Jesus Walks on Water – Part 1
Conquering the Chaos
Sea of Galilee (pt. 18 of 21)
What if the story of Jesus walking on water is about something far more profound than simply defying the laws of physics?
In Part 1 of this two-part series, we explore Mark's account of Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee through the symbolism of the ancient Near East. Rather than focusing on whether the event happened literally, we ask a different question: What was Mark communicating to his first-century audience?
Lesson Handout:
In the ancient world, the sea represented chaos—the forces that opposed God's divine order.
In Job 9:8, it is the LORD who "treads upon the waves of the sea." This language carries the imagery of a conquering king trampling enemy territory. The waves are the elevated places of chaos, now brought under divine authority.
He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the heights (waves) of the sea.
When Jesus walks upon the sea, he is doing far more than demonstrating power over nature. He is conquering the chaos.
As the Son, Jesus exercises the authority of the Father, bringing order where there was disorder and demonstrating his dominion over the forces that threaten creation.
Understanding this ancient symbolism transforms how we read the story and reveals a deeper dimension of Mark's portrayal of Jesus.
In Part 2, we turn to Matthew's account, where Peter steps out of the boat. There, the story becomes personal: Jesus is calling us to step out of the boat and follow him into the chaos.
Scripture References: Mark 6:45–52; Job 9:8; Psalm 89:9; Matthew 14:22–33.
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