In the New Testament, the sea symbolizes chaos, evil, and evil beings. The depths of the sea were seen as the home of demons?a place called the Abyss, according to Jewish tradition. Luke records Jesus? casting out of demons who beg not to be sent into the Abyss: When Jesus sends them there anyway, they enter a herd of pigs that plunges into the sea (Luke 8:21).

John also referred to the Abyss in his revelation (9:1,11; 11:7; 17:8). He describes it as the abode of the evil one?Satan (Rev. 20:1?3). He writes that someday the devil himself will rise from the sea (Rev. 13: 1?11).

At one point during his ministry, Jesus compared the fates of Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum to that of Sodom and Gomorrah, saying that Capernaum would go down to the ?depths.? Most likely, the people understood this as a reference to hell itself. To them, Jesus? miracles on the sea meant more than simply that he had power over the forces of nature?they also symbolized his power over evil.