Matthew 14:25 English Standard Version
And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.
I'm interested in knowing about the sea conditions when Jesus walked on it. Was the sea turbulent? Did he walk with his feet in the water, along the surface, or above the waters?
That is, precisely how does the Greek preposition function regarding the geometry of the narrated scene?
Matthew 9:2 "on a bed". [epi/on]
"On" here involves touching what they are "on". But the person is separate from the bed.
Matthew 24:17 "on the housetop". [epi]
Supported and involved with with the house, but separate from it.
Matthew 24:30 "on the clouds of heaven". [epi]
Involved with the clouds of heaven, but separate from them as their cause.
Matthew 28:18" "on the earth". [epi]
Authority over it, hence involved. But the Creator separate from creation.
In these we see "involved" but also clear "separation".
Matthew 14:25 "on the sea". [epi]
By walking "on" the sea Jesus showed Himself to be in command of the natural elements. Jesus uses the sea in His walking and so is involved with it. But whether He got His feet wet or not He is separate from the water, and it has no hold on Him.
By being involved with the sea He shows His authority over and separation from it.
There are three questions here:
The sea conditions are explicitly stated in Matt 14 -
V24 - but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
This is essentially repeated in 30 when Peter becomes frightened by the strong winds and waves.
Jesus' walking on water was a divine miracle beyond human understanding. The same is true of Jesus second miracle when He enabled Peter to also walk on water.
We know that the there was strong wind and frightening waves. Now, whether Jesus walked above the water, or, whether His feet became wet, or, whether he "bounced and bobbed" along the surface of the water as the water level did the same, or, whether it was calm immediately around him, we are not told so we do not know. The important things to note are the following that the narrative makes clear:
this is when peter came and was the liquid courage in reference to how even with a mustard seed of faith he the man who saw him and heard the voice in the whispering of the lake that man still believed he heard something so he Jesus walked on water to increase the mans belief like liquid courage some men need it to see to believe or for strength
