Jesus Walks on Water

This week’s Sunday School lesson explains how Jesus demonstrated that He is God by walking on water. The scene began with Jesus sending His disciples away in a boat as He went to pray alone. In verse 23, we see Jesus’ motivation for retreating away from the crowd was to get alone with God the Father and pray. Jesus, being fully human, needed time to rest and recuperate. Jesus was in prayer when the disciples began struggling to navigate their course during a violent storm. The disciples had been alone for hours, the weather and waves were battering their boat, and then off in the distance, they saw what they thought might be a ghost approaching them. It was Jesus! Peter takes a step out of the boat and begins walking on water himself. The strength of the wind assaulted his assurance and like an anvil doubt made him sink. But in a moment of complete despair and fearfulness, Peter did the right thing by calling for Jesus. In that moment, the disciples confessed that Jesus is truly the Son of God.

Matthew 14:22-36 (NASB)

²²Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. ²³After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. ²⁴But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. ²⁵And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. ²⁶When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. ²⁷But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

²⁸Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” ²⁹And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” ³¹Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” ³²When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. ³³And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly God’s Son!”

³⁴When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. ³⁵And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick; ³⁶and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.