Walking on water (John's signs) Flashcards
What I AM saying does this sign link to?
‘I am the Good Shepherd’
Which gospels describe this miracle in a similar way?
Mark and Matthew
How does this sign represent a nature miracle?
Because JC is able to bend the laws of physics to his will
Why is John’s rendition more extreme than the version found in the Synoptics?
In the Synoptics, JC calms the storm when he enters the boat. In John, JC enters the boat and they immediately find themselves at the shore they were travelling to
What kind of miracle is this for the disciples?
Religious experience
Why does John not include the venture of St Peter?
Because he wants the reader to focus on the symbolism rather than the supernatural details
Explain the metaphor and symbolism behind this sign
Refers to the hardship and persecution experienced by early Christians. The boat is the church and the rocking is the challenges they face from Jewish critics and the pagan Romans. Christ seems far away and their prayers go unanswered. The sign then reminds Christians that Christ is always at hand, even when things seem impossible. Believers must take JC into their church and their hearts. If they do, they will instantly find themselves at their destination of eternal life
Why is the fact that this sign occurs just after the feeding of the 5000 symbolically significant?
The crowds are looking for Jesus. They cross the lake comfortably on their own boats but do no find JC. The symbolism is that those who suffer for the sake of their faith in JC will have a deeper religious experience than those who do not
How does this sign link the Iranaen Theodicy?
Because it suggests that hardship and suffering are necessary if people are to believe in Jesus and have a deep religious experience
Explain the naturalistic accounts of this sign and explain why they are limited in discrediting John’s rendition
Schweitzer claims that JC was actually walking on the shore and the disciples mistook him for walking on water. However, this does not account for JC teleporting the boat
What is the psychological explanation for this sign?
That in their terror and exhaustion, the disciples hallucinated JC walking towards them before passing out and waking up hours later to find themselves on the shore
Give some examples of the persecution faced by early Christians
- Most of the apostles were martyred by the Jewish authorities
- Paul describes being beaten and stoned by the Pharisees on several occasions and being arrested by the Romans
- Nero blamed Christians for the fire in Rome in 64 CE and used persecuted Christians as human torches at his parties
Why does John disagree with the idea of naturalistic and supernatural explanations altogether?
Because the reader should not focus on whether the story really happened, but rather what it means
Make the case that this sign is essential for understanding JC’s identity?
- Shows that JC is a saviour rather than just a healer
- Shows that Christians must be willing to suffer for their faith, but that Christ will always be there for them when thing seen difficult
- Trying to explain the message in literal terms is to be blind to its message and meaning
- Shows that like the disciples on the boat, believers need to take Christ into their hearts
Make the case that this sign is not essential for understanding JC’s identity
- The sign is probably a legend or has a naturalistic explanation. This is because even John seems embarrassed by it, cutting out the OTT details like the venture of St Peter when his signs are normally more extreme than the miracles in the Synoptics
- The sign is part of a victim mentality that had a toxic impact in later years. Once the Christians underdogs had power in the Roman Empire, they used it to punish those who has persecuted them. This sign encouraged such self righteous thinking
