THE NARRATIVES OF THE WALKING ON THE SEA. 

 By WILLIAM A. LAMBERTON. 



{Read April i8, 1907.) 



The narratives of the walking on the sea are found in the first, 

 second and fourth gospels, but not in the third : in the latter, how- 

 ever, this miracle is not merely omitted; there is what seems to me 

 a significant substitute : or perhaps I should rather say a readjust- 

 ment in the order of events. The passages are Mt. 14 : 22 fif ., Mk. 

 6:45 ff., Jn. 6: 16 ff. Cf. Lk. 9, 18-20. 



In all three gospels the narrative follows the miraculous feeding 

 of the 5000, this latter miracle also precedes the passage referred 

 to in Luke. The miracle of the feeding occurs in a desert place on 

 the shores of Lake Gennesaret; the walking on the sea in the de- 

 parture thence by water, the general impression conveyed being 

 that the boat crosses to the other side of the lake, though there are 

 difficulties as to this. Before taking this up, we may enquire how 

 the company came to this desert place. 



In Matthew 14 we are told of the beheading of John the Baptist 

 and in V. 12 we read of his burial by his disciples, who thereupon 

 reported the fact ( airrj^'yeCKav ) to Jesus, who upon this news re- 

 ceived withdraws by boat to the desert place privately : hearing of 

 his departure crowds from the towns follow him by land : the place, 

 therefore, might be approached either way. 



In Mark 6:30 Jesus's own disciples return from the mission on 

 which he had sent them and report to him (aTrrjyyeiXav, the same 

 word employed by Matthew) their experiences; whereupon he pro- 

 poses that they go privately to a desert place and take a little much 

 needed rest : this is done by boat : again crowds find this out and 

 follow them up by land from all the towns, even getting the start of 

 them (an important point). 



In Luke 9:10 the apostles returned from their mission and re- 

 count (Bi7}<yriaavTo) all their adventures; hereupon (without reason 



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