Peter Oligopiste

Monday, August 3, 2026 and, buttressed by heart pills and FuroForty, I have nothing to do but use the walking machine for a little exercise, and cut up a coleslaw of raw cabbage, shredded and ranch dressing added to make it palatable for my meals today, as I drop another pound or two in final prep for tomorrow morning's weigh-in at the doctor's office.

I'll show up wearing light clothes with no extra layers, shoes that slip off; then, laying my wallet, keys, and phone on the side table and expelling heavy air from my lungs, I'll step on the scale and all should be well. 

All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

In which case, the doctor will  agree that I don't need to come back until August 2027, a year instead of every six months. 

No hospital visits, renew my meds and I'm outahere. Maybe another echo before next visit. I'll give an update after.

That's the physical side of a day in the life of a progressively aging nonagenarian. The intellectual side is to do the only thing that I've arrived at this age somewhat qualified to do, which is read and contemplate a Bible passage, then maybe write a blogpost about it. That's where I find myself right now as light from the window looking across St Andrews Bay comes in over my right shoulder.

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Not commenting on the Genesis reading, at least not now. The lectionary is finished reading us stories of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and now enters what some scholars call "The Joseph Novel" because it's the longest story in the Bible, stretching from Genesis 37:1 all way to the end of Genesis 50, with great little episodes of Joseph's life.

My attention right now, though, is on the gospel reading, which is Matthew's account of Jesus walking on the water (Matthew 14:22-33), which immediately follows the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand.

Matthew lifts his story from Mark 6:45-52, but misses, or at least does not use, Mark's agenda for it. In Mark (below) the story is further to the feeding account, to show that Jesus' disciples always fail to realize who and what he is, the Messiah, the Son of God, the Son of Man, who has full control of ha-aretz, the land, the Earth, the Universe. Here in Mark, the disciples are astounded at Jesus walking on the water this dark early morning at sea, just as they did not understand Jesus when he fed the multitude yesterday. As I say, it's integral to Mark's agenda.

Matthew (and Gospel John later, but not Luke) also attaches the Walking story to the Feeding story, but expands it to have Peter get out of the boat to walk to Jesus, then lose his nerve once he gets out of the boat, making the Walking story about Peter's lack of enough faith. Jesus calls Peter "Ὀλιγόπιστε", which interestingly is literally, "Littlefaith," Matthew has Jesus call Peter a Littlefaith. 

So, Jesus Walks On the Water is, for Mark another case of the disciples failing to recognize Jesus; for Matthew, who adds Peter into the story, it's about lack of faith; Luke tells the story of Jesus feeding the five thousand but does not add the story of Jesus walking on the water; and Gospel John, with his own sources supposedly not dependent on Mark, adds the Walking story to the Feeding story as part of his agenda having Jesus demonstrate who he is - - God the Son.

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What's done in a story, and what the characters think and say, is artists' license, including in the gospel stories. When four people tell a story, as about Jesus feeding the multitude, pretty much the same memories for all four evangelists, then change the next part, reflects how they mean to manage how their readers buy in to their agenda, which is different for each gospel writer. Matthew is building up Peter's image as the key disciple, who in due course finally gets it and proclaims (Matthew 16:16), "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God" (embellishing Mark's account, where Peter simply proclaims, "You are the Messiah!").

Why are the embellishments important to Matthew? Because his late first century agenda is to convince a failing Jewish-Christian Church, community, that Jesus is the successor to Moses, and the long awaited Messiah, and they should stay in the church with Jesus instead of leaving to return to ordinary Judaism.  

Ramble, ramble, wander and type. Mind's getting tired: gonna stop now to have a cup of something green, then take my early afternoon nap.

RSF&PTL

T90

Mark 6:45-52 Jesus Walks on the Water

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After saying farewell to them, he went up on the mountain to pray.

47 When evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came toward them early in the morning, walking on the sea. He intended to pass them by. 49 But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” 51 Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus Walks on the Water

Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

John 6:16-21 Jesus Walks on the Water

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.

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Art pinched online. I like it because it's startling. TW+ 

Greater Norristown Art League Group (GNAL800West) 

Stephen J. Vattimo

January 27, 2024

Peter took His Eye off Jesus and began to sink.

Medium: Acrylic on canvas

Size: 11”x 15”

Date: 2019-2020

This illustration is one of nine, in a mural about the ministry of Christ. This image is block number 7.

This painting illustrates Jesus rescuing peter, as he start to sink in to the sea, because he lost his faith when took his eyes off Jesus, and focused on the violence of the winds and waves of the storm.

Matthew 14:22-33 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Jesus Walks on the Water