Jesus Walks on Water Introduction

The story of Jesus Walks on Water is usually interpreted literally but here we look at the mystical symbolism behind this often misunderstood parable. 

 

There is water that is still and calm and which will reflect truth, and there is water that is so rough that it reflects nothing. So the soul qualities of the individual have to be brought under control by the Master. Before a soul can proceed on the path of initiation, the Christ within must discipline that soul and make it calm enough to reflect the true image of the higher worlds.

 

 

 

Biblical Meaning of Water

Water can mean two things depending on context:

1. The sea of emotions in which we drown ( to which this particular story relates). Gaskell states in his ‘Dictionary of All Symbols & Myths’ (p801)  that walking upon the water is:

” A symbol of making progress against a tide of astral desires and passions”

      2. Water can also represent the unity of spirit, the ocean been seen as a unity, pure and having no parts. It is the second plane of Consciousness according to the Greeks and was the spiritual plane that John the Baptist took people to in meditation.

 

Jesus Walks on Water Scripture Analysis

Matthew 14:

22.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.

• disciples are those that are attuned to Christ and his teachings. others are sent away.
• The other side = the higher realms of consciousness where we wait in meditation for Christ to come.
• Multitudes = religious people who follow external doctrines, people not attuned to meditation or their spiritual path.

 

23.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.

• Mountain = a place of higher consciousness, just as the mountain reaches above the clouds (of the mind).
• Evening = a time of stillness when we can meditate.
• Alone = we sit in meditation and travel the spiritual path alone.

 

24.But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

• Ship = us. Our body, our spiritual journey
• Tossed with waves = waves of the emotions and lower mind which distract us from our spiritual path.
• The wind was contrary = the advice from religion, dogmas, society, government, friends can often be contrary to our spiritual needs:

Ephesians 4: 14 “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;”

 

 

Matthew 14:

25. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

Fourth Watch = mans 4-fold nature: physical emotional, mental and spiritual. The Christ consciousness (Spiritual Light) comes to shine through our entire being.

 

Mark 13: 37 And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.

Watch = also an eastern term for observing in meditation.

 

Matthew 14:

26. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

Describing the fear one can get in meditation in opening up to spirit and losing the self.

Also the fear that religion has put into people but Jesus says reassures them by saying that if they truly want to find Christ and ask then that is what they will receive:

 

Matthew 7:

8.”For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

9.Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?

10.Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent”?

 

This is reaffirmed in the next verse of Matthew:

Matthew 14:

27. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

 

In the next verses of Matthew 14 (28-31) we have the incident with Peter. Peter is someone who portrays us all and the common fears that we face. We are truly walking on water when we are at peace in meditation and have risen about the waters of the lower nature. But when the mind takes over we get involved with our old attachments,desires and the things that keep us from experiencing the Light of Christ within

 

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

• come down out of the ship = go out of your body (ship) and rise into spiritual realms.

 

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

 

The mind (wind) does not want to dissolve into spirit and he gets frightened as his lower nature reacts to the call of spirit. Spirit is the death of the mind.

In a wider context looking down refers to getting bogged down with our daily troubles again, the trappings of life and not meditating effectively.

 

As mentioned in Luke:

Luke 11:34 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light;

We have to keep meditating at the third (single) eye to see the Light of God.

 

 

Matthew 14: 

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

This verse illustrates the need to put our faith in God within (the Light and Sound) and it will remove us from the sea of our lower nature.

 

 

• Gennesaret means “A Garden of Riches“. What this verse is referring to is that those disciples that had faith in the Christ Consciousness within and were able to surrender to it were taken to a place of great spiritual richness inside (Garden of Eden). 
• ref: Easton’s Bible Dictionary 

Summary

Walking on water = rising ABOVE  the lower desires (sea) and having faith in the Christ Consciousness within to keep looking up (single eye) and not start to sink (Peter) by looking back down at our worldly life and getting caught in all the trappings of it again.

 

Jesus Walks on Water Links

→ Bill Donahue

 

Further Links

→ Spiritual Hierarchy

→ Light and Sound Meditation

→ Enlightenment and Spiritual Awakening

 

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