Miracle of Jesus – Peter And Jesus Walk On Water

After Jesus miraculously fed the 5,000, He sent his disciples by boat to Capernaum. He dismissed the crowd, and went alone into the hills to fellowship with His Father. Early in the morning, the disciples were experiencing high winds and a very rough sea, making their journey impossible and very dangerous. Even though several of them were professional fishermen, fear was gripping them all. As if that wasn’t bad enough, in the distance they saw a person walking on the water. They assumed it was a ghost and started to panic. But it was not a ghost. Instead, just before dawn, Jesus walks on water.

Three Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and John, record the story of Jesus walking on the water in the midst of a storm. Only Matthew includes the story of Peter walking on the water to Jesus. Each account adds something to the story. Read everything below knowing that Jesus has authority and power over all of creation, and by faith, ANYTHING is possible.

Jesus Walks On Water – Compare And Contrast Three Gospel Accounts

Matthew 14:22-33 KJV	Mark 6:45-52 KJV	John 6:15-21 KJV
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.	45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.	15 When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.	46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.	16 And when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea,
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.	47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.	17 And entered into a ship, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was now dark, and Jesus was not come to them.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.	48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.	18 And the sea arose by reason of a great wind that blew.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.	49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:	19 So when they had rowed about five and twenty or thirty furlongs, they see Jesus walking on the sea, and drawing nigh unto the ship: and they were afraid.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.	50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.	20 But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.	51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.	21 Then they willingly received him into the ship: and immediately the ship was at the land whither they went.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.	52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

Wind On The Sea Of Galilee

The Sea of Galilee is the 2nd lowest lake on Earth, and the lowest freshwater lake, sitting approximately 705 feet (215 meters) below sea level. It is about 8 miles (13 km) wide by 13 miles (21 km) long. The circumference is 33 miles (53 km). The freshwater lake is fed by springs, as well as the Jordan River in the North. Overflow feeds the Jordan River and ultimately the Dead Sea in the South. The lake is surrounded by fishing villages that continue to work the lake to this day.

The hills and mountains that surround the Sea of Galilee combine to generate frequent weather events. The cold air rushes down from the high places and mixes with the warm moist air above the lake. This can create storms, but also violent wind events that create very big waves, often quite unexpectedly on the lake. It was just this type of disturbance that thwarted the disciples journey that evening. Although artwork and entertainment often depicts this event as a thunderstorm, with rain and lightning, none of the three Gospel accounts mention either. This seems to be just extreme high winds, and high waves, which would be more than enough to stall their journey.

They departed from near Bethsaida, and were heading to Capernaum, a relatively short distance of about 5 miles. If the lake was calm, the journey should take no more than an hour, with some combination of sail and rowing. Jesus dismissed them in the evening. Assuming this was after Sunset in the late Summer, this would be no earlier than 7 pm. This meant they might have been on the water over 8 hours, making little progress. That would be quite frustrating and a good foundation for fear. The wind and the waves had quite literally stopped them in the middle of the lake. And don’t forget the physical exhaustion of trying to fight against the weather. They were a mess both physically and mentally, seeing no solution to their predicament.

In The Midst Of The Sea, Tossed By The Waves And A Contrary Wind

Several of the disciples in the boat were seasoned fishermen. They knew the Sea of Galilee better than most, having literally grown up on the water. But this was no ordinary storm. Jesus had told them to cross the Sea. They had His Word that they could and would safely cross it. But satan comes immediately to undermine that Word, and if possible, do what he does best – steal, kill, and destroy. (Mark 4:13-20, John 10:10)

Just a short time earlier they were caught in a similar storm while Jesus was with them, asleep. In their panic, they woke Jesus wondering if He even cared. Jesus promptly got up and calmed the storm. Jesus then asked His disciples why they did not release their faith, and speak to the storm. Now, here they were again in a similar predicament, but Jesus was not with them. Yet it seems none had learned anything from the first miracle. The waves seemed to big and the wind too strong. They were in the middle of the lake fighting a losing battle against the elements.

Note the progression of events in the boat. They started across the sea and soon encountered a strong wind, and then of course large waves made progress impossible. It was dark on the water, with the clouds blocking the Moon and stars. With no light, they were likely disoriented, unable to determine the distance to any shore. They truly were in a mess, stuck in the middle of the lake, one big wave away from capsizing, and possibly drowning. But they were not alone. Jesus had sent them out while He went alone to pray. He was away, but He knew what was happening, as He could see them Spiritually. No doubt He had hoped one of the disciples would have remembered the earlier storm, stood up and declared, “Peace, Be Still!” and calm things down. Even though this did not happen, Jesus was not going to let them go under. He would be there just in time, even if Jesus had to walk there on the water.

