by Dr. Larry Ollison, Ph.D. 

        
In Matthew 14, Jesus fed 5,000 men and their families from five loaves and two fish. After this was accomplished, Jesus made His disciples get into a boat and go to the other side of the sea while He sent the large group of 5,000 families away. After He sent the multitude away, Jesus went up on a mountain, by Himself, to pray.

During the fourth watch of the night, which is between 3 am and 6 am, the Bible says that the disciples were in the middle of the sea and the sea was rough. The ship they were in was being tossed about by the tremendous waves and the winds were high. 

In another account of this same story recorded by Mark, the Bible says that Jesus saw them straining at the oars. Here we have a great and often overlooked miracle. The sea was several miles wide. The disciples were in the middle, several miles from Jesus on the mountain. There was a great storm and the waves and winds were contrary. It was between 3 and 6 am. And because of the storm, it was probably extremely dark. Now listen. The Bible says that Jesus, from over 2 miles away under those conditions, saw the disciples rowing the boat. Now that’s a miracle! 

Well anyway, Jesus went walking on the water. According to Mark 6:48, Jesus would have walked past the disciples. Evidently He was going to the other side of the lake. But when the disciples saw Jesus walking on the sea, they became afraid. They were so afraid that they were screaming out in fear. They thought they had seen a phantom or a ghost. They were, as the Bible says, “greatly troubled.”

When they cried out in fear, immediately Jesus spoke to them. He said, “Be of good cheer, it is I. Be not afraid.” Then Peter answered Jesus and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” What else could Jesus say? So, He said, “Come.”

Peter climbed down out of the boat and stepped on the water. Then, he headed toward Jesus, walking on the water himself.

Everything seemed to be fine. Jesus was standing on the water. Peter was walking on the water toward Jesus. Then, Peter began to look around. He saw that the wind and waves were still raging and he began to sink. The Bible says we are to walk by faith and not by what we see, but Peter was trying to do both. It didn’t work. He began to sink. 

Peter, however, had enough presence of mind to cry out to Jesus and say, “Lord, save me.” When he cried for help, Matthew 14:31 says that immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him. Jesus looked at Peter and said, “O you of little faith. Why did you doubt?”

Here we have an insight into the nature of Jesus. He said that Peter had little faith. But even though Peter had little faith, when he began to sink, Jesus immediately stretched out His hand and caught him.

Peter and Jesus then got into the boat and another great and often overlooked miracle occurred. As they entered the boat, John 6:21 says that they and the boat were instantly on the shore and the sea was calm. Remember, that was two miles away.