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The Walking on Water
He walked out to the disciples, he spoke to them, he held out his hand to Peter, and the disciples then believed it was Jesus.
This miracle was deeply symbolic. After 40 years in the wilderness, Moses led his people out of Sinai to the River Jordan, looking over into ‘the promised land’. Moses died before the conquest of Canaan, but his right hand man Joshua was to carry on. Joshua prayed for a miracle to cross the Jordan, and the waters receded – they ‘crossed’ the water.
Jesus too looked to reclaim the Holy Land. So, not only a new Moses, but also a new Joshua too? Crossing water has huge religious significance to Jews. Ahead of Joshua, 12 priests carried the wooden Ark of the Covenant. Jesus turned it on its head, the boat (ark) contained the 12 disciples (priests). Ahead of Jesus was the fishing boat, a wooden vessel containing 12 apostles.
And Jesus is the Latin name for Joshua! Which was known by everyone at the time, of course. Jesus is both Moses and Joshua! – this would have painted an awesome picture of Jesus, in the context of expectations at the time. Therefore Jesus was much more than the prophet Elijah.
Perhaps he was the long awaited Messiah?
The Walking on Water
Miracles of Jesus
Part 1 Jesus, the Political Threat 5