In The Fourth Watch, They Saw Jesus Walking On Water

Imagine you were stuck on a boat in the middle of a storm going nowhere. You’ve never seen or heard of anyone walking on water. You look out in the darkness and you see what looks like a man walking on the surface of the water. I think we sometimes judge the disciples too harshly. Even though they had seen many signs, miracles, and wonders from Jesus. And had listened to His wisdom. Its hard to imagine them not being surprised by this situation. They were raised hearing stories about those who drowned in the sea coming back to haunt the living. It should not be surprising that they immediately assumed the worst. And this of course only compounded their fear of the situation, and utter hopelessness.

Its interesting that Jesus appeared to them in the 4th watch (3 am to 6 am). This is the last of the 4 Roman watches during the night. It also coincides with several events in the Bible. Jacob would wrestle an angel during this time. (Genesis 32:21-32) Moses would lead his people through the Red Sea during the 4th watch. (Exodus 14:19-31) This would be the final watch of the night, the darkness before the dawn.

Jesus Said, “Fear Not!” “I AM.”

Even though Jesus stayed behind, His eyes were on them. He knew exactly where they were, and what was happening. If you are a child of God, you can be sure that God knows exactly what is happening in your life. And if you will trust Him, He will get you through those dark valleys, and across those troubled waters. As long as Believers hold on to God’s Word, His Truth, they can be sure they will not only survive, but thrive! When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. (Isaiah 43:1-3 NLT) The Lord is your Good Shepherd. You shall not lack. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. (Psalm 23:1-6 NLT)

Fear Not, or some variation of that phrase, is one of the most frequently used phrases in God’s Word. Why? Because fear is the opposite of faith. Faith is what connects us to God’s many promises. Its how we please God! In fact, without faith, its impossible to please Him. (Hebrews 11:6) Faith comes from hearing God’s Word. (Romans 10:17) Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]. (Hebrews 11:1 AMP) So then fear is just the opposite, a confidence or assurance of things NOT hoped for. In this instance, the disciples were afraid of drowning. They thought they were being haunted by a ghost on the water, And each disciple likely had other, more personal fears about the experience. In the natural, based on their senses, there was little hope. But that is why you rely, or place your confidence in a HIGHER AUTHORITY – God’s Word. He always is the FINAL ANSWER, and He is always in the NOW of your life. Psalm 91 is a compelling case against fear. Believers find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. He will rescue you from every trap. He will cover you with His feathers. Do not be afraid of night terrors. No evil will conquer you. His angels will protect you wherever you go. I will rescue those who love Me. I will reward them with a long life. (Psalm 91:1-16) Make this Psalm a regular confession, and BELIEVE that God’s Word is TRUTH. (John 17:17)

I AM. When Jesus said this, it was confirmation of who He was. This was the same name Moses used with the people in Egypt which means, “I exist”. Or, I am – eternally existing – yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) This was not a name tossed around for fun. This was purposely used, along with the display – power over water, to be a sign to confirm His identity to the disciples. This was a very personal experience, as its very doubtful any other boat was nearby during this event. It also gave them a solid reason as to why they should, “Fear Not” – God was with them.

Jesus Came Walking On The Water, Intending To Pass By Them

There is a curious phrase in Mark’s Gospel (6:48) that almost every Bible version has translated as something akin to the following – and would have passed by them. This has never made sense to me. Like most readers, I read this as if Jesus was going to walk right by them, and then suddenly changed His mind. Not so. Jesus was walking TO the disciples. He had been watching them, making sure they would not go under, and that He would arrive at the right time. This should have been translated in the sense that He wanted to “draw near” or “come beside” or “came near to them”. An even better way to understand the point is to go back into the Old Testament.

In the recreation of the Earth (Genesis 1:2), God demonstrated His power over the waters by dividing them, and commanding the floodwaters to flee. (Genesis 1:1-10, Job 38:8-11, Psalm 104:6-8, 2 Peter 3:5-7) Noah’s flood covered the Earth and destroyed all but Noah, his family, and the animals preserved in the Ark. At God’s command, the rain ceased and the fountains of the deep closed. And God commanded a wind to blow on the water, so that they receded gradually. (Genesis 7:1-24, 8:1-16) Israel crossed the Red Sea on dry land. And crossed the Jordan River. (Exodus 14:15-31, Joshua 3:1-17, Psalm 77:16-20, 106:7-13, 114:1-8) God marches on the waves of the sea. (Job 9:8) God challenges Job, who kept the sea inside its boundaries? And Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths? (Job 38:1-41) By all these, God’s Power over the Earth and especially water are demonstrated. And His willingness to act on behalf of those who love Him. By walking on the water, Jesus was demonstrating His Glory for His disciples.

