The worlds of the text: Jesus and Peter walk on water by LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14 Matthew 14:22-33 en-us 2020-08-03 13:01:56 UTC 2025-10-02 23:14:43 UTC hello@padlet.com Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667966207 (NIV)]]> 2020-08-03 13:03:41 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667966207 As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people. With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night. Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves. At about four o’clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water. They were scared out of their wits. “A ghost!” they said, crying out in terror. But Jesus was quick to comfort them. “Courage, it’s me. Don’t be afraid.” Peter, suddenly bold, said, “Master, if it’s really you, call me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come ahead.”Jumping out of the boat, Peter walked on the water to Jesus. But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, “Master, save me!” Jesus didn’t hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, “Faint-heart, what got into you?” The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down. The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshipped Jesus, saying, “This is it! You are God’s Son for sure!” LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667968822 (The Message)]]> 2020-08-03 13:06:57 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667968822 LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667970962 2020-08-03 13:09:14 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667970962 The Gospel of Matthew tells the story of Jesus the Messiah whose signal genealogy and miraculous birth are the sign and promise that "God is with us" (1:23). Jesus the Messiah proclaims God's continuing righteous reign in his words of blessing and deeds of healing. Jesus calls his followers to experience God's mercy anew, constitutes them as a new community of faith, and then, as crucified and resurrected Messiah, claims all power and authority as he commissions these disciples for mission with the promise that he will be with them until the end of the age (28:18-20). LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667972644 2020-08-03 13:10:48 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667972644 The story of Jesus walking on water was given a significant place in the oral tradition of the early church. It was integrally linked to the feeding of the 5,000, and when finally the oral tradition was documented, all four gospels recorded the two stories together, although only Matthew adds the account of Peter's "little faith". LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667973261 2020-08-03 13:11:17 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667973261 The account reveals Christ's mastery over the sea, not just water, but the sea as chaos, although this theme is more evident in Jesus' stilling of the storm, 8:23-27. For Jews, the sea is a dark and foreboding place, not just because of its many dangers, but because it is the dwelling place of dark powers, of Leviathan. LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667975983 2020-08-03 13:13:25 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667975983 The world behind the text is a window. Through this window we look to the past, to the time of the author who produced the text, and to the time sometime earlier in which the text was set. The general approach is historical. LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667985692 2020-08-03 13:21:18 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667985692 The world of the text (also known as the world within the text) is a picture. This picture shows us the text as it is and what it says now through its literary features. The general approach is literary. LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667987114 2020-08-03 13:22:31 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667987114 The world in front of the text is a mirror. In this mirror the reader sees oneself within the text, and sees other readers, the believing Church over many years, challenged to respond to it now and into the future. The general approach is theological (‘faith seeking understanding’). LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667987724 2020-08-03 13:23:01 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667987724 LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667992146 2020-08-03 13:26:47 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667992146 Doubt and worship mirror the reaction of the disciples when they meet the resurrected Lord on the mountain (28:17). This combination and the fact that the word translated "doubt" occurs only in these two places in Matthew emphasize the importance of this story as a parable and model of faith for Matthew's community. LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667999771 2020-08-03 13:33:50 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/667999771 LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/668007779 2020-08-03 13:42:03 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/668007779 1st Reading: Visualise yourself in the Gospel story. Don’t seek intellectual insights — stay with the imagery. Use your senses to see, touch, feel, and hear. What part of the story are you drawn to? Which character do you identify with? Or are you a bystander? LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/668009993 2020-08-03 13:44:16 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/668009993 2nd Reading: Experience the story in the role of the character God led you to. Then talk with the Lord. What do you feel? How does this relate to something in your life today? What is God saying to you? LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/668010253 2020-08-03 13:44:36 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/668010253 LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/668014839 2020-08-03 13:49:46 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/668014839 LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/668017928 2020-08-03 13:52:51 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/668017928 God believes in you... LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/668030841 2020-08-03 14:06:31 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/668030841 LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/668772945 2020-08-04 05:37:04 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/668772945 LuthEdAus https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/669636627 2020-08-05 00:44:16 UTC https://padlet.com/LuthEdAus/Matthew14/wish/669636627