Jesus Walks on Water: The Story and Its Meaning

One of the most astonishing miracles in the Gospels is the night Jesus walked across a storm-tossed lake to reach his disciples. It's a story about power over nature, but even more about faith, fear, and keeping our eyes on Jesus. Here's the account and its meaning.

A storm on the lake

After feeding a great crowd, Jesus sent his disciples ahead by boat across the Sea of Galilee while he went to pray. During the night a storm rose, and the disciples strained at the oars against the wind and waves, far from shore and afraid. Then, in the darkest part of the night, they saw a figure walking toward them on the water — and were terrified, thinking it was a ghost.

'It is I; be not afraid'

Jesus immediately reassured them: 'Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.' His presence was the answer to their fear. The same power that could still storms could also walk upon them. What had frightened them was actually their Lord coming to them in the middle of the trouble.

Peter steps out

Then Peter, impulsive as ever, asked to come to Jesus on the water. Jesus said, 'Come,' and Peter actually walked on the water toward him — until he looked at the wind and waves, became afraid, and began to sink. He cried out, and Jesus immediately caught him, saying, 'O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?' As long as Peter looked at Jesus, he walked; when he looked at the storm, he sank.

What it teaches

The story is a vivid picture of faith. Jesus has power over the storms of our lives, and he comes to us in the middle of them. Like Peter, we can do the impossible while our eyes are fixed on Jesus — and we begin to sink when we fix them on the wind and waves instead. And when we do sink, Jesus is right there to catch us. Fear looks at the storm; faith looks at Christ.

Jesus walking on water reveals his power over creation and his nearness in our fear. It teaches us to keep our eyes on him rather than on the storm, and it assures us that even when our faith falters and we start to sink, he is there to catch us. Whatever storm you're straining against tonight, the same Jesus comes walking toward you with the words: 'It is I; be not afraid.'