How does the Old Testament explain Jesus wanting to “pass by” the disciples? Look first at Moses, who was on God’s mountain when He said, I will make all my goodness pass before you. (Exodus 33:17-23) And the the Lord passed in front of Moses promising, all the people around you will see the power of the LORD. (Exodus 34:1-10) Elijah had a similar encounter after he confronted Ahab. He thought he was alone. God gave him a great demonstration of wind, earthquake, and fire, and then a gentle whisper. (1 Kings 19:1-18) Jesus did not intend to walk past them. He wanted to give them a demonstration of His power.

Jesus, If It Is Really You, Command Me To Come To You

How many times have you read this story thinking that Jesus told Peter to walk on the water? That’s not exactly what happened. Look closely at Peter’s question, “If it is you, bid me come to you.” His request came with conditions. How could Jesus say no? It was REALLY HIM. So Jesus replied the only way He truthfully could, “Come.” And Peter did something wonderful. He actually walked on the water. He was the only disciple who had enough faith to step out of the boat – although it was a conditional request.

Why Is Peter Walking On Water Only In Matthew?

The simple answer is that is the way the Holy Spirit wanted it. All four Gospels were written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and each one highlights different aspects of Jesus’ time on Earth. Matthew’s target audience was Israel. He focused on the ministry to the Jews and proving that Jesus was the long awaited King.

More importantly, Matthew was a disciple, one of the twelve, and was in the boat with Peter. So he was an eyewitness to the event. Some might counter that John was a disciple as well, and was likely there. This is where it gets a little tricky. Because there are some who think that John was not written by the disciple of that name. I have questioned that myself because of several passages. Tradition is firmly on the side of John the disciple as the author, but tradition is dangerous. The only person referred to as the disciple whom Jesus loved (DWJL) is Lazarus – who was raised from the dead. Few people have experienced such a thing and it was likely transformative in his life. He was prosperous, lived in Bethany near Jerusalem – so in a position to take in Mary as a guest after the crucifixion. He was widely known, including by the religious leadership – unlike Galilean fishermen. And when you consider the final conversation between Jesus and Peter, the rumor about the other disciple living forever makes little sense in reference to the disciple John. But for someone raised from the dead, the question and rumors make a lot more sense – as does Jesus’ final response. And finally, John was never shy about including himself in the narrative. (See Revelation 1) And yet the Gospel of John seems to obscure and diminish the author’s role, while focusing on events that were overlooked by the other Gospel writers. And it has a different perspective that likely comes from someone who had a truly supernatural experience, and loved Jesus in a most profound way.

For more on this see, Beneath The Cross – The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved. The information is towards the bottom and includes links to more scholarly works discussing this possibility. Regardless of the author, the Truth of Jesus walking on water remains.

When Peter Saw The Waves, He Was Afraid And Began To Sink

Modern Believers are often hard on Peter. But remember, he did WALK ON THE WATER. The other disciples stayed in the boat. Peter took that step of faith, and it was a big one. The Word doesn’t say how far Peter walked. I would imagine they were close enough to hear each other speak, so the distance is likely measured in feet. As long as Peter kept his focus on Jesus, and on His Word, “Come“, Peter walked on the water just like Jesus.

But like all of us, the senses often seem more real than Spiritual Truth. Peter heard the wind, saw the waves, and fear slowly replaced his faith. And as this happened, he began to slip beneath the waves. He only had time to yell, “save me” before he was underwater. And Jesus was right there, grabbing his hand and lifting him out of the water. They climbed into the boat together. Now safe from the waves, Jesus asked, “Why did you doubt?” Its a good question for all of us when we release our faith, but then get distracted by the pressure of life. Or the attacks of the enemy designed to steal the Word from us.

You Are The Son Of God

Once in the boat, the storm ended and they reached their destination. Jesus had demonstrated complete mastery over the entire situation. Everyone was safe, and were in awe of what they had just witnessed. The events of that night changed the disciples. They saw Jesus differently now. If there were any doubts, they were in the minority. They openly confessed, “You are the Son of God!“

Jesus Walking On Water – Further Revelation

Every story in the Bible is rich with Revelation. God’s Wisdom permeates every Word. Reading it just once is a disservice. Study the accounts, compare and contrast them. Examine the context, the events before and after the story. Consider the original languages – Hebrew and Greek, especially when passages seem to be contrary to God’s Nature, who is Love. And it doesn’t hurt at times to read the ideas of theologians. Sometimes they can be quite helpful in identifying things that the casual reader may have overlooked. But if there is ANY doubt, always go back to the Word. Allow the Holy Spirit to confirm, or clarify any opinion of man, or woman.

