Bro. Andrew C. Phiri

CORRECTION

26 April 2025

Shalom all,

This afternoon I was reflecting on Part 3 of “Steps on the Sea” preached in Zimbabwe when I took a closer study on the details of the story in the Bible. I found an error in a statement I made during the preaching. It’s a detail about WHEN the disciples recognised the Lord. Although they didn’t initially recognise Him and were still in great wonder even after he entered the boat (Mark 6:51-52), they knew him whilst in the boat, not after getting off the boat at the shore. See details of the correction below:

A Phiri

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Correction Note:

Initially the disciples had failed to recognise Jesus when they saw him walking on the water. They supposed it was a ghost and became so overcame with fear. Even after the Lord had said “Be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid” (Mat.14:27), there was still great fear, and the wonder and perplexity continued even after he entered into the boat (read Mark 6:51). However, Peter’s experience was different from the rest of the men. When he heard the voice of the Lord he did the unthinkable, asking the Lord, “If it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water”. Who does that? When there is a fearful thing the natural instinct is to keep away from that thing. But Peter desired to go where the Lord was. So, he left the fearful ‘crowd’ and began to walk on water towards the Lord. He surely had identified the Lord. It certainly takes anointed courage to breakaway from the comfort of a group and step into a walk of faith.    That was a deeply personal experience and manifestation of faith, “little” as it was. And that Peter had already recognised the Lord is evident by the words he cried out when he began to sink, “Lord, save me” (Mat.14:30). All this was explained in the message and I trust was easy to understand, but one detail needs correction. Its about what time exactly did the other disciples recognise the Lord – whilst on the sea or when they got off the boat?

The King James Version English in Mark 6:54 seems to strongly indicate that it was when they came out of the ship – “And when THEY [i.e. the disciples with the Lord] had passed over , THEY came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. And when they [the disciples] were come out of the ship, straightway they KNEW  him”.  Most Bible translators believe that the “they” who “straightway knew him” are the people of the land they came to. Indeed when read that way, the next words which follow make sense in the passage, “…and ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick” (Mark 6:55). This becomes even more clear when we read the record of Matthew 14:34-35, “And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased”.

Notice that when the Lord got into the boat with Peter the record of  Matthew states “And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Then they that were in the ship [i.e. the other disciples] came and worshipped him, saying of a truth thou art the Son of God” (Mat.14:32-33). This indicates that although they initially had hardened and fearful hearts, it was during the time in the boat that they recognised him.