When Jesus Walked on Water, Was He Just Passing By?

Just Passing By?

When I first noticed the phrase in Mark 6:48, “. . . he came to them walking on the sea, for he wanted to pass by them,”  I did a double take and looked again. “He wanted to pass by them?”

Questions came to mind. “Did he do this often?” “Was he taking a shortcut or avoiding rough terrain by walking across the sea.” “Was he messing with the disciples?” “Teasing them, perhaps?”

Then the other question. “Did he do this often?” “Did he frequently walk across the water to take a shortcut?”

I don’t know if my questions are answerable. But, they are fun to think about.

They Had Just Fed the 5000

Mark 6:45 (NET) Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dispersed the crowd. 46 After saying good-bye to them, he went to the mountain to pray.

Jesus’ walking on the water is right after the feeding of the 5000. Actually, more than 5000. Only the men were counted. Women and children were also present. We can only speculate on the actual size of the crowd. 8000? 10,000? 15,000? Who knows?

He immediately sent the disciples to the other side of the sea while he dispersed the crowd. He was looking after their welfare. They had been so busy with ministry activities they had no time to eat. When they tried to get away for some rest, the crowd followed them. Jesus, being the good shepherd he was, took care of the crowd so the disciples could get away.

He did not rest. He went to the mountain to pray.

Yes! It Says, “Just Passing By”

47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land. 48 He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. As the night was ending, he came to them walking on the sea, for he wanted to pass by them.

The boat was in the middle of the sea. The disciples strained at the oars. The wind was against them. He came to them, walking on the sea. He wanted to pass by them.

Or, Does it Mean, “Coming Near?”

The word in the original language can apparently mean either pass by or come near. If the meaning is to come near, rather than to pass by, it’s a very different lesson. Coming near indicates he came to encourage, reassure and assist them. Like a good older brother, he got close to monitor the situation, to help if needed.

Perhaps, he didn’t intend for the disciples to see him. He wanted to be close by, just in case.

He watched, in case they got in over their head. He did not plan to rescue them. To rescue sometimes is to weaken. We grow in our struggles.

Acting as a Spotter

I think Jesus was taking the position of a spotter. I used to lift free weights. When doing heavy lifts on a bench press, I wanted to exhaust my muscles to achieve maximum growth. Sometimes, going for one more rep, I stalled, unable to complete a lift. The spotter placed his hands under the bar and lifted just enough so I could finish.

The spotter rarely lifts all the weight. Maybe only 10 or 20 pounds. Just enough to allow the lifter to complete the lift. I think that’s what Jesus was doing. He was the spotter. He wanted them to struggle. He wanted them to grow. He was there to do just enough to help them complete the test and achieve maximum growth.

There is a lesson for us in that. Jesus is a spotter in our life. He doesn’t remove struggles. He does just enough. Our growth is more important than immediate success.

Matthew’s Addition

Matthew’s account adds this: Peter said to him, “Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water.” So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind he became afraid. And starting to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Mark’s account doesn’t mention Peter’s walking on the water and then sinking. Mark is Peter’s account. Maybe Peter, embarrassed by his failure, chose not to include that part.

They Thought He Was a Ghost

49 When they saw him walking on the water they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them: “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

A phantom, an apparition, a ghost. That’s what they thought Jesus was. They cried out for fear. They were terrified.

Fear was a part of their life as long as Jesus was on this earth. Before the crucifixion, Peter said, “If they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away!” Then, he added, “Even if I must die with you, I will never deny you.” Yet, when the time came, Peter denied even knowing him.

After Pentecost they had courage. After the Holy Spirit came, they had power.

Verses 49 and 50 are a snapshot into their spiritual condition. They are fearful. They are blind to God’s presence.

Jesus knew their spiritual condition. He knew how far they had come. He also knew how far they had to go. That is why he walked out to them on the water. He knew they would be fearful. He wanted to reassure them. He wanted to encourage them. Like a good coach, he wanted them to learn to deal with difficulties. He encouraged and instructed them in each situation.

The Wind Ceased

51 Then he went up with them into the boat, and the wind ceased. They were completely astonished, 52 because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

The last time he calmed a storm, the disciples woke him and said, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?” He spoke to the storm, “Be quiet, Calm down!”

This time, the wind ceased.

They Did Not Understand About the Loaves

Their hearts were hard to any possibilities beyond their expectations of an earthly kingdom. Jews were taught about the Messiah. They were taught about a coming King. But, their teaching was incomplete. They didn’t learn about the humble servant who would be king.

The lesson of the loaves was to teach them about the intended use of power, which is to use power for good, not for conquest alone.

Healing More Sick People

53 After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus. 55 They ran through that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever he was rumored to be. 56 And wherever he would go – into villages, towns, or countryside – they would place the sick in the marketplaces, and would ask him if they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

The lesson of the Old Covenant – If you touch something unclean, the uncleanness transfers to you and you are unclean. You have to perform cleansing rituals to be clean again. Until you do, you are banned from God’s presence.

The lesson of the New Covenant – If you are unclean and Jesus touches you, his cleanness transfers to you and you are clean. You don’t have to do any cleansing rituals because Jesus’ touch cleanses you. Now, you can enter God’s presence.

Wherever Jesus went, he touched people or they touched him. The unclean women who had been bleeding for twelve years touched him. Like an electric current, power flowed. She felt it. He felt it.

For everyone who touched Jesus, believed in Jesus or listened to Jesus, power flowed to them. Lame walked, sick came to health, dead rose, eyes saw. All who touched the edge of his cloak were healed.

Here is a link to a 6 minute downloadable video that illustrates holiness.