ACC ~ Mark 4 v41a

THE SHIP, HIS HUMANITY AND HIS DIVINITY

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: The ship carried his humanity, but the power of his Godhead carried the ship and all that was in it. In order that he might show that even his humanity did not require the ship, instead of the planks which a shipwright puts together and fastens, he, like the architect of creation, made the waters firm and joined them together solidly under his feet. So just as the Lord strengthened the hands of Simeon the priest, that his arms might bear up in the temple the strength that was bearing up all, [1] so did he strengthen the feet of Simon the apostle, that they might bear themselves up on the water. [2] So that name which bore the first-begotten in the temple was afterwards borne up by the first-begotten in the sea. HOMILY ON OUR LORD 50. [3]

[1] Cf. Lk 2:25-35.

[2] As the Lord bore up the hands of Simeon as he was praying in the temple, so did he bear up the feet of Simon Peter as he was walking in the water; cf. Mt 14:31.

[3] CSCO 270-71:49; NPNF 2 13:328*.