16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus. 25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”
Jesus Walks on Water
Jesus further shows that he is someone special when he walks on water. The seas rise up and toss the disciples around. Why is this significant? Because the sea is seen as the anti-creation that is the example of chaos. Israelite writing does not look kindly on the waters and the seas and Jewish people engaged with the water surprisingly little when compared to their Phoenician neighbours. However, Jesus is unafraid of the forces that work against creation and commands space and time in this story. It leaves the disciples in awe, but the people of the surrounding area are puzzled themselves.
Does the Jesus that you believe in have mastery over order and chaos? Does your faith in him diminish rapidly in the storms of life? I know I sometimes cease to see Jesus clearly in chaotic times. A passage like this reminds me of his calm mastery.
Prayer
When all is chaos bid my heart to be still.
Questions
- What does Jesus do?
- Why doesn’t he just take the boat?
- What do those living around Galilee learn?
- What are we to learn from this passage?
- How does it apply to your life right now?
Plymothian 
1. Jesus walks on water through the storm on the sea of Galilee to his disciples in a boat.
2. Maybe Jesus was doing this miracle as another evidence for who He is and Who has sent Him!
3. The people are surprised that Jesus had somehow crossed the sea, since they knew He didn’t get into the boat with the disciples and they had taken the only boat. They must have realized that this man wasn’t just able to make bread and fish multiply; He was also able to somehow cross the Sea of Galilee without a boat!
4. Jesus is in control of all of creation, even the sea that obeys no one and can’t be stopped. In the midst of the storm, Jesus walks calmly across the water, not phased by it.
5. I can rely on Jesus when things in my life are “stormy.” When I feel out of control and lost and scared, like the disciples probably did, I can rest easy in the fact that my God isn’t worried – He’s completely in control of the storm.
Jesus walks on water. Amazing. I think He didn’t just take the boat because He wanted to reveal more of Himself to His disciples. This teaches observers that Jesus is in control of all things. He is
God. Currently, this applies to a situation back home and to my life here at school. When I want to be elsewhere, Jesus sustains me where I am and takes care of that I can’t control. He is perfectly trustworthy and able.
Jesus walks on the water! He proves to all who are watching His mastery over creation. He does this to show to those who might believe that He is the Messiah! This applies to me to just know I can take comfort even when times are hard that Jesus has it under control.
What times are hard for you? How would this apply?
1. Jesus defied natural “laws” and walked on the water
2. By not taking the boat, He was able to show his power and control over the world and nature
3. Those around Galilee were able to see the authority and power that Jesus had–hopefully they made the decision to accept Him as Messiah
4. Today, we learn similar principles: Jesus has authority, He is in control over all life circumstances, and He is all-powerful.
5. I need to be more conscience and aware that Jesus is in control over my life. Sometimes I feel so lost and unsure of where to turn. If I remember and believe that God is sovereign, I should have great peace even in the midst of difficult circumstances.
How does it apply to our life right now…
Jesus shocked people with His actions–they are always bold, defining, unique. Whenever we step out of our dorm/home we need to be more like Jesus in the way/when/how we choose to act so as to always shock people into wanting to know Him more.
How are you more like Jesus this semester?
1. Jesus walks to the disciples’ boat on stormy water.
2. He wants to increase the disciples’ faith in him by showing his power over the elements, even in the midst of chaos.
3. They saw that Jesus has power over normal human limitations.
4. We are to learn that Jesus is in control of the chaos in our lives.
5. Even if I don’t have all the answers to the tough questions of my past, present, and future, God does, and my life is not chaos but a controlled story of grace.
1) Jesus walked on water and came onto the boat with His disciples.
2) He is showing that He was in control of all things.
3) They learned that Jesus has control of everything, because He is the Creator!
4) We are to learn that no matter how chaotic life is, Jesus is in control of every situation.
5) This applies to my life, because even if it something seems like things are out of my control, Jesus is in control over everything. That is so reassuring!
Jesus walks on water to display his power and lack of fear. He is stronger than that which the people fear most. He takes bold steps which we would see as life-threatening. He asks me to trust him. He asks me to see who he is.
This applies to my life right now because I don’t know where to go for student teaching next semester, but I know that I can trust in God. He is the omnipotent Creator who has the power to calm storms and reaches out to us in the midst of chaos. He loves us and cares for us as His children.
Jesus walks on water to show the people he has power. When I am in chaos, I know that Jesus can calm my storm. I must trust that he will provide. His power will be made known through my life. How I respond is a testimony to his greatness. I, like Janice, do not know where God wants me to do my student teaching. It looks like a door is closing. So I must trust him to show me another way.
