Floating Ice May Explain How Jesus Walked on Water, Researchers Say
Floating Ice May Explain How Jesus Walked on Water, Researchers Say
This is perhaps one of the more interesting explanations of a miracle. for years many of us have joked while walking across a frozen lake that we were walking on water.
Let’s, for a second, assume that is correct. There are still a couple questions: How was he able to walk “to” the boat? Was it an ice “path?” Did the wind blow him there? Didn’t the fishermen see this strange thing called ice?
And of course, how was Peter able to walk for a little while, and then not? Did he not notice the ice?
The prof
Here’s an easier explanation that doesn’t rely on 10,000 year weather cycles.
If we take the two accounts together:
Matthew 14:22-33:
And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
and,
John 6:15-21
15 Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself. 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, It is I; do not be afraid. 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
We see a pattern emerge. Jesus went into the hills to pray. His disciples got on the boat to go to the other side. They rowed a few miles. A storm brewed up. Jesus came down off the mountain. Got in the boat. And they were suddenly at the shore they were going towards.
The simplist answer is that Jesus took a shortcut path through the mountains to the other side of the lake that his disciples had been rowing towards. They became disoriented in the storm and thought they saw Jesus walking on the water when in actuality he was just walking on a path through some low water marsh.
The bit about Peter was a joke so the disciples could laugh at him and someone put it in accidentaly.