Jesus walks across a lake

This story follows on immediately from that amazing picnic in the desert that Jesus hosted. One of the other accounts tells us that afterwards, the crowds wanted to make Jesus their king. That would have caused a lot of trouble with the Romans who controlled them! So Jesus went off into the hills by himself to pray and to rest, after telling his friends to get into the boat and cross the lake or ‘Sea of Galilee’ as we call it.

A fierce storm is coming

Several hours of the night passed – he was praying, and they were struggling with one of the sudden storms for which that lake is known. And then, to their amazement, they saw Jesus coming towards them, walking on the water, overcoming the storm and the waves. It is not at all surprising that they were filled with terror – and thought he was a ghost!

Peter, always the risk-taker

But Peter, always the risk-taker, said, ‘Jesus, if it really is you, can I come and join you on the water?’

Jesus said, ‘Come’. And Peter went – for a few steps.

Then he realized what he was doing. He had sudden panic and started to sink. But he had the common sense to call out, ‘Save me!’

And of course, Jesus is the Saviour or rescuer. Immediately, he gripped Peter, challenged him for his doubts, and put him in the boat.

This completely amazed them. They worshipped him, saying, ‘You really are the Son of God.’

An incredible thing had become reality: the living God, in the person of Jesus, had come to rescue humans. He could protect them in any storm – but only if they trusted him. He still can!

It’s not surprising that this is how the story ends: ‘When they had pulled their boats onto the beach, they left everything and followed him’. Yes, ordinary people still do.