One of the most astonishing miracles recorded in the Gospels is the moment Jesus walked on water. This event is found in Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, and John 6:15-21. It took place shortly after Jesus fed the five thousand, demonstrating His authority not only over physical provision but also over the very forces of nature.
Jesus Walks on the Water
After the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, Jesus sent His disciples ahead of Him by boat while He retreated to pray alone.
“Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there” (Matthew 14:22-23).
While the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee, strong winds arose, and the waves battered their boat. They struggled against the storm, rowing with difficulty, as the wind was contrary to them (Mark 6:48). It was in the fourth watch of the night—between 3 and 6 AM—that Jesus came walking on the sea toward them (Matthew 14:25).
At first, they were terrified, thinking they had seen a ghost, but Jesus immediately calmed their fears:
“Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).
Peter Steps Out of the Boat
Peter, bold in faith but still prone to doubt, called out to Jesus:
“Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water” (Matthew 14:28).
Jesus simply responded with one word: “Come.”
Peter did something no other man had ever done—he stepped out onto the water and began walking toward Jesus. For a moment, his faith held him above the storm. He was not sustained by his own strength, but by the power of Christ. Yet, the moment he took his eyes off Jesus and saw the wind and waves, he became afraid and began to sink.
“Lord, save me!” he cried out (Matthew 14:30).
Jesus immediately stretched out His hand and caught him, saying,
“O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).
This moment is so powerful because it reveals the secret to walking in faith—keeping our eyes on Jesus. When Peter focused on Christ, he defied the natural order. But when he looked at the storm, he sank into it. The same is true in our walk with God. The moment we shift our focus from Jesus to our circumstances, fear overtakes us. But as soon as we cry out, “Lord, save me!”, His hand is already there to pull us up.
The Moment of Instant Transportation
After Peter and Jesus returned to the boat, something remarkable happened. The wind ceased immediately. The disciples, overwhelmed by what they had witnessed, worshiped Jesus, saying,
“Truly You are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33).
But another detail is found in John 6:21.
“Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.”
This is no small detail—it means that in a moment, they were supernaturally transported to their destination.
This shows the complete authority of Jesus over nature—not only could He walk on water, but He could transcend time and space in an instant. This is a foretaste of what we see later in His resurrection, where He appears in locked rooms and vanishes from sight (Luke 24:31, John 20:19).
My Final Thoughts
The account of Jesus walking on water teaches us three powerful lessons. First, Jesus is Lord over the storm. The wind and waves obey Him, and when we find ourselves in the middle of life’s storms, He is always there. No matter how fierce the winds may blow, His presence brings peace.
Second, faith keeps us above the waves, but doubt makes us sink. As long as we fix our eyes on Jesus, we can walk through any storm. Peter proved this when he stepped out of the boat, defying natural law. But the moment he focused on the storm instead of the Savior, he began to fall. The same is true for us—our faith must remain in Christ alone.
Finally, God can take us where we need to be—instantly. The disciples struggled all night against the wind, exhausting themselves with no progress. Yet, the moment Jesus entered the boat, they not only found peace, but they also arrived at their destination immediately. What we strive to achieve in our own strength, Jesus can accomplish in a moment.
