When God Passes By

Does Jesus Claim to Be Divine?

One of the more intriguing questions in the gospels is whether Jesus ever explicitly claims to be divine. And while there are certainly moments that might hint in that direction—moments that can be read as divine allusions—Jesus never quite comes right out and says it. Not in so many words.

But the gospel writers? They seem much more confident in making that claim on his behalf.

This week, we looked at a passage in the gospel of Mark where that conviction comes through. A story that doesn’t just show us a great teacher or even a compelling messianic figure—but one that gently and poetically insists that Jesus is the Son of God in a very literal, very divine sense.

A Windy Night on the Water

"Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. He saw the disciples straining at the oars because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn, he went out to them, walking on the water. He was about to pass by them."

That last phrase is strange, isn’t it? Jesus sees his friends struggling. He walks out onto the lake. And then—he was about to pass by them?

At first glance, this could seem almost dismissive. But hold on.

Reading Between the Lines

There have been various attempts to explain what Mark is doing here.

One approach is to shift to the disciples' perspective. After all, they thought he was a ghost. Maybe what Mark is telling us is simply that they assumed this figure would pass by without helping.

Another explanation digs into the Greek and tries to soften the phrasing—maybe he intended to go to them, not past them. That's closer, and perhaps it's even what Jesus himself intended.

But it might still miss the point Mark is trying to make.

Echoes of the Divine

Because this language—"pass by"—has rich biblical echoes.

In Exodus 33, God says to Moses, "I will cause my goodness to pass by in front of you." In 1 Kings 19, Elijah stands on a mountain and the Lord is about to pass by. In Job 9, God treads on the waves of the sea, but "when he passes by, I cannot see him."

Now, in just those three moments, we have the Divine name, a mighty wind, and a presence walking on the waves.

That feels like more than a coincidence.

A Theophany in the Storm

Mark is inviting us into a theophany—an appearance of the Divine.

Today, we see every glimpse of Jesus as a revelation of God. But in the gospel narratives, the disciples are still figuring that out, slowly uncovering the mystery of who Jesus really is.

And so this moment, when Jesus walks on the water, is crafted to reveal something hidden.

It is not Jesus ignoring his friends. It is Jesus revealing the Divine.

The Hidden Revealed

This theme—that Jesus’ divinity is revealed slowly, piece by piece—is central to Mark’s gospel. Scholars call it the "Messianic Secret."

Again and again, Jesus silences demons who know who he is. He heals people and tells them not to tell anyone. He performs miracles and then retreats into the shadows.

All of it builds to the question he will eventually ask his disciples: "Who do you say I am?"

I Am

And here, walking on the water, through the wind, Jesus says something simple, but powerful: "Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid."

In Greek, it’s just five words: "Courage. I am. No fear."

Ego eimi. "I am."

Now, yes, that’s a common Greek phrase. But it’s also the same phrase used in the Greek translation of Exodus, when God reveals the Divine name to Moses: "I am that I am."

Closer Than We Think

So here’s Jesus. Looking down from the mountain. Walking on the water. Moving through the wind. His goodness passing by.

It’s not just about the miracle.

It’s about who he is.

This moment is literary. It's a crafted invitation for us—not just the disciples in the boat—to see what has been hidden.

That God is with us.

That the Divine is closer than we think.

Even now.