4. Walking on Water

Question 1

1. What Happened?

Answer 1

• Synoptic: Disciples are crossing Sea of Galilee when a storm blows in. Jesus calms the storm when he enters the boat.
• John: Jesus enters the boat and they immediately find themselves at the shore

• Nature-Miracle: Jesus bends the laws of physics to his will
- Example of Hume’s definition of a miracle as a “transgression of the laws of nature”

Question 2

2. Disciples

Answer 2

• Disciples “frightened” because Jesus’ appearance is numinous. (Religious exp)
• Matthew: Peter walks on water briefly until he is frightened. Jesus criticises him for lack of faith (John ignores this as it subtracts from the Sign’s meaning)

Question 3

3. Persecution

Answer 3

• Sign seems to refer to the hardship and persecution of early Christians

• Boat is the church and the winds that rock it are the roubles that Christians get from Jewish and Pagan critics.
- Persecutions: Most the Apostles were Martyred, Emperor Nero blamed Christians for the Fire of Rome and had them burned at alive at his parties

Question 4

4. Good Shepherd

Answer 4

• Sign reveals Jesus as the Saviour and Good Shepherd.
• It reminds Christians that Christ is always at hand, believers need to ‘take him in’ to their church and their hearts.
• If they do this, they will find themselves at the destination of Eternal Life

Question 5

5. Crowds Present at the Feeding of the 5000

Answer 5

• Came searching for Jesus and crossed the lake comfortably on their boats
• However, they did not find Jesus.
• Sign: Those who suffer have a deeper religious experience

Question 6

6. Implications

Answer 6

• Schweitzer: interpreted it naturalistically. He suggests that Disciples saw Jesus walking on the shore and mistook this for him walking on water.
• Psychological Explanation: Disciples were exhausted so Hallucinated
• Great Persecution that ended in the 3rd century: 20,000 Christians executed
• Constantine the Great converted to Christianity and made it Roman Empire’s religion

Question 7

Summary

Answer 7

1. What Happened?
2. Disciples
3. Persecution
4. Good Shepherd
5. Crowds Present at the Feeding of the 5000
6. Implications