Why did Jesus intend to walk on the water past the disciples' boat?

[TonyChanYT]

Mark 6:

45 Immediately, he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the nightg he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them,

Jesus is playing a game with them. I think this is comical. They have a head start and a boat. Jesus starts late and no boat. Yet, Jesus would have crossed the finish line way before they would Jesus is only pretending to pass by them.

49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50for they all saw him and were terrified.

They don't think it's funny: terrible wind blowing and a ghost approaching! Help Lord! Where are you?

Of course, Jesus would give them a helping hand under the inclement weather.

But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 51And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,

Matthew 14 adds a bit more to this episode:

28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

Peter wants to join the fun.

29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

Peter's initial enthusiasm does not last long.

30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

What a nice wonderful story with lots of emotions! It puts a smile on my face

 

[makesends]

Mark 6:


Jesus is playing a game with them. I think this is comical. They have a head start and a boat. Jesus starts late and no boat. Yet, Jesus would have crossed the finish line way before they would Jesus is only pretending to pass by them.


They don't think it's funny: terrible wind blowing and a ghost approaching! Help Lord! Where are you?

Of course, Jesus would give them a helping hand under the inclement weather.


Matthew 14 adds a bit more to this episode:


Peter wants to join the fun.


Peter's initial enthusiasm does not last long.


What a nice wonderful story with lots of emotions! It puts a smile on my face

Does the Greek literally mean that he intended to walk past them? Or is there a way of talking that is part of Greek that speaks this way, in a mode of story-telling or something, that though literally translated means he actually meant to, but is understood by the Greek audience to mean he was acting as though to pass by them?

 

[TonyChanYT]

Does the Greek literally mean that he intended to walk past them? Or is there a way of talking that is part of Greek that speaks this way, in a mode of story-telling or something, that though literally translated means he actually meant to, but is understood by the Greek audience to mean he was acting as though to pass by them?

The Greek words mean:

He intended
ἤθελεν (ēthelen)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

The pretension and acting is my interpretation on top of it.

 

[makesends]

The Greek words mean:

He intended
ἤθελεν (ēthelen)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2309: To will, wish, desire, be willing, intend, design.

The pretension and acting is my interpretation on top of it.

I'm saying we don't know Greek well enough to know that the literal reading should not imply things that would be understood to the koine speaker of the day. It's kind of like with the literal meaning of 'foreknow' --the fact that it is meant literally, that God foreknows, doesn't mean that his foreknowing is like ours would be.

 

[Josheb]

Jesus is playing a game with them.

You do not know that.

What a nice wonderful story with lots of emotions!

I don't find the notion Jesus is playing games with his disciples very wonderful. What you're implying is deceit on Jesus' part.