IN THREE OF THE GOSPELS we are given the story of Jesus calming the fearful waters of the Sea of Galilee. He and the disciples had fed the multitudes earlier that day, and then Jesus left his disciples to pray while they crossed over the lake. John’s version is quite brief, without the more detailed accounts of the others. “It is I, don’t be afraid. Immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.” (cf. John 6:16-21) Another says, “He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down.” (Mark 6:48-51a)
The Matthew version (cf. Matt. 14:23-32) of quieting the waters is a little longer than this, and includes the parts of Peter walking on the water, and Jesus’ challenge to the disciples’ lack of faith. Most significantly, this version includes, “Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” (Matt. 14:33) In all versions, Jesus sent the disciples, including several who were veteran seamen, across the Sea of Galilee on what was usually a two-hour sail. He goes up on a mountain to pray, and they find themselves fearful on an increasingly violent sea; so violent, they fear death. He leaves the mountain, stills the wind and waves and they are saved.
Allegory, or miracle? Or both? Two O.T. quotes are relevant to such discussion. “Look!” says the prophet Micah, “The Lord is coming from his dwelling place; he comes down and treads the high places of the earth. (Mic. 1:3) And the Psalmist, perhaps David himself, says, “You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, who formed the mountains by your power, having armed yourself with strength, who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations. (Psa. 65:5-7) These are merely two of many O.T. quotes. Many commentators across the ages of Christianity have gone back and looked at all the mountain-wind-wave scriptures in reference to the N.T. story of the calming of the waters. Many of them have God-on-the-mountain angry with the “ethnos,” and the wind and waves as his vengeance.
The Jesus narratives bring the concepts forward out of wrath and into grace. Jesus is tender-hearted towards his beloved, and extends his power to preserve their lives and, all-importantly, their fledging mission. The disciples are seen as the conveyors of the gospel, the boat is seen as the church, the wind-whipped angry waves are the godless culture(s) that the church must ‘sail’ upon. The church is a rescue ship that sails above those drowning in the waves, and some are able climb in (c.f. Matt. 7:13-14 as parallel concept). All of this is wisdom teaching at a powerful spiritual level.
The God of creation is free to work outside of the laws of space and time and matter— after all, he’s the one who created them. Modern physicists posit that there are more dimensions than these; perhaps eleven, or fifteen, or even an infinite number. A lot of us are satisfied with, “God said it, I believe it, and that’s enough for me.” Others, perhaps with more inquiring minds, seek a deeper knowledge, and sometimes are accused of gnostic heresy. Some choose both, and are perfectly satisfied, maybe even delighted! As long as it is now and not yet then, there will always be some tension in how Christians substantiate their beliefs. It is only when it is ‘then’ that we’ll be comfortably satisfied with whatever level of understanding we develop are permitted. As long as we believe in and faith in Jesus, maybe we should let a lot of other distinctions go.
The allegorical interpretation of the story of calming the waters is one that lands satisfyingly within our anxious hearts. We can readily relate to the symbolism of life having great storms, for we have been in them. We can also easily connect with the fear of drowning in these kinds of circumstances, for in the realm of human relationships, there are very few of us that have not felt like we were going under some great waves over a deep abyss, with no hope of rescue. We know what it’s like to need a miracle. And this leads us to the focal point of this archetypal story dealing with human insecurity. If you are really seeking a miracle, here is the one that is greater than all: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
Q. Are my inner seas in a becalmed state?
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