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| John Biglin in a Single Scull, Thomas Eakins |
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
When I first saw John Biglin in a Single Scull by Thomas Eakins it was my favorite painting for some years... or at least I think it was. You see I first viewed the image in an art textbook long before the Internet was the great resource of art history that it is today. So my only contact with this image was to look at it over and over in the book that I owned. I eventually lost that art book and had to try to recreate the image in my mind. The problem was that I couldn't really remember the name or many of the features. So when the Internet became a reliable source for finding and enjoying art I had a hard time finding this watercolor painting. I just remembered that Thomas Eakins had a picture with a guy in a rowboat, with strong compositional structure that made me happy. Googling " Thomas Eakins had a picture with a guy in a rowboat, with strong compositional structure that made me happy" doesn't yield helpful results. And when I looked up Thomas Eakins' Wikipedia article it featured another rowboat (or should I say "sculling") picture: Max Schmitt in a single scull. I was fairly sure that this wasn't the one that I fell in love with some years ago. But this led to my discovering that Thomas Eakins did several boating pictures. Some were from a series about the Biglin Brothers, who were famous professional athletes when rowing was one of America's favorite sports (think of a Reconstruction Era NASCAR or a future that the Winklevoss twins long for). Other paintings were about other athletic rowers and some were just about fishermen who used row boats. The Gospels have a similar predicament because one of Jesus' most famous miracles is about fishermen who use a rowboat. Matthew 14:22-33 tells the story of Jesus' fisherman disciples (Peter, Andrew, James and John), along with the other non-fishing disciples, in a rowboat when they see Jesus crossing the water on foot. Like many other stories, this image is repeated several times in other Gospels (Mark 6:45-52 and John 6:15-21) but with different details highlighted. Now I remember dealing with the subject of repetition in the Gospels in my post about John 1:29-34 and Andy Warhol but I think that this post will allow us to do a bit more textual analysis of lining up the Gospel narratives next to each other. In this post I will be more heavy on the sharing of the text of Scripture. Jesus walking on water is one of the most famous stories in the Bible and the several different forms of this story may seem contradictory to some but I think that something different is going on with the differences...something intentional. Why do the Gospel writers repeat stories this miracle? Why did Eakins paint boat scenes so much? I think the answers to both of these questions may be the same.
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| The Biglin Brothers Turning the Stake-Boat, Thomas Eakins |
Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”
And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Then those who were in the boat came and[c] worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
"The Biglin Brothers Turning the Stake-Boat" is also known as "Turning the Stake." I prefer this title because it is a title that gets to theme of the picture...or should I say the objective of those pictured. The Biglin Brothers were engaged in a race and the "stake"is the wooden pole in the foreground that denoted the finishing line or a point of progress. If they are "turning the stake" then it denotes the point at which they should turn around and make another lap. Either way the focal point of their journey, the fulfillment of their hope was something outside of the boat and in the water, yet something that they were to pursue. In Matthew 14:22-33 Jesus tells his Disciples to boat to the other side of the water while he dismissed the crowds (after the miracle of feeding the five thousand). As they went off on the water a-rowing, He went off in the mountains a-praying. Even though they were engaged in two different activities, they were simultaneously pursuing the same goal: obeying the will of their Master. Later when the midst of a turbulent sea (lake) they see Jesus walking on the water. When Jesus affirms that he is not a ghost he allowed Peter to come to him (likewise walking on the water). It worked out for him for a little bit, but then Peter lost faith and focus and began to sink. He called out to Jesus to save him and Jesus was faithful to save him. After they both entered the boat the Disciples worshiped Jesus as the Son of God. The message that the writer of Matthew is communicating is the same that Thomas Eakins painted: focal point of their journey, the fulfillment of their hope was something outside of the boat and in the water, yet something that they were to pursue. The Disciples always realized that Jesus was their Master (Rabbi, teacher) but this episode allowed them to understand it in a deeper way. He was the Master of the Sea, he was the Savior of Peter's Life and he was the Son of God. Jesus is the stake that turns around their theological perspective of God and Jesus becomes the finish line in their pursuit of God.
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| The Biglin Brothers Racing, Thomas Eakins |
Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away. And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray. Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land. Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by. And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out; for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.” Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.
