The Sea of Galilee is a beautiful place. It is also called Yam Kinneret. It is about 700 feet below sea level, and the Great Jordan Rift Valley, goes through the lake. High winds come from the steep hills, especially the Golan Heights from the east. It can be subject to very sudden and violent storms. The waves can be as high as 10 feet.
This is what probably happened during the time of Jesus. He has just fed, perhaps over ten thousand people, with just five loaves of bread and two fish. He had done much healing on, perhaps the Golan Heights. Towards sun down, he had sent his disciples away on the other side, in a boat. He dismissed the crowds, and spent the night in quite meditation. Towards dawn, he began to walk on the waters of Galilee, to get to his disciples. There was a sudden and violent storm, which probably had raged all night long. But, Jesus calmly walked on the on the stormy waves. His disciples, who were already beside themselves, fighting the storm, saw a person approaching them. They did not know if they were hallucinating, or whether this was the sea god coming to destroy them. They were completely gripped with fear.
Jesus said to them, “Take heart! I AM! Do not be afraid!”
- Jesus uses the same words that Moses used in the Greek translation of Exodus 14:13, when Pharaoh, the Egyptian god of the river Nile and the seas, was pursuing the freed slaves, to slaughter them at the sea. “Take heart, stand strong!”
- Jesus used for himself the same name of God that was revealed to Moses at the burning bush: Ego Eimi, I AM!
- Based on the fact, that he is God, Jesus said, “Do not be afraid!”
Quite a powerful experience!
Peter wanted to test out these claims of Jesus. So, he asked to do the same miracle. To which Jesus said, “Sure, walk on the waves.” Which he did. But, then he saw the fierce wind, and began to drown. He cried out, “Lord (the Hebrew Bible name for God), save me, Yeshua, Jesus!”
Jesus reached out his hand, and saved him. So amazing!
Following this Jesus got into the boat, and the wind ceased- just like during the time of Moses, in Exodus 14!
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