Did They Reach the Shore Instantly or Calm the Storm?
In this article, you will learn how John 6:21 contradicts Matthew 14:31-33, Mark 6:51-52, Matthew 8:26-27, Psalm 107:28-30 and Luke 8:24-25. Find the translations at the bottom of the page..
The biblical event of Jesus calming the storm offers different perspectives across various gospel accounts, leading to intriguing contradictions. John 6:21 presents the story with a miraculous immediacy—the disciples were eager to let Jesus into their boat, and they swiftly arrived at their destination. This narrative suggests that trusting Jesus can rapidly guide us to our goals.
However, Matthew 14:31-33 offers a different conclusion. Here, rather than arriving instantly, the story ends with Jesus calming the storm and the disciples worshiping him. This shifts the focus from the destination to honoring Jesus, contrasting John’s account of immediate arrival.
Similarly, Mark 6:51-52 highlights another variation. After the storm is calmed, the disciples are left amazed and bewildered. Their hardened hearts signify a lack of understanding, quite opposite to the clarity and instant arrival described in John.
Further exploring the theme of storms, Matthew 8:26-27 recounts Jesus rebuking the winds and the sea, bringing about a great calm. Yet, as opposed to John 6:21, there’s no mention of an immediate arrival at the shore. Here, the focus is solely on the calming of the storm.
Psalm 107:28-30 also reflects God's power over the storm. The text focuses on the journey toward a desired haven, suggesting a gradual process rather than instant deliverance. This resonates more with the calming aspect of miracles than an instantaneous resolution.
Finally, Luke 8:24-25 centers on Jesus rebuking the storm, leading to calmness and evoking wonder and questions among the disciples. The miracle emphasizes Jesus' control over nature, differing from the sudden arrival narrative in John.
These accounts highlight varied aspects of the same miraculous event. Are such variations merely different storytelling angles, or do they challenge our understanding of miracles? Each version speaks to different facets of faith and divine intervention.
| # | Verse | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | John 6:21 | Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. |
| 2. | Matthew 14:31-33 | And immediately Jesus stretched forth [his] hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? |
| 3. | Mark 6:51-52 | And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. |
| 4. | Matthew 8:26-27 | And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. |
| 5. | Psalm 107:28-30 | Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. |
| 6. | Luke 8:24-25 | And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm. |