243 Christ Walking on the Water

Matthew 14:1333; Mark 6:4551
But when [Peter] saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Matthew 14:3031

When Jesus Christ heard the news that Herod had beheaded John the Baptist, "he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart" (Matthew 14:13). But thousands of people followed Him from their cities, bringing their sick with them. So Jesus spent the day healing the sick, and that evening He fed the multitude with five loaves of bread and two fishes. (See Matthew 14:1421.)

After having spent the day with His followers, Jesus once again sought an opportunity to be alone. He asked His disciples to go ahead on a ship while He sent the multitude home. Then "he went up into a mountain apart to pray" (Matthew 14:23; see also Mark 6:4546). But while He was praying, a storm came up on the sea. The ship the disciples were on was in the middle of the sea being blown about by the winds and tossed by the waves. Jesus went out to them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw Him coming toward them, they thought it was a spirit and were frightened. (See Matthew 14:2426; Mark 6:4849.) Jesus immediately calmed their fears, saying, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid" (Matthew 14:27; see also Mark 6:50).

The Apostle Peter answered, "Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water" (Matthew 14:28). Jesus told Peter to come, so Peter got out of the boat and began walking on the water toward Jesus. But when Peter saw the fierce winds and waves, he became afraid. He started to sink and cried out for Jesus to save him. (See Matthew 14:30.) Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught Peter, saying, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" (Matthew 14:31).

When Peter and Jesus were back on the ship, the winds ceased and the sea was calm once again. The disciples had seen all that had happened and worshiped Jesus, saying, "Of a truth thou art the Son of God" (Matthew 14:33).

Summary

One night Jesus' disciples put out to sea in a boat while Jesus stayed behind to pray to Heavenly Father. A storm came up and tossed the boat in the waves. When Jesus saw His disciples struggling with their ship in the storm, He started walking on the water toward the ship. The disciples were frightened when they saw a man walking toward them on the water. Then they heard Jesus call to them and tell them not to fear. Peter asked Jesus if he could come to Him, and Jesus told Peter to come. But as Peter did so he became afraid and started to sink. Jesus took hold of Peter's hand and helped him back to the boat. The sea became calm again, and the disciples testified that Jesus was the Son of God.

Artist, Robert T. Barrett

© 1997 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA