Jesus and Peter Walking on the Water

Yale University: Baptistry Wall Painting, 232 CE Roman, paint on plaster, excavated at Dura-Europos 1932

View artwork at Yale University Art gallery access here

click here to access Dura-Europs: Excavating Antiquity site for virtual tour

One of the earliest pieces of Christian art is a wall painting dating to 232 CE found in a Roman home located in a room with a baptistry and images portraying scenes from the gospels.  Among them are three depicting the theme of salvation: the healing of the paralytic, the Good Shepherd and Jesus and Peter walking on the water.  This is the earliest known image of Jesus (paralytic image).  More instructive however, is the connection between baptism and salvation illustrated in the three frescos including the image of Jesus rescuing Peter which is this week's lectionary reading from Matt 14:22-33.  In the image above, Peter can be seen sinking below the waves as he reaches out, and the hand of Jesus grasping Peter's hand as the disciples on the boat look on.  Recalling the words of St. Paul, "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from the dead, through the glory of the Father, we too may live in newness of life."

The above links are to the gallery and a virtual site for a tour of the excavation.