Walking on Water

It had been a long, amazing day. Jesus had fed five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. After the crowd went home, he sent his disciples ahead of him in a boat across the Sea of Galilee.

Then Jesus went up the hillside alone to pray. He liked to talk with God quietly, just the two of them.

Night fell. The disciples were out on the water when a strong wind began to blow. The waves grew tall and choppy. The little boat rocked and tilted. The disciples held on tight, rowing as hard as they could, but they weren’t going anywhere. They were scared.

Then, in the darkest part of the night — somewhere between three and six in the morning — they saw something extraordinary.

A figure was walking toward them on top of the water.

They screamed. “It’s a ghost!”

“Don’t be afraid,” the figure called out through the wind. “It’s me — Jesus! Take courage!”

Peter, who was always the brave and impulsive one, shouted back: “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you on the water!”

“Come,” said Jesus.

So Peter climbed out of the boat. And he walked on the water! One step, then another, his eyes locked on Jesus. It was working!

But then Peter looked down at the huge waves crashing around his feet. He felt the wind howling in his ears. His faith wobbled — and he began to sink.

“Lord, save me!” he cried.

Instantly, Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.

“Why did you doubt?” Jesus asked gently.

When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. The disciples stared at Jesus in amazement and said: “Truly, you are the Son of God.”

Sometimes we are like Peter — brave for a moment, then frightened when we look at how big the waves are. The good news is that Jesus’ hand is always there, ready to catch us.