Did Jesus Really Walk on Water? The Physics-Defying Proof of Divinity
🌊 When the Laws of Nature Bow Down: The Fourth Watch Miracle ✨
Have you ever been so exhausted that you started seeing things?
Imagine rowing a heavy wooden boat for nine hours straight. Your muscles are burning. The wind is screaming in your ears. The waves are crashing over the bow, and you are no closer to the shore than you were when you started.
This was the reality for the disciples in Matthew 14. They were stuck in the middle of the Sea of Galilee at 3:00 AM (the “fourth watch”). They were terrified, wet, and hopeless.
Then, they looked out into the darkness and saw a figure gliding over the whitecaps. They didn’t shout “Hallelujah!”; they screamed in terror, thinking it was a ghost.
Did Jesus really walk on water?
Yes. And He did it for a reason far bigger than showing off. He was reenacting an ancient prophecy that only God could fulfill. This wasn’t just a rescue mission; it was a revelation that the Man in the storm was the Master of the Universe.
Part I: The Theology of the Stroll 📜
“Who Treads on the Waves” 👣
To a modern reader, walking on water looks like a superhero power. To a Jewish reader, it looked like a scripture verse.
Job 9:8 describes God alone as the One:
“Which alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea.”
By walking on the sea, Jesus wasn’t just defying gravity; He was stepping into the shoes of Yahweh. He was doing what Job said only God could do. He was physically acting out His divinity.
The “I AM” in the Storm 🗣️
When the disciples screamed, Jesus answered immediately:
“Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” —Matthew 14:27 (KJV)
In Greek, the phrase “It is I” is Ego Eimi. It literally translates to “I AM.” This is the divine name of God (Exodus 3:14). Jesus didn’t just identify Himself; He declared His nature. The reason they shouldn’t fear the storm is that the “I AM”—the Self-Existent One—was standing on top of it.
For more on Jesus’ claims to be God, read 5 Bold Biblical Claims That Prove Jesus Is Truly God.
Part II: Peter’s Audacious Faith ⚓
The Only Man to Walk with God 🚶
Peter gets a bad reputation for sinking, but he is the only human in history to walk on water without divine powers of his own.
“And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” —Matthew 14:29 (KJV)
Peter didn’t sink because of the waves; he sank because of his focus.
- As long as he looked at the Solution (Jesus), he defied physics.
- The moment he looked at the Problem (the wind), gravity took over.
This teaches us that faith is not a feeling; it is a focal point.
For more on overcoming fear in the storm, read The Lord Is With Me: How to Overcome the Fear of Man.
Part III: 3 Common Misconceptions About Walking on Water 💡
Misconception 1: It was a sandbar.
- Correction: Skeptics argue Jesus was walking on a hidden sandbar or shallow surf. However, the text says the boat was “in the midst of the sea” (several miles out) and the water was deep enough for Peter to sink and drown. A sandbar doesn’t work in the middle of the Sea of Galilee during a storm.
Misconception 2: Peter failed.
- Correction: Peter is often criticized for his “little faith.” But there were 11 other disciples who didn’t even get out of the boat. Peter had the courage to step into the impossible. His “failure” was a greater success than their safety.
Misconception 3: It’s just a metaphor.
- Correction: The Gospels present this as historical narrative. The reaction of the disciples—worshipping Him and confessing, “Of a truth thou art the Son of God” (v. 33)—only makes sense if a literal miracle occurred. They worshipped Him because physics was broken.
Conclusion