The Bible Book

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River Jordan
River Jordan
Sea of Galilee
Tiberias
Magdala
Bethsaida
Capernaum
J
esus walking on the waters
of the Sea of Galilee is one of
the most significant miracles
recorded in the New Testament.
It follows on from another miracle—
feeding 5,000 people with five
loaves of bread and two fish—and
is succeeded by Jesus’s retreat up
a mountain to pray. The sight of
Jesus walking on water astounds
the disciples and, for the first time
in the Bible, they begin to worship
Jesus, exclaiming, “Truly you are
the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33).
A stormy sea
The scene takes place in the Sea
of Galilee in the lower part of the
Jordan valley. At 13 miles (21km)
long and 8 miles (13km) wide, it is
Israel’s largest freshwater lake. It
is also prone to sudden storms, as
the disciples discover to their cost.
One evening, the disciples go
down to the lake, get into their boat,
and set off for Capernaum. They
soon find themselves struggling to
make headway against a powerful
headwind. Even though most are
experienced fishermen, they
become exhausted after hours of
straining on their oars in the face
of the gathering storm.
It is at this moment—probably
in the early hours of the morning—
that Jesus comes to the disciples’
rescue. He approaches them in a
totally unexpected way, by walking
on the turbulent waters as if they
are as stable as solid rock.
The disciples are confused.
They see something or someone
coming toward them, but they do
not realize who or what it is. Rather,
IN BRIEF
PA S SAGE
Matthew 14:27
THEME
God’s sovereignty over
all things
SETTING
c. 26–27 ce The Sea of Galilee.
KEY FIGURES
Jesus The Messiah and Son
of God during His ministry
in Galilee and Judea.
Peter One of Jesus’s inner
circle of disciples, who later
denies knowing Him. Peter
was one of several disciples
who were originally fishermen.
Disciples Jesus’s close group
of 12 followers, who often
witness His miracles.
TAKE COURAGE!
IT IS I. DON’T
BE AFRAID
MATTHEW 14:27, JESUS WALKS ON WATER
Jesus and the
Sea of Galilee
Key

1. The Sermon
   on the Mount


2. Calming the
   Storm


3. Demons and
   the Herd of Pigs
   4. Feeding the 5,000
   5. Jesus Walks on
   Water
   6. Feeding the 4,000

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233

Jesus walks on the water toward

the helpless disciples. Despite Peter

questioning Jesus’s identity and

betraying his faith in the process,

Jesus saves His servants.

See also: Demons and the Herd of Pigs 224–25 ■ Feeding the 5,000 228–31 ■

Peter’s Denial 256–57 ■ The Empty Tomb 268–69

THE GOSPELS

they are terrified, because they

believe the figure is an apparition.

Jesus calls out to them to calm

them down, but Peter asks Jesus

to command him to come. When

Jesus calls for Peter, Peter climbs

out of the boat and starts walking

on the water toward Jesus. When

Peter’s faith wavers, he begins to

sink, but Jesus rescues him.

The Gospel writers vary slightly in

the way they tell the story of this

particular miracle. According to

Matthew 14, Peter walks on the

water in response to Jesus’s one-

word command, “Come,” before

his faith fails him. The focus of the

story as told in Mark 6:47–51 and

John 6:16–21 differs from that of

Matthew: in those Gospels, only

Jesus is shown to walk on water.

Messages in the miracle

There are two important points to

note in this particular miracle. One

is the lesson the disciples learn

when Jesus comes to save them

from the stormy waters. The

message is universal: Jesus will

always be there for His followers at

the times when He is needed the

most. Jesus helps the disciples to

go safely to their destination, and

they hail Him as the Son of God.

It is also significant that Jesus is

shown as having the power to walk

on water. In the Old Testament,

this ability is described as being

unique to God. Genesis 6–7 and 9

and Exodus 14:21 and 15:8 all state

clearly that only God has power

over the seas. This fact is also

confirmed by Job 9:8, which states:

“He alone ... treads on the waves of

the sea.” Jesus's ability to walk on

water is therefore proof of His close

relationship to God. ■

Flawed faith

Although Peter steps out onto

the water, his faith is not

strong enough to overcome

his fear. This is not the only

time Peter loses faith in Jesus.

As Jesus accurately predicts

on the Mount of Olives

immediately after the Last

Supper, “this night, before the

rooster crows, you will disown

Me three times” (Matthew 26:

69–75). Fear and frailty usurp

Peter’s faith—but he learns

from these moments to go

on to become a pillar of the

early Christian Church.

His three denials of Christ

are counterbalanced by his

three declarations of love

after Jesus’s resurrection.

There are many examples

of flawed faith in the Bible.

The prophet Jonah fails to

go to the Ninevites and tell

them to repent. Instead, he

flees through fear and because

he does not think they deserve

to be forgiven (Jonah 1:1–3).

Just as Jesus rescues Peter,

Jonah is forgiven by God.

In renewed faith there

is redemption—these stories

show that it is never too late

to return to God.

Immediately Jesus

reached out his hand

and caught him. “You

of little faith,” He said,

“why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:31

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