What Is The Spiritual Meaning Of Walking On Water

Water's qualities and functions in the natural world are better understood thanks to science. Ethics aids in the preservation, protection, and distribution of Earth's water resources. Spirituality aids in the discovery of our underlying beliefs about the significance and worth of water.

If we truly believe that water has intrinsic value, our actions will reflect that belief; our actions will communicate a spirituality of respect for Earth's water resources. Conversely, regardless matter what we may say about the worth of water, if we consistently act in ways that misuse it, we will demonstrate an inner character that lacks respect for it. Paying attention to our actions brings us closer to our operating spirituality; a greater understanding of our inner spirit allows us to discern the strengths of our true convictions.

Along with defining our essential beliefs, understanding human spirituality allows us to appreciate the diverse range of spiritual meanings that other people and civilizations have assigned to the natural world. This is an excellent resource for us to consider the significance of nature and our place in it.

This is especially true with water, a natural feature that has long served as a focal point for spiritual symbolism and religious ceremony in human communities. Water has been used to transmit the sacred value of life, the spiritual dimension of purification, protection, and healing, and the profound meaning of suffering and redemption in human life with surprising consistency among human societies.

This section starts with a few examples of water's use in various religions around the world, then moves on to our own spiritual understanding of water, with a particular focus on the Christian tradition. Following the spirituality questions presented in the River Ganges case study that began this chapter, we use this approach:

• From a spiritual standpoint, how have people approached the nature and purpose of water?
• What are some of the ways that water has been used in the prayers and ceremonies of many religions around the world?

What is the spiritual meaning of dreaming about water?

During biblical times, the connotation of water in dreams was purity. When water is blessed by a religious authority, it becomes holy and is utilized in churches for spiritual events such as baptism. As a result, dreaming about water could indicate that you are cleansing and renewing yourself.

What did it mean when Jesus walked on the water?

The tale of Jesus walking on water isn't meant to demonstrate that he can do miracles or that he is God; rather, it is meant to demonstrate that he is undoing the old law and replacing it with the gospel.

In Mark 6:45-52, there are four references to Moses' law to help us see the connection to the law.

“And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray,” says the first mention in verse 46.

Jesus did the same thing Moses did when he went up on a mountain by himself to pray and left the people.

“For they all saw him and were scared,” says the second reference in verse 50.

The people were scared of Moses, just as the disciples were of Jesus, for when he came down from the mountain, the radiant, holy presence of God was upon him.

Then, in verse 50, Jesus used the same term God used when speaking with Moses: “I am.”

“It is I,” Jesus said, might also be translated as “I am,” which is the name the Lord gave Moses.

“For they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened,” says verse 52, referring to the Moses incident for the fourth time.

The disciples' hearts were hardened in the same way that God hardened the hearts of Pharaoh and others who didn't believe him.

What is the significance of these four references to Moses and the law?

Because God wants you to see how he will defy the old law's rule of terror in your life.

He achieves this by strutting out on the water in defiance of the natural laws.

When you see Jesus walking on water, you're supposed to say to yourself, “Who is this God who breaches the law in order to come to me in my helplessness?”

The tale of Jesus walking on water is designed to demonstrate that, just as he transcends physical constraints to be with us, he also defies moral and spiritual laws to be with us.

Religion's laws have always been something along these lines: I must contribute to God before he would provide to me.

In other words, in order to influence God and gain his acceptance, I must live a decent life, make sacrifices, and do particular rites or actions.

I must give to God in order for God to be pleased.

But Jesus disobeys that law just as much as he disobeys the law that states if he treads on it, he will drown.

In its place, Jesus boldly introduces an un-law, which declares that God will give to me even if I don't deserve it: I don't have to live a good life because he will live a good life for me; I don't have to make a sacrifice because he will sacrifice himself for me; I don't have to perform a ritual to earn his favor because he has abolished all rituals.

This is Jesus' un-law, as he walks on water.

“For they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened,” Jesus said, implying that the disciples didn't understand the new message he was presenting to them because they were so acclimated to the old law (52).

Do you recall the last section's lesson on the loaves?

It was something along the lines of, “When you finally recognize you're not enough, you become more than enough.”

When Jesus served 5,000 people with only five loaves of food, he was trying to teach his disciples this lesson.

However, the disciples' hearts were still hardened by the law mentality, which taught them that you have to have in order to have: you have to have enough food to feed a lot of people; you have to have a sufficient amount of good works to make a good impression on God; and you have to have a good moral record in order to be rewarded for a good life.

The un-law of Jesus, on the other hand, was teaching people to walk on water, not to do good things.

To stand before God, you do not need to have a solid foundation of good actions.

As it turns out, the gospel's good news teaches that we don't have to have to have.

You don't need good acts or a faultless life to receive God's blessings, honor, righteousness, and serenity.

Walking on water was not supposed to demonstrate that Jesus is God, but rather that we are righteous, regardless of what the devil whispers in your ear at 3 a.m., the hour of the wolf.

It's not meant to imply that Jesus must be all-powerful because only an all-powerful person could walk on water; rather, it's meant to imply that God is removing the old law from your life and replacing it with an un-law that sets you free from it.

I want you to imagine Jesus approaching you on the water when you're at your most tired.

I want you to remember that you are clean, forgiven, and righteous before God every time you imagine this.

You become more than enough when you eventually recognize you don't have enough.

When you go to God and say, “I don't have,” you'll get what you're looking for.

He will give you grace and love if you come to him with your flaws and misdeeds.

Satan will continue to throw the old law in your face in an attempt to make you despair of your life and God's love for you, but recall the moment when Jesus did the unthinkable and walked on water, disobeying the law in order to save you.

To save you from your predicament, Jesus must break the law.

“Take comfort; it is I,” he said as he descended down the mountain, not to inform you you're cursed.

“Do not be scared” (50).

Recite Jesus' words over and over in your mind; visualize him striding on the water, crushing your expectations of what you deserve as a result of your crimes, and welcome him aboard the boat.

You will not sink in your sin, just as Jesus did not sink in the water.

Another point is that we sometimes believe that when bad things happen to us, it's because we broke the rule and God is punishing us; however, this isn't the case because it follows the law's logic.

Remember that Jesus breaks the law and gives us the un-law of grace.

So don't think God is punishing you for breaking the commandment when horrible things happen to you; instead, recognize that Jesus will go to any length to meet you on your perilous journey.

The law asks, “Why?” but Jesus asks, “What?” The law asks, “Why?” but Jesus' new and superior query is, “What?”

What would Jesus' response be?

He'll make you feel better.

What would Jesus' response be?

He will die on the cross as a sacrifice for all mankind's sins.

What would Jesus' response be?

He will remain by your side even if all hell breaks loose against you, and he will not abandon you.

What would Jesus' response be?

Even when you question him, he will love you more than you love your sin.

• What are your thoughts on the final sentence? “You will not sink in your sin, just as Jesus did not sink in the water”? What effect does this have on your faith (no pun intended)?
• The final verse reads, “Because they didn't comprehend about the loaves, their hearts had hardened.”
• What's the link between Jesus walking on water and feeding the 5,000 people?
• Think deeper than that! Hint: the relationship is NOT that Jesus reveals his power as God!

Why did Jesus walks on water?

Our sermon series “The Miracles of Jesus” comes to a close this week at South Side. Last week, we discussed how 5000 people followed Jesus to a desolate location on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus genuinely cared for them. He healed individuals and performed another miracle when they were starving. He just had five loaves of bread and two fish to feed them all (Matthew 14:13-21)! Then, while saying goodbye to the throngs of people, Jesus dispatched His followers ahead. He urged the disciples to get in their boat and cross the Sea of Galilee to the other side (verse 22). After the crowds had dispersed, Jesus ascended the mountain to pray. While Jesus was praying, His followers were fighting a strong headwind. Many of the disciples were seasoned fishermen, but they were having difficulty keeping up with the wind.

When Jesus saw His closest friends struggling, He went to them (Mark 6:48). He did so by defying physics' inherent principles. He accomplished the incredible feat of walking on water (Matthew 14:25)! The disciples saw Jesus walking toward them on the water during “the fourth watch of the night,” which would have been in the last few hours of the night before sunrise (verse 25). “It's a ghost!” they said, not comprehending who He was. (See verse 26.) The stranger approaching them in the middle of the sea startled them. “But Jesus spoke to them right away, saying, ‘Take courage!'” ‘It's me; don't be afraid.' (see verse 27) Fear quickly evolved to wonder and action for Peter. “If it is You, Lord, tell me to come to You on the water,” he begged (verse 28). “Come,” Jesus said, and Peter stepped out of the boat without sinking (verse 29).

The astonishing thing is that Peter began walking on the water toward Jesus in faith. The powerful wind, however, diverted his attention away from Christ. His mind began to create doubts soon after. He began to sink into the sea as the screaming wind shook his confidence in Christ. Peter cried out to Jesus for aid as he was sinking. He was quickly caught by Jesus, who put out His hand and caught him. “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Jesus addressed Peter as He did so. (see verse 31) The wind that had been howling abruptly died as they boarded the boat (verse 32). There's no denying that everything in God's word is valuable and inspired, which is why God included the narrative of Peter walking on water. I'd like to share three of them with you today that I've discovered.

1. We must have faith. Faith is a firm conviction in God and faith in His ability to carry out His promises. It is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). Many examples of faith are found in the Bible, including those of Christ and Peter. Jesus claimed in John 5:19 that He could do nothing without the help of God the Father. Because of His confidence in God, Jesus was able to walk on water. Similarly, before stumbling, Peter moved toward Jesus in faith. We require the same kind of real, genuine faith that enabled Jesus and Peter to walk on water.

2. Doubt suffocates faith. When Peter began to sink, Jesus explained that the issue was uncertainty. Peter's faith was harmed by doubt, and he was no longer able to walk on water. Our faith can be harmed by doubt. Faith is inextricably linked to God's promises. When we begin to mistrust those promises, our faith begins to falter.

3. When we experience adversity, Jesus is there to help us. Jesus was with Peter in the midst of the waves and the wind, preventing him from sinking. This is a comforting lesson that strengthens our trust. Today, Jesus Christ does not walk among us as a human being, but He is still in control and capable of assisting us with whatever challenges we confront.

The apostle Paul illustrates how God aids us in overcoming adversity. “No testing has you that is not common to everyone,” he remarked. God is faithful, and he will not put you through more trial than you can bear, but he will also give a way out so that you can survive it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). We can call on Jesus whenever life throws a storm our way. He'll be there to provide a hand and assist us in getting back on our feet. Faith is a broad concept that encompasses more than believing in God's miracles and putting our faith in Him during difficult times. Our sins can be forgiven and we can receive eternal life because of the faith God gives us, according to the Bible (Ephesians 2:8-10). We can't earn faith; nevertheless, we can seek God for it and exercise it by continually following God's instructions. If we do not obey God and live His way, we have a dead faith rather than a living faith (James 2:14-26). We should constantly be ready to step forth in trust to obey God as disciples of Jesus—to have live faith.

While Peter's story of walking on water ended when he returned to the boat, his spiritual growth and education continued. When Jesus was jailed and Peter denied even knowing Jesus, he stumbled a few times. Peter was able to get back up and continue walking with faith in the end. Peter rose through the ranks of the Church to become a powerful figure. Years later, Peter summed up the lesson he acquired in part on that stormy night on the Sea of Galilee with Jesus Christ. He claims that the challenges we face help us establish “the authenticity of our faith, which is far more valuable than gold” (1 Peter 1:7). This sincere trust will be rewarded with eternal acclaim, honor, glory, and immense satisfaction (verses 7-9). Trials, as Peter discovered, might cause us to distrust God and His promises. At times like this, we must turn to God for assistance and maintain our faith! This Sunday, we'll look at how this amazing miracle can be used in new ways. “Elevate” Worship begins at 10:45 a.m., and “Encounter” small groups for children and adults of all ages begin at 9:30 a.m. Come early to Café Connect for a pastry and a freshly brewed cup of coffee! I hope to see you this Sunday at South Side!

What God says about water?

Recently, I've had several fascinating discussions on water. I've learnt a lot about the importance of water for our physical health as a Wellness Advocate. Today, I'd want to give a little reminder about why water is crucial not only for our health, but also for us as good Christians.

Water is mentioned 722 times in the Bible, which is more than faith, hope, prayer, and worship combined. It doesn't take long for water to be mentioned in the Bible. “The world was a formless blank and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept across the face of the oceans,” Genesis 1:2 begins. Water was formed on the first day since it is such an important part of existence.

Water is addressed again in Revelations, and it is virtually the last words of the Bible.

22:17 Revelations 22:17 Revelations 22:17 Revelations 22:17 “The bride and the Spirit both say, ‘Come.'” And everyone who hears should say, “Come.” And anyone who is thirsty is welcome to come. Allow anybody who desires to receive the gift of life's water.” Water appears throughout the Bible, which should serve as a reminder of its significance…both spiritually and physiologically.

“Water, then, is the most beautiful element and rich in usefulness, and purifies from all filth, not only from the filth of the flesh but also from the filth of the spirit, provided it has received the grace of the Spirit,” wrote St. John Damascene. (Chapter 9 of An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Book 2) As seen by the legends of Naaman, the Syrian who was cured of his leprosy in the Jordan River (2 Kings 5:1-14) and the annual miracles at Bethesda in Jerusalem, water has the power to heal (John 5:1-9). Water has the ability to purify, deliver, and destroy evil and foes, as seen in the stories of the Flood (Genesis 6:17) and Israel's exodus from Egypt (Exodus 14:1-15:21).

Water covers between 70 and 75 percent of the earth's surface. Water makes up over 70% of an adult's body, and approximately 85% of the adult brain is made up of water. Water is necessary for life to exist, and all living things require it to survive. So why do we, as God's children, take this gift…His gift of water…for granted at times?

All who are thirsty are invited to come to Jesus, the source of Living Water. We partake of communion to commemorate His flesh, which has been broken for you, and His blood, which has been shed for you. We recall that while Jesus was crucified, water and blood gushed from his wound (John 19:34). Our Lord Almighty provides us with water. Let us keep this in mind and be grateful for His blessings on a regular basis. My father never drank water and was on kidney dialysis for the last three years of his life. I challenge you, my brothers and sisters, to drink more water on a daily basis.

–From the hymn The Sands of Time Are Sinking by Sam Rutherford and Anne R. Cousin

1.Water is extremely necessary for the existence of the human body. Without food, a human can survive for roughly a month, but only about a week without water.

2.By stimulating metabolism and regulating hunger, water aids in the maintenance of a healthy body weight.

3.Water increases one's energy levels. Mild dehydration is the most prevalent cause of midday weariness.

4.Drinking enough water can help to reduce the risk of certain diseases, such as colon cancer, bladder cancer, and breast cancer.

5.Drinking water can greatly alleviate joint and/or back pain for the vast majority of sufferers.

6.By cleaning out trash and microorganisms that might cause disease, water improves overall health.

8.Water hydrates the skin and maintains normal cellular production beneath the surface layers, giving it a healthy, radiant appearance.

10.Water is necessary for good circulation and is the primary means of transportation for all nutrients in the body.

• Water Your Body and Drinking Water are two free Android apps that remind you to drink water on a regular basis and keep track of your water consumption.
• “UNICEF TAP Project” donors and sponsors fund one day of clean water for a child in need for every 10 minutes you don't touch your phone. Take the challenge and help deliver clean drinking water to a child in need.
• How well do you understand hydration? Take the WebMD Water Quiz, which consists of 15 questions.

The first image is from of Wikimedia Commons via Creative Commons, while the second image is courtesy of Wikipedia via Creative Commons and depicts Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso.

Does water represent the Holy Spirit?

“Rivers of living water will flow from within those who believe in me, as Scripture says.” 7:38 — John

Here's some wise counsel: Drink a lot of water. A person may survive without food for 60 days, but not three days without water. Water is essential for our survival. We've all seen how a plant can wilt and die if it isn't given enough water. What a difference our physical bodies make!

The Holy Spirit is represented by water in the New Testament. A priest would use a golden pitcher to fetch water from the Well of Siloam and pour it out at the foot of the altar on the last day of the Festival of Tabernacles, the scene depicted in John 7, while people sang the Hallel of praise and thankfulness from Psalms 113-118. Over the commotion of the throng, Jesus announces the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on this particular occasion in John 7.

“The Holy Spirit's presence and power poured out on Jesus' followers are symbolized by “rivers of living water.” The presence of the Holy Spirit indicates that he is at work cleansing and sanctifying God's children's hearts. The spiritual ability to recognize, follow, and glorify Jesus, as well as to participate in his coming reign, is symbolized by the Spirit's strength. The presence and power of the Holy Spirit flow out of a believer's heart like water in a parched world.

Drink enough of water for your bodily well-being. Accept the Holy Spirit's refreshing spiritual presence and power in your life today and always for eternal health.

Fill our lives with your presence and power today, Holy Spirit, so that your love can flow from our hearts like streams of water in a parched land. Amen.

What is a water spirit called?

• The Nix/Nixe/Nyx (German) or Nixie (English) are shapeshifting water spirits who mainly appear in human form.
• Undine, sometimes known as Ondine, is a feminine water elemental (first appearing the alchemical works of Paracelsus).

What does it mean when you dream about deep water?

The presence of very black water may indicate the presence of significant and deep unconscious emotions. If you're afraid of being in dark water in your dream, you might be hesitant to embrace these deep feelings.