15 Feb. Who on earth is this person who defies the laws of nature?
"Immediately Jesus told his followers to get into the boat and go ahead of him to Bethsaida across the lake. He stayed behind to send the people home. After sending them away, he went into the hills to pray."
"That night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on the land. He saw his followers struggling hard to row the boat, because the wind was blowing against them."
"Between three and six o'clock in the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the water, and he wanted to walk past the boat. But when they saw him walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost and cried out. They all saw him and were afraid."
"But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, 'Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.' Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind became calm. The followers were greatly amazed. They did not understand about the miracle of the five loaves, because their minds were closed."
(Mark 6:45-52)
Immediately after Jesus miraculously fed 5000 families in the wilderness on the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee, he sent the disciples on ahead by boat to Bethsaida on the northern shore of the lake, while he went to pray quietly in the hills.
Despite witnessing an amazing food-creation miracle, his followers still couldn't understand who Jesus really was. They knew that only God could create food, yet Jesus had just fed 5000 families with 5 loaves and 2 small fishes.
A spring squall blew the disciples’ boat into the middle of the lake, and they struggled to row against the headwind. Just before morning, Jesus appeared, walking towards them across the water - as God was pictured walking on the waves in Job 9:8: "God's wisdom is deep and his power is great... He alone stretches out the skies and walks on the waves of the sea... He does wonders that cannot be understood; he does so many miracles they cannot be counted. When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by me, I do not recognise him." (Job 9:4-11)
Jesus appeared to pass them by. They didn't recognise him and were terrified as they thought they’d seen a ghost. Then Jesus turned, climbed into the boat with them and calmed the storm once again (as in Mark 4:35-41).
Yet again they were reminded of God's actions in Psalm 107: "In their misery they cried out to the LORD [God], and he saved them from their troubles. He stilled the storm and calmed the waves." (Psalm 107:23-29)
The disciples were utterly amazed! Here was their friend Jesus of Nazareth; but he did things that only God can do!
The photo shows the hills on the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee near Ein Gev.
You can read more about Jesus's miracles @ https://www.thebiblejourney.org/…/jesus-walks-on-the-sea-o…/