Out of the Boat

The Story

After feeding the five thousand, Jesus sent His disciples ahead across the Sea of Galilee while He went up a mountain alone to pray. During the night, the wind turned against them. For hours the disciples fought the waves, getting nowhere.

Sometime before dawn, they saw a figure walking toward them on top of the water. They were terrified. “It is a spirit,” they cried out.

Then they heard His voice. “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”

Peter called back, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” Jesus answered with one word: “Come.”

Peter climbed over the side of the boat and put his feet on the water, and it held. He walked toward Jesus on the waves.

But then he noticed the wind. He looked at the waves instead of at Jesus, and he got scared, and he began to sink. “Lord, save me!” he shouted.

Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. “O thou of little faith,” He said, “wherefore didst thou doubt?” They climbed into the boat together, and the wind stopped. The disciples fell down and worshiped Him. “Of a truth thou art the Son of God.”

Reflection