Page 76 - Advanced Life of Christ - Student Textbook

baskets? Again, the disciples needed to be strengthened in their faith. They each had a tangible
reminder that Jesus was the great provider.

The response of the masses was to take Jesus and make Him their political King. They wanted a savior
from Rome, not a personal Savior from their sin. Again, they accepted Him for the power He could exert
over the Roman conquerors but rejected Him as their Messiah and spiritual King.

Even after this, Jesus sought a private place to pray while He sent His disciples out to the sea. Tradition
tells us that Jesus often would climb Mt. Arbel located close to the Sea of Galilee. Below is a view that
Jesus may have had when going to this quiet place.

Storms on the Sea of Galilee
The Sea of Galilee lies 680 feet below sea level. It is bounded by hills, especially on the east side where
they reach 2000 feet high. These heights are a source of cool, dry air.

In contrast, directly around the sea, the climate is semi-tropical with warm, moist air. The large
difference in height between surrounding land and the sea causes large temperature and pressure
changes. This results in strong winds dropping to the sea, funneling through the hills. The sea is about 6
miles by 10 miles in size, a relatively small lake. These winds may descend directly to the center of the
lake with violent results. When the contrasting air masses meet, a storm can arise quickly and without
any warning. Small boats caught out on the sea are in immediate danger.

The Sea is relatively shallow body of water only 200 feet deep at its greatest depth. A shallow lake is
“whipped up” by wind more rapidly than deep water, where energy is more readily absorbed. Such is
the situation the night that the disciples sailed across the Sea while Jesus tarried alone to fellowship
with His Father.

That night, the disciples struggled against the wind and saw Jesus walking on the lake. Mark says they
were terrified. As Jesus walked over to the boat and climbed in, the wind immediately stilled. Again,
the disciples could not put a handle on who Jesus was. Mark says they didn’t even understand the
miracle of the loaves, although each one had a basket full of scraps left over; they had hardened their
hearts.

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