Jesus Walks on Water, John 6:16ff

We talked on Saturday morning about this chapter of John that begins with crossing Galilee, climbing a mountain and then feeding a crowd in the wilderness, all of which parallels the story of the Exodus. The crowd understands Jesus actions as paralleling that of Moses, they think he is the prophet mentioned in Deut 18, and they seek to make him king. But he disappears.

Then comes the miracle of the walking on water. I’m a bit confused. The crossing of the sea appears in v1 of chp 6, so why water again here?

But in a conversation with Ade later in the day, when she asked how things went this morning, it suddenly occurred to me. This crossing the water is NOT the parallel of the Red Sea, but the Jordan crossing.

How did I not see it? The issue at the first coming to the Jordan was whether or not they would have the courage to go in, or would they be afraid? In Num 13, ten of the spies warned them of giants in the land. Two said, they should go in and take possession.

In the community discussion that follows, recorded in Num 14, verse 2 says,

“all the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron”

and decided to choose a new leader and go back to Egypt (remember the confusion in John 6 about back and forward in the boats!!).

Caleb says:

“do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people in the land, because we will swallow them up. Their protection is gone, BUT THE LORD IS WITH US. Do not be afraid of them.”
Num 14:9

God then gets frustrated about their inability to believe, ‘in spite of the miraculous signs I have performed among them” (Num 14:11). After this, God declares that those who saw all these signs, but treated God with contempt would not enter the Promised Land.

Now go back and read John 6.

Note how in their terror in the strong wind, the disciples were willing to let Jesus into the boat. And how Jesus gets frustrated with unbelief later in the chapter, in the face of miracles and his teaching on manna.

I think there might be something in this, and it certainly serves to complete the story parallels.

What do you think?

If I can do it ……

Well, I’ve just signed up for the Coastal Cycle. I’ll be driving the team support vehicle. So, time to step up gents, the more people that finsh in front of me, the better I’ll make you look !

Enjoyed the article from Christianity Today. Have we emancipated ( big word ) Jesus, or do we just not realise what a Christian man is supposed to be. Would be interested to hear some thoughts on that one.One last thought, have to work on Saturday, but can stay til about 8.30. Is it bad form to eat and run ?

 

Willow Implements Reveal

The often excellent blog Out of Ur has a series running on the Shift Conference at Willow Creek. The latest post is about Reveal, the recent study which researched 200 churches and which is changing the nature of things at Willow Creek. Some of the changes make you wonder just what they have been doing for years…and what have those churches been following who have sought to model themselves on Willow. But you have to applaud the honesty and integrity.

Anyway, the post on Reveal is fascinating and worth reading. Find it here.