Jesus Walking on Water

Biblical Accounts

The event is recorded in Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, and John 6:16-21; it does not appear in Luke. All three Gospels place it immediately after the miracle of the feeding of the five thousand.

Jesus has the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he goes up alone onto a mountain to pray. The disciples struggle through the night against a contrary wind and the waves, and in "the fourth watch of the night" Jesus comes to them, walking on the sea. The fourth watch is the last of the four divisions of the night, roughly from 3:00 to 6:00 a.m. Thinking that Jesus is a spirit, the disciples cry out, and Jesus says, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid" (Matthew 14:27).

Each Gospel emphasizes different details.

• Matthew: At Jesus' call, Peter walks on the water, but when he sees the wind he becomes afraid and begins to sink. Jesus catches him and says, "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" Those in the boat worship Jesus, confessing, "Of a truth thou art the Son of God."
• Mark: Mark notes that Jesus "would have passed by them." The account closes with the remark that the disciples had not understood the miracle of the loaves, for their heart was hardened.
• John: John records that when the disciples were willing to receive Jesus into the boat, the boat immediately reached its destination.

Background

The Sea of Galilee is a low-lying lake surrounded by hills and is known for sudden winds and rough waves. Mark states that the disciples set out toward Bethsaida and landed at Gennesaret, while John says they were heading toward Capernaum.

Jesus' words "it is I" render the Greek egō eimi ("I am"). The Septuagint uses this expression in Exodus 3:14, where God reveals himself.

Significance in the Wider Biblical Context

The Old Testament attributes mastery over the sea and walking upon the waters to God alone. Job 9:8 describes God as one who "treadeth upon the waves of the sea," and Psalm 77:19 says, "Thy way is in the sea." Many interpreters read this event as revealing that Jesus possesses divine power. Mark's phrase "would have passed by" is sometimes interpreted in connection with Exodus 33-34, where God "passed by" before Moses. In John, this event is often counted among the seven signs of the Gospel of John and is also read in connection with the "I am" sayings.

Interpretation and Points of Debate

• Most Korean denominations accept this event as a miracle that actually occurred. Some scholars argue that the Greek expression translated "on the sea" could also be read as "by the sea," and they contend that Jesus was walking along the shore, or else they interpret the story symbolically. Conservative interpreters counter that, given the flow of the narrative, such readings leave the disciples' alarm unexplained.
• Sermons commonly explain that Peter sank because he "took his eyes off Jesus." The text itself states only that Peter "saw the wind boisterous" and "was afraid." Further explanations are interpretive applications.
• This event is distinct from the calming of the storm, in which Jesus, who had been asleep in the boat, rebuked the wind.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, this passage is frequently used in sermons on fear, faith, and doubt. The scene of Peter in Matthew in particular is often cited at retreats and youth gatherings, with the application "Look to the Lord, not to your circumstances."