revealing himself to be as the Son of God. Yet, these are people created by God in his image. These are people loved by God as part of his created world. These are people who are extended the same grace given through the cross which comes to us yet today.

In times when your life feels like it is being tossed about like a boat in the storm; in times when your life feels like it is wandering in a dry wilderness, Jesus is calling. Jesus has fully taken upon himself the path of perfect covenant righteousness that you could never walk. Jesus has done all the is needed at the cross to bring that perfect righteousness to you. And Jesus calls you in his grace to receive the new life he brings by receiving him into your heart in faith.