In the "The Biglin Brothers Racing", Thomas Eakins creates a similar image to "The Biglin Brothers Turning the Stake-Boat." It has the same two main characters at the same point in the midground engaging in the same activity. Yet their is less detail and a different perspective... but somehow the power of this image is not lessened. Mark 6:45-52 has the same main characters at the same point in the Gospel narrative engaging in the same general activity as Matthew 14:22-33. Yet their is less detail and a different perspective... but somehow the power of the story is not lessened. With the painting and the Gospel story we could judge the second ones by what they have missing from the first ones that I shared: Mark's story has no account of Peter walking on the water and it doesn't feature the Disciples worshiping Jesus as the Son of God, while Thomas Eakins' "The Biglin Brothers Racing" has no stake in the foreground). One might also take into account that both of these works are believed to have been created prior to the former two and doubt the historical veracity of Matthew and "The Biglin Brothers Turning the Stake-Boat." Then there is the approach that one not judge these works by what they lack but rather for what they include. Uninterrupted by any major foreground elements "The Biglin Brothers Racing" Eakins has chosen to highlight (literally) those the boatmen. In like fashion, Mark allows us to focus more keenly on the Disciples when he includes "And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled. For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened." This insight into their spiritual ignorance is coupled with their hardship "straining at rowing, for the wind was against them." The storm that they struggled through was not a symbol for a man's occasional hard times and misfortunes but rather Man's hardship in seeking God and pursuing the Law. After all didn't the Lord (Jesus) speak the words that started them on this taskful journey? It highlighted their need for him and surely he was the only one who could lift this burden. Jesus was the one who had criticized the Pharisees for burdening their own disciples with odious tasks and requirements in their reading of the Law, yet they were unwilling to help them lift those burdens. So Jesus stepped into the boat and the wind ceased, the rowing got easier and his Disciples' burdens were lifted. The storm stopped because of Jesus' act of grace. Grace happens when Jesus stepped into Mankind's boat.
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| Shad Fishing at Gloucester on the Delaware River, Thomas Eakins |
Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”
Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. But He said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
On the following day, when the people who were standing on the other side of the sea saw that there was no other boat there, except that one which His disciples had entered, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with His disciples, but His disciples had gone away alone— however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks— when the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi, when did You come here?”
Jesus answered them and said, “Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of Man will give you, because God the Father has set His seal on Him.”
Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
"Shad Fishing at Gloucester on the Delaware River" is a totally different type of painting than Eakin's other sculling paintings and the Gospel of John differs about this much from the other three Gospels. But as we learned form the previous Gospel narrative and painting, we should weigh a work by its own merits. It is different because it has something new to tell us: it has a fresh insight to give us. "Shad Fishing at Gloucester on the Delaware River" is not about boating as a sport at all. It is about boating as a way of life... or rather a way to get food. The boatmen are seen by the perspective of the onlookers on the coast who are in the foreground. John 6:15-33 is not just a story about what happened to the disciples and Jesus in the middle of the water but rather what happened to them in relation to those who stayed on the coast and looked on. In the beginning of the story Jesus has just miraculously fed the five thousand, like the other Gospels. He also goes into the mountains to pray and his disciples leave by boat without him, like the other Gospels. All three narratives fill in the "what" they did but John explains the "why" they did it. John reveals that they were escaping the crowds that wanted to make Jesus a king by force. The John similar details of the walking on the water story that Mark 6:45-52 gave. But the end of this scene ends with different details, it is less of a "what" happened and more of a "when." The Gospel of John shares that "immediately the boat was at the land where they were going." With that literary device the Gospel author brings us back to the overall perspective of the story: relating to those on the shore. On the following day Jesus is asked by those from the other shore how he crossed over the water, since they knew that he had not travelled in their own boats or the disciples' boat. Jesus in return questions the motive of their questions. He says that they seek him for miracles that give food (like the feeding of the five thousand) when they should be seeking/laboring the food that gives eternal life. They respond by asking how they can labor for the works of God? I am not sure if they meant good deeds or the power to miraculously create food (miracles being a "work of God). Jesus seems to have taken them to mean the later. He responds that the work of God/labor/miracle that they should pursue is "that you believe in Him whom He sent.” The kingdom of God that we are to pursue is not the blessings or any other "things" of God .The kingdom of God is Jesus. Eternal life is Jesus. God is Jesus. If we believe in Jesus we will have the kingdom of God, eternal life and God Himself. This is the theme of John 6:15-33 and the whole book of John, since it closes out with these lines "Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."
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| Oarsmen on the Schuylkill (The Pennsylvania Barge Four), Thomas Eakins |
Wikipedia shares the following comparison of the three gospel accounts under their article about "Jesus walking on water."
| Matthew 14:22-34 | Mark 6:45-53 | John 6:15-21 |
|---|---|---|
| 22 ¶ And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. | 45 ¶ And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people. 46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray. | 15 ¶ When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. |
| --- | 47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. | 16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, 17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them. |
| 24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. | 48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: | 18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew. |
| 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. | and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. | 19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: |
| 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. | 49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: 50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. | and they were afraid. |
| 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. | And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. | 20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid. |
| 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. 29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? | --- | --- |
| 32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. | 51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: | 21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went. |
| and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. 33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. ¶ 34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. | 52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. 53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore. | --- |
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