[MYM] 28.0 Yeshua Walks on the Water

This event occurs immediately after the Feeding of the Five Thousand (Matthew 14:13–21; Mark 6:30–44; John 6:1–14), one of Yeshua’s most public and powerful miracles. The crowd, astonished by the miraculous meal, sought to make Yeshua their king by force (John 6:15), misunderstanding His mission as a political deliverer rather than the spiritual Messiah.

To avoid this misguided enthusiasm and to give His disciples time away from the crowd, Yeshua compelled His disciples to get into a boat and cross to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, toward Bethsaida or Capernaum (Matthew 14:22; Mark 6:45). He then withdrew to the mountain alone to pray. This deliberate separation underscores His dependence on the Father and His desire to prevent the disciples from being swept up in the crowd’s political excitement.

Night fell, and the disciples were now several miles from shore, battling strong winds and rough waves. Meanwhile, Yeshua remained alone in prayer, interceding for them — a beautiful image of His ongoing mediation for His followers.

As the night deepened, a fierce storm arose. The disciples rowed hard against the wind, making little progress. Mark notes that Yeshua saw them “straining at the oars” (Mark 6:48), even though it was dark — a subtle reminder of His divine awareness.

Between 3 and 6 a.m., in the “fourth watch of the night,” Yeshua came toward them walking on the sea (Matthew 14:25). The disciples, terrified, thought they were seeing a ghost and cried out in fear. Immediately, Yeshua spoke to them: “Take courage! It is I; do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27). His words, echoing the divine name “I AM,” reveal His divine identity — the One who rules over the waters.

In Matthew’s account, Peter responds, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Yeshua says, “Come.” Peter steps out and walks on the water toward Yeshua, but when he notices the wind and waves, fear overtakes him, and he begins to sink. He cries out, “Lord, save me!” Yeshua immediately reaches out His hand, lifts him up, and gently rebukes him: “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).

When they climbed into the boat, the wind ceased instantly. The disciples were astonished — Mark says they were “utterly amazed,” for they still had not understood the meaning of the loaves (Mark 6:52). In Matthew’s account, the disciples worshipped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:33). John adds that when Yeshua entered the boat, they immediately reached the shore (John 6:21) — another sign of divine power.

This miracle reveals profound spiritual truths about Yeshua and faith:

1. Yeshua’s Divine Authority – Walking on the water demonstrates His supremacy over creation; He is Lord even over chaos and nature.
2. Presence in the Storm – Though physically absent at first, Yeshua never lost sight of His disciples. His approach in the storm symbolizes His saving presence amid life’s troubles.
3. Faith vs. Fear – Peter’s brief walk illustrates the victory of faith and the peril of doubt. Fixing one’s eyes on Yeshua brings stability; focusing on the storm brings fear.
4. Dependence on Prayer – Yeshua’s time alone with the Father underscores the necessity of spiritual communion before engaging in ministry.
5. Revelation of Yeshua’s Identity – The disciples’ worship marks a turning point in recognizing Him as the Son of God, not just a teacher or miracle-worker.

In essence, this event shows that Yeshua meets His followers in their storms, bringing peace and revealing His divine power. When faith wavers, His outstretched hand still saves, and His presence turns fear into worship.