Trump and Economics in the Gospels - Boats

There are many references to boats in the Gospels.  From those used by disciple-fishermen, to those used for transportation, boats are mentioned throughout. 
 
Mark 5:2 Just as Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs and met him.
Mark 5:18 As he was getting into the boat the man who had been demon-possessed asked if he could go with him.

Trump isn’t particularly known for his love of boats and yachts though he did buy Adnan Khashoggi’s yacht in the 1980’s and renamed it Princess Trump Princess: Inside Donald Trump’s Lavish 86 Metre Superyacht | Boat International.

More recently Trump’s supporters held a boat parade in Texas where several boats got into trouble Multiple Boats Sink During 'Trump Boat Parade' On Texas Lake | HuffPost

Given the paucity of Trump connections to boating we’ll use this brief chapter on boats to delve into transportation in general a bit.

In fact, there are no other modes of transportation mentioned in the Gospels, at least not that Jesus or his followers used – aside from their feet, of course. Hard to imagine Trump getting around much on his feet. Long hikes and visions of Trump just don’t match up somehow.

In perhaps the most famous disciple encounter, Jesus instructs Simon to catch people instead of fish.  Like Simon (Peter) other disciples were fishermen.
 
Matthew 4:21 Going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Then he called them. 4:22 They immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus and His disciples used boats regularly, sometimes to get away from the crowds.
 
Matthew 14:13 Now when Jesus heard this he went away from there privately in a boat to an isolated place. But when the crowd heard about it, they followed him on foot from the towns.

Walking on water without the boat?  Quelling the sea from dry land?  These are major miracle stories which would be difficult to imagine without the boat. Sometimes, things apparently got too crowded on shore.
 
Matthew 13:1 On that day after Jesus went out of the house, he sat by the lake. 13:2 And such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat to sit while the whole crowd stood on the shore.

Traveling by boat seems to have been a preferred method of travel. Not so much by Trump it would seem.

Peter walked on water as well, from a boat.
 
Matthew 14:29 So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

​Many of Trump’s supporters wouldn’t be surprised to him walking on water in this way.

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Here's the full Economics in the Gospels text...

Boats
There are many references to boats in the Gospels.  From those used by disciple-fishermen, to those used for transportation, boats are mentioned throughout. 
 
Mark 5:2 Just as Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit came from the tombs and met him.
5:18 As he was getting into the boat the man who had been demon-possessed asked if he could go with him.

Trump isn’t particularly known for his love of boats and yachts though he did buy Adnan Khashoggi’s yacht in the 1980’s and renamed it Princess Trump Princess: Inside Donald Trump’s Lavish 86 Metre Superyacht | Boat International.

More recently Trump’s supporters held a boat parade in Texas where several boats got into trouble Multiple Boats Sink During 'Trump Boat Parade' On Texas Lake | HuffPost

Given the paucity of Trump connections to boating we’ll use this brief chapter on boats to delve into transportation in general a bit.

In fact, there are no other modes of transportation mentioned in the Gospels, at least not that Jesus or his followers used – aside from their feet, of course. Hard to imagine Trump getting around much on his feet. Long hikes and visions of Trump just don’t match up somehow.

Simon’s BoatIn perhaps the most famous disciple encounter, Jesus instructs Simon to catch people instead of fish.  Try imagining this story without the boats.
 
Luke 5:1 Now Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, and the crowd was pressing around him to hear the word of God. 5:2 He saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets. 5:3 He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little way from the shore. Then Jesus sat down and taught the crowds from the boat. 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.” 5:5 Simon answered, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing! But at your word I will lower the nets.” 5:6 When they had done this, they caught so many fish that their nets started to tear. 5:7 So they motioned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both boats, so that they were about to sink. 5:8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” 5:9 For Peter and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 5:10 and so were James and John, Zebedee’s sons, who were Simon’s business partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.” 5:11 So when they had brought their boats to shore, they left everything and followed him.

Other fishermen and their boatsLike Simon (Peter) other disciples were fishermen.
 
Matthew 4:21 Going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in a boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. Then he called them. 4:22 They immediately left the boat and their father and followed him.

Private BoatsJesus and His disciples used boats regularly, sometimes to get away from the crowds.
 
Matthew 14:13 Now when Jesus heard this he went away from there privately in a boat to an isolated place. But when the crowd heard about it, they followed him on foot from the towns.

Miracles from BoatsWalking on water without the boat?  Quelling the sea from dry land?  These are major miracle stories which would be difficult to imagine without the boat.
 
4:35 On that day, when evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” 4:36 So after leaving the crowd, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat, and other boats were with him. 4:37 Now a great windstorm developed and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was nearly swamped. 4:38 But he was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. They woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care that we are about to die?” 4:39 So he got up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Be quiet! Calm down!” Then the wind stopped, and it was dead calm. 4:40 And he said to them, “Why are you cowardly? Do you still not have faith?”
 
John 6:16 Now when evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 6:17 got into a boat, and started to cross the lake to Capernaum. (It had already become dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.) 6:18 By now a strong wind was blowing and the sea was getting rough. 6:19 Then, when they had rowed about three or four miles, they caught sight of Jesus walking on the lake, approaching the boat, and they were frightened. 6:20 But he said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” 6:21 Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat came to the land where they had been heading.

Preaching From A BoatSometimes, things apparently got too crowded on shore.
 
Matthew 13:1 On that day after Jesus went out of the house, he sat by the lake. 13:2 And such a large crowd gathered around him that he got into a boat to sit while the whole crowd stood on the shore.

Boat TravelTraveling by boat seems to have been a preferred method of travel. Not so much by Trump it would seem.
 
Matthew 14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds.
 
John 6:22 The next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the lake realized that only one small boat had been there, and that Jesus had not boarded it with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 6:23 But some boats from Tiberias came to shore near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 6:24 So when the crowd realized that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.

Peter Walked on WaterPeter walked on water as well, from a boat.
 
Matthew 14:29 So he said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

​Many of Trump’s supporters wouldn’t be surprised to him walking on water in this way.