Written by Marc Wagner

Following the sign that Jesus performed by feeding the 5000 comes a short story of Jesus walking on the sea to the disciples (John 6:15-25). Interestingly, this story of Jesus walking on water is not spoken of as a sign like the feeding of the multitude. Keeping in mind John 20:30-31, “now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name,” this event is another sign, even though we not specifically told that.

This event is meant to draw attention to the identity of Jesus. Tracking from John 1:1, this whole gospel is an evangelistic effort to convince its readers of who Jesus is. The idea of walking on water to a modern western person usually is a phrase that describes a person who can accomplish the impossible with ease. The gospel account rightly says, “they saw Jesus walking on the sea.” To walk on the sea meant something different to the ancient mindset than what we mean by walking on water. Technically, walking on the sea is walking on water, but the sea, to an ancient Israelite was a force of chaos that had to be subdued. It was God’s prerogative to “walk” on the sea. (Job 9:8 “He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea.”) He is the one who subdues and rules over the chaotic waters (seas), demonstrating his Lordship over that which threatens human life. When John has Jesus walking on the sea, he is linking his identity to God in a special way.

Though it is not directly saying that Jesus is God, this idea is not that far off, seeing that John has already called Jesus the Word of God, who was with God and was God, who has also become flesh and dwelt (tabernacled) among us (John 1:14). Through the stories preceding this water walking and the story that immediately follows, John is stacking persuasion upon persuasion to convince us of Jesus’ identity, that is the Messiah (the anointed human representative), the Son of God (more than just human) so that we can have life…the kind of life that is unto the end of the age.

Let’s not lose the impact these stories are meant to bring because of our familiarity with them. May this part of the gospel story strengthen your faith/trust in Jesus that he will do all he has promised.