Jesus calmly walks through the middle of the deathly sea and raging storm around them. He knows that he is in complete control of all creation so the storm does not fade him one bit. Sometimes I feel like my life is a raging storm and it is hard to remember that God controls everything, even my sometimes stormy life. It is when I see God a midst my life that I feel confident in the sovereignty of my creator rather than desperately trying to stay above the water and not get consumed by my powerlessness and sin.
Late because of senior trip:
1. A miracle against nature; it’s also a miracle that the people had to notice and pursue
2. …because that wouldn’t be a miracle
3. That He is no ordinary Israelite
4. That Christ has no limits
5. That Christ does amazing things, but sometimes we have to intentionally be looking out for them and noticing them
Jesus walked on the sea in order to show the disciples who he is and his power over creation. I wonder how far across the lake was because it said they travelled about 3-3 ½ miles, and when Jesus entered the boat they were on the other side instantly. Another miracle??? Maybe so. It also appears that he may have calmed the storm. Sometimes we may think that our lives are out of control and forget that Jesus is willing and able to help us get it in order. Just like with the disciples in the boat, Jesus has come to us and we just have to reach out and grab his hand, accepting his guidance. This passage reminds me that Jesus is our peace, and I can turn to him for rest any time.
In this passage, Jesus walks on water to the boat where the disciples are, and then stills the rough waters of the sea. I imagine that Jesus didn’t get in the boat when the disciples left because He was going to spend time in prayer, or maybe continue ministering to the people around Him, but in the end, not taking the boat served to demonstrate His omnipotence and omniscience, and to bolster the developing faith of the disciples.
As they put the pieces together regarding Jesus’ disappearance from their side of the lake, and reappearance on the other side, those living in Galilee begin to see how beyond their understanding Jesus really is. That He moves unpredictably, and in ways beyond their human means, is just a taste of the ways in which He completely redefines their idea of Messiah.
In this passage, I am reminded that Jesus is both the giver of peace and the author and creator of all life, whose ways go far beyond anything I might imagine or understand. I recently been considering my tendency to become focused on the small steps of my life, while losing touch with the large picture of God’s sovereign arc of control in and over everything I do. This passage draws my attention once again to Jesus hand of work, control, and guidance throughout the entire tapestry of my life, not merely in the small scenes and vignettes which make up my days.
What does Jesus do? Jesus walks on water after He was gone, and He was praying during His absence (Matthew 14:23). And there was a storm before hand. I wonder if He calmed the storm before walking on water or if He was walking on the water when the storm was still going on. The text does not give any indication that the storm stopped…
Why doesn’t he just take the boat? so that the disciples could see this miracle and it is authenticating His teachings that He is God in the previous chapter (chapter 5).
What do those living around Galilee learn? perhaps that He is equal as God.
What are we to learn from this passage? That Jesus is sovereign over nature and His created order.
How does it apply to your life right now? Hmm…even though we don’t understand, I don’t understand, some current situations that I am in, God does and He will give the answer at His perfect timing. This time of patience could be a testing period and He will reveal Himself through and throughout this period of my life.
-H Geneva
1. Jesus walks on water.
2. Jesus walks on the water to show more of his Godhood- He performs a miracle
3. They learn that Jesus is all-powerful and even in control of the waves and the wind- over all of nature.
4. God is in control of everything.
5. It applies to me right now because I am easily stressed out and overwhelmed with how much homework and regular work I have. It is stressful and sometimes my life feels like that chaotic storm. I need to trust that Jesus can calm that storm in my life.
Jesus goes on to the mountain to pray and tells his disciples to go on. When he is done praying, he walks on water to meet them where they were, for they had sailed on without him. He did this to further prove to his disciples his power and testify to the fact that he was the Messiah. The people of Galilee also realize his power, knowing that his disciples had gone before him and there were no boats left for him, and that he must have crossed another way (supernaturally). Jesus is powerful over everything and he is in control over anything in creation. This passage reminds me that God is in control and I am not. He can calm the storms in my life when I cannot. So I need to look to him in those times of storm and trouble in my life.
Jesus walked on the sea and came near the boat. Jesus wants the others to see and know that he is wholly other—set apart. Others learned, as I learn and witness, that Jesus has power to command the wind and waves to stop. By walking on water, I see that he defies the laws of the earth. No mere human (without the power of Jesus) could walk on water. There are so many seemingly impossible obstacles in my life, but they are no problem for God.
I love seeing the calm and assurance Jesus give his disciples. We can be comforted because he is all powerful. It is instances like these though that make me wonder what in the world it be like to spend time with Jesus on earth. How would I even react to the Godman?
1. He walks on top of a stormy water and walks towards the terrified disciples.
2. Because he had a greater plan in store, to subside the storm completely and make peace and beauty out of it, to show his great power and strength.
3. That he could calm the storm
4. That no matter what Jesus is there, no matter how terrible something may be, God is going to be there and he will comfort me and protect me.
5. That amid all the ciaos, uncertainty, and expectations He is with me