Ada Ruth Habershon (1861-1918) was an English Christian hymnist, best known for her 1907 gospel song “Will the Circle Be Unbroken?” for which the tune was composed by Charles H. Gabriel. She wrote several books including The Study Of Miracles, which was published in 1911. In the section called Miracles Connected with Air and Water (Section IV. Page 170-172) she noted, There is a striking contrast between the ship on the Mediterranean and the boat on the lake. The storm ceased directly (when) Jonah had been cast out of the ship into the sea. The storm ceased on Galilee immediately they had received the Lord into the ship.

And she added, We may also contrast the miracle in the Gospel with the scene in Acts, where no miracle was worked to avert a shipwreck, but the angel of God stood by Paul on the ship and assured him of his safety. In the first case the Lord rebuked the winds and waves, and there was a great calm; in the second He permitted them to increase, and there was a great storm, but the great calm was in the heart of His servant Paul. He can cause the storm to cease, or He can bring His people through it in safety, without working a miracle.

I found her second point, concerning Paul’s shipwreck, to be a very wise connection. In both cases, the disciples and Paul, were given God’s Word to go to their destination, the disciples across the lake, Paul to Rome. All they had to do was stay focused on that Word and they would reach their destination. In the Perfect Will of God is the absolute safest place to be.

Another preacher and prolific writer August Van Ryn (1890-1982) in 1958 published Meditations In Matthew. In that book, he looked at the story in Matthew with an eye towards the end times, and Israel specifically.

Having performed this miracle (feeding the 5,000), the Lord sent the multitudes away and told His disciples to go into a ship and go before Him to the other side, while He Himself went up into a mountain apart to pray. Here is the next step in the history as it unfolds, for Christ has gone up on high to pray for His own; and He has been interceding for them at God’s right hand for the last 1,900 years. In the meanwhile His disciples were struggling across the stormy sea. I believe, strictly interpreting this, we have once more, as so often in the New Testament, the present day of grace left out as it were. These disciples are Jewish disciples, struggling, as the Jews have been doing for centuries, across life’s—for them—so stormy sea. Jesus appears to them in the fourth watch, which answers to the rising of the sun and thus to Christ’s coming in glory in the future. The picture is of Christ’s coming again to Israel, in the darkest hour of the tribulation, just before the sun is to rise upon them. This Gospel alone tells us that Peter left the boat to walk to Jesus. It illustrates that, just before Christ actually comes back, in that storm of tribulation that will rage so fearfully in the future day, there will be a remnant (pictured by Simon Peter) that will rise to meet the Messiah; that will recognize Christ as Messiah before the nation as a whole does. Ever so many Scriptures speak of this faithful remnant during the tribulation period. Applying Peter’s act to ourselves, it also shows how a believer may walk by faith, trusting in the Lord alone, and thus be superior to all life’s stormy circumstances. Christ comes to them to the boat, and then, as John tells us (6:21) immediately the ship was at the other side. So, when Christ comes to Israel by-and-by, instantly the storm of suffering for them will be over, and Israel shall be safely through the tribulation, back in their own promised land.

August Van Ryn (1890-1982) Meditations In Matthew 1958 (Pages 74-76)

Jesus Walks On Water – Final Thoughts

Peter walked on the water. The remaining disciples stayed in the boat. They were happy when Jesus arrived on the scene, but too afraid to step out. In essence, they had put their trust in the boat to keep them safe. When the wind and the waves were pounding on that boat, it did not seem safe or secure. But whether they were in the boat with Jesus, or on the water with him like Peter, there was no danger whatsoever. They were perfectly safe in the perfect will of God.

You can put your faith in a lot of things – yourself, spouse, job, religion, government etc. But without Jesus, the world’s problems can overwhelm and sink you. Put your faith in Jesus. Draw closer to him in fellowship, prayer, and by studying the Word. Build your confidence on Jesus, the Living Word, and no storm in life will prevail (Matthew 7:24-27 & Luke 6:46-49). No matter what conditions you are facing, no matter how frightening the doctor’s report, your bank account balance, the results on your report card, or even violent weather, Jesus is still telling you,

“Come. And I will give you peace.“

 

Read The Walking On The Water Story In Five Popular Translations – AMP, KJV, HCSB, NIV, The Message

Jesus Walks on the Water Miracle – Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, John 6:15-21

Check out all the wonderful Christian content linked below and learn more about this miracle.

Peter walks on water: 5 lessons we can learn (the meaning of Matthew 14:22-36) – Brief overview of the miracle with 5 key lessons.

Jesus Walking on the Water in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John – A summary of the miracle from the Jesus Film Project.

Jesus Walks On Water – Coloring page

Jesus Walks On Water – Coloring pages, crafts, and teaching ideas

Jesus Walking On The Sea – Activity page and lesson outline for kids

Jesus Walks On Water – Lesson ideas for kids

Jesus Walks On The Water – The miracle as symbolism for the New Covenant

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