The Way
The One Who Comes Over the Water
On a windy night, he comes walking on the water
Story
After sending the crowd away, Jesus put his disciples into the boat to go ahead of him to the other side, and he went up the mountain alone to pray. As the night deepened, a headwind rose. For hours the disciples rowed in the dark, but in the middle of the lake the boat was tossed this way and that by the waves. The arms gripping the oars grew heavier and heavier.
In the fourth watch of the night, while the sky was still pitch black, someone was walking on the water toward the boat. When the disciples saw him, they cried out in terror that it was a ghost. Through the noise of the wind came a familiar voice. Take heart. It is I. Do not be afraid. Peter called out. Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water. Jesus said, come.
Peter climbed out of the boat and walked a few steps on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind, fear swept over him, and he began to sink. Lord, save me. At once Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. You of little faith, why did you doubt? When the two of them climbed into the boat, the wind died down. The disciples fell down before him. Truly you are the Son of God.
Walk this scene on the map →His Words
Take courage. It is I. There is nothing to fear.
Come.
You of little faith, why did you doubt?
You really are the Son of God.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Mt 14:22–33 · Mk 6:45–52 · Jn 6:16–21
Background
In the Roman division of the night, the fourth watch ran from about three to six in the morning. John writes that the disciples saw Jesus after they had rowed twenty-five or thirty stadia, roughly five or six kilometers.
Pause and Reflect
When I am sinking in fear, whose hand do I hold on to?