Gospel in Art: They saw him walking on the sea and thought it was a ghost

A night on the Sea of Galilee, after painting by Charles Jalabert, engraved by Emily Sartain, Philadelphia, 1920 © Alamy

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 8 January 2025
Mark 6:45-52

After the five thousand had eaten and were satisfied: Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.

He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 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.' And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Reflection on the engraving

The Gospel readings frequently depict Jesus at prayer. In today's Gospel reading, Mark recounts that after the miraculous feeding of the five thousand (yesterday's reading), Jesus retreated to the hills to pray. However, this time of solitude did not separate him from others. On the contrary, it seems to have heightened his awareness of those in need. As Jesus prayed, he became mindful of his disciples struggling against a strong headwind, exhausted from their efforts at rowing. Leaving his place of prayer, he went to them and offered profound reassurance, saying, 'Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.'

Mark's account suggests that Jesus' prayer not only united him with God but also deepened his connection with those in difficulty. Similarly, when we pray, we open ourselves to the Lord's presence, and in doing so, often become more attuned to the needs and struggles of others. Our prayers are meant to lead us towards others. Drawing near to Jesus draws us into his love and concern for others. It is no wonder that so much of our prayer becomes intercession for those in need. Genuine prayer strengthens our communion with the Lord and expands our capacity to care for others, particularly those weathering life's storms, just as Jesus did for his disciples on the sea.

Our engraving after Charles Jarabert, a French academic painter, portrays the dramatic moment of Jesus walking on the sea and approaching the boat of his disciples. The scene is dominated by the night sky, the turbulent waters of the Sea of Galilee, with towering waves illuminated by moonlight breaking against a small, fragile boat. Yet great serenity emanates from the scene. In the boat, depicted closest to us the viewer, the disciples are depicted in various states of fear and struggle as they battle against the storm. Some are clutching the sides of the vessel, bracing themselves against the waves, while others strain at the oars, their faces etched with desperation. The figures are rendered with dramatic gestures, emphasising their humanity and vulnerability in the face of nature's might. The interplay of light and shadow in our engraving is very powerful.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's Reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/mark-6-45-52-2025/