John 6: 16 21 Jesus Walks On Water

Target year level: Year Two

Scripture text

World behind the text

The authorship of the Gospel which bears the name of John remains a mystery. Irenaeus, who wrote at the end of the second century, identified the apostle John with the evangelist John and others have speculated that the Gospel was written by disciples of John the apostle. John’s primary audience seems to have been a group of Jewish Christians who were in a situation of increasing tension with the Jewish synagogue. The Gospel of John was probably written in the 90’s CE.

John is clearly trying to establish Jesus’s authority as Messiah and Lord. John follows Jesus' speech (5:19-47) with further disclosure of Jesus as the one who can give and take life; he is the life-giver and the judge. Jesus has said that Moses "wrote about me" (5:46), and now we learn how this is the case. Under Moses' leadership, Israel escaped through the Red Sea, travelled through the wilderness and miraculously received food there. These stories are now echoed in Jesus' miraculous feeding of the five thousand (6:1-15) and his rescue of his disciples as he walks to them on the sea (6:16-21). These miracles clearly reveal Jesus as sovereign over the forces of nature. But in his teaching that follows and the controversy it arouses, we discover that he is not merely one who works miracles within the realm of nature, nor merely a leader of God's people like Moses, but the source of eternal life itself (6:22-59). He fulfils the role of Moses and utterly transcends it.

In these six verses, two miracles are recorded that each reveals Jesus as the master over the natural realm. The first is his walking on the water to reach the disciples. Many have suggested that John does not intend for us to believe Jesus walked upon water but that John is saying Jesus was walking along the shore next to the sea. The Greek allows such an interpretation (epi tes thalasses has this meaning in 21:1), and it is quite possible that they had begun their trip along the coastline, expecting to pick up Jesus. But John says that they were heading across the lake and had rowed several miles, which does not speak of a trip along the coast. Furthermore, if Jesus had merely walked along the coast, then the disciples' fear (v. 19) and the puzzlement of the crowds (vv. 22-25) would not be accounted for.

The second miracle is the way they arrived at Capernaum after taking Jesus into the boat (v. 21). Again, it is possible that this verse does not describe anything miraculous. Some suggest that once the sea had calmed down, the normal travel seemed as though it took no time at all, especially with Jesus present in the boat after his spectacular approach. Thus, the immediate arrival would say something about the disciples' perception rather than about physical motion. Such an interpretation is possible, but the text focuses attention on what happened to the boat: immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading. John seems to suggest that Jesus' walk on the water was not the only unnatural mode of transportation that night.

Such stories raise questions regarding the miraculous. Many believe that such things do not happen, so therefore John is making up a story to convey something of Jesus' authority and power. The story certainly does show Jesus' authority and power, but did he really have such authority and power? Was he really able to walk on water? As science is coming to accept views of the universe that are not as mechanistic as views in the past were, it is perhaps easier today to believe that such unusual events are possible. (Source: IVP from Bible Gateway)

John links back to stories from the Old Testament, to further strengthen his case. He knows that his audience would be familiar with these stories as they are Jews, and by using the same imagery and stories he is proving the authority of Jesus.

The story of Jesus' walking on water alludes to several Old Testament passages, which builds the case for Jesus' divine identity. It is said of God, "he alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea" (Job 9:8). Psalm 107 speaks of those who "went out on the sea in ships" (Ps 107:23) and were caught in a great storm. They should "give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love" (Ps 107:31) because "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" (Ps 107:29-30). The poetic imagery of these passages is re-enacted on a historical level in the actual event John is describing. The image of walking on the sea mentioned in Job now actually occurs; and though John does not mention the calming of the sea, the deliverance to "their desired haven" is attributed to God in the psalm and, by implication, to Jesus in the Gospel. When Jesus brings his people safely through the sea, he repeats the pattern of God's leading his people through the Red Sea by the hand of Moses and Aaron (Ex 13:17—15:21; Ps 77:16-20). Thus, Jesus' superiority to Moses, seen clearly in the feeding of the five thousand, is implied in this story as well. (Source: Michael Fallon msc, John 5:1-6:71 pdf)

Geography: ‘across the sea to Capernaum’. Capernaum was located on the north-western shore of the Sea of Galilee about 5kms from where the Jordan River enters the Sea of Galilee in the north. Storms could suddenly blow up in the Sea of Galilee making sailing on the lake very dangerous. (Source: Into the Desert, Dan White)

Fishing: Many of Jesus’ disciples were fisherman, and fishing was normally done at night when the fish were feeding and couldn’t detect the nets as easily. Fishing would have generally occurred close to the shore and not in the deeper waters. (Source: Into the Desert, Dan White)

Boats: The boats employed on the Sea of Galilee were used primarily for fishing (Mt 4:21), but also for travel and trading between towns on the lake (Jn 6:17-24). Big enough to hold ten or twelve persons, they were propelled by sail (Lk 8:23) or oar (Jn 6:19), and were in danger of being swamped by the sudden squalls that can suddenly whip up the waters. (Source: Encyclopedia of the Bible from Bible Gateway)

World of the text

Metaphor: John seems to be using the boat as a symbol of his own community, struggling in this world, with Jesus no longer visibly present (but we are assured that he will come). Then, suddenly and mysteriously, Jesus appears to them.

This metaphor is the same for the disciples, they were frightened and unsure, and are then reassured by Jesus.

Look at what text precedes this one. The feeding of the 5000, precedes this text, once again miracle story is evident, and John is linking back to Old Testament scripture to demonstrate how Jesus is the Messiah and how this can be seen as he exceeds the prophets of old. (Source: Michael Fallon msc, John 5:1-6:71 pdf)

Look at the use of the words “it is I, do not be afraid”. John often used ‘I’ statements to clearly demonstrate the authority of Jesus and to show that Jesus identifies himself as the Son of God. (Source: IVP from Bible Gateway)

Break open the text using 5W and H strategy

World in front of the text

What does this text tell us about Jesus? Communicates that believers would see Jesus as the Messiah due to his actions.

When times in my life do I look for Jesus? Jesus came to the disciple when they were in need and frightened.

Aren’t we like the apostles when we experience darkness and adversity? While the Lord may at times seem distant to us, he, nonetheless is constantly present. The scriptures remind us that the Lord is “a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1).