“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” (Matthew 14:28)
The story of Peter walking on water is found in the New Testament of the Bible, specifically in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 14, verses 22-33. Here's a brief summary of the story:
One evening, after Jesus had fed a large crowd with just five loaves of bread and two fish, he sent his disciples ahead of him in a boat while he went up the mountain to pray. During the night, the disciples' boat was battered by waves, and they were struggling against the wind. In the early hours of the morning, Jesus came to them, walking on the water. Seeing him, the disciples were frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost. Jesus reassured them, saying, "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."
Peter, one of the disciples, responded by saying, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water." Jesus invited Peter to come, and Peter stepped out of the boat and began walking on the water toward Jesus. However, when Peter noticed the strong wind, he became afraid and began to sink. He cried out to Jesus for help, and Jesus immediately reached out, caught him, and said, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"
Bible Text of Peter Walking on Water
Read the full Bible account of Jesus and Peter walking on water from Matthew 14:22-33,
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.
And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid." And Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.
But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, "Lord, save me." Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God."
Moral Lessons from Peter Walking and Sinking
The moral significance of this story for Christians today is often seen as a lesson about faith and trust in Jesus, especially during challenging times. Here are some key lessons and moral points that Christians may draw from this story:
Faith in Christ: Peter's initial ability to walk on water came from his faith in Jesus' command. Christians are encouraged to have faith in Christ and trust in his guidance, even in the face of difficulties.
Overcoming Fear: When Peter focused on the storm rather than on Jesus, he became afraid and started to sink. The story encourages believers to keep their focus on Christ and not be overcome by fear, doubt, or life's challenges.
Immediate Help: When Peter began to sink, he immediately called out to Jesus, who promptly reached out and rescued him. The story underscores the idea that even in moments of doubt, Jesus is there to provide help and support.
Faith and Doubt: Jesus' remark, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" highlights the tension between faith and doubt. It encourages believers to strengthen their faith and resist doubt, recognizing that faith is a powerful force in overcoming challenges.
Overall, the story of Peter walking on water serves as a metaphor for the Christian journey, emphasizing the importance of faith, trust, and keeping one's focus on Jesus, especially in the midst of life's storms.
Significance of Peter on the Water
Peter was willing to put it all on the line. He and the other disciples had been straining against the waves and wind all night long when Jesus appeared to them, walking on the water. Wanting to prove his courage to Jesus, he made an amazing statement: “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water” (Matthew 14:28). These were rough seas, and Peter was willing to literally step onto them because He was looking at Jesus. That gave him confidence and courage.
It went well for a while until Peter started to sink. And why did he sink? Because he took his eyes off Jesus and put them on other things. The Bible tells us, “When he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid” (verse 30).
Circumstances can be frightening. When your boss calls you in and tells you the company has to downsize, and they are letting you go, when the doctor calls you with the test results that are not good, when you open that letter from an attorney that says you are being sued, it can scare you. It can devastate you. And it can cause you to take your eyes off Jesus.
Where fear reigns, faith is driven away. But where faith reigns, fear has no place. Faith and fear don’t mix. As you bring in faith, fear will walk out the back door. But if you invite fear as a resident in your life, then you will drive faith away.
Peter had faith. He had his eyes on Jesus. He was doing the impossible. But then he started to sink because he took his eyes off Jesus. In his case, he looked at the wind. In our case, it might be something else. But when we forget God, we will start to sink.
Taken from “No Place for Fear” by Harvest Ministries (used by permission).
Photo by Kevin Krejci on Flickr
This article is part of our Bible resource for understanding the significance and meaning of biblical phrases and ideas. Here are our most popular Bible articles to grow in your knowledge of God's Word:
Promises of God in the Bible
Is "This Too Shall Pass" in the Bible?
What Was the Ark of the Covenant?
Top 10 Bible Stories for Kids
“Iron Sharpens Iron” in Proverbs 27:17
"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made" in Psalm 139
“Be Still and Know That I am God” in Psalm 46:10
"No Weapon Formed Against Me Shall Prosper" - Isaiah 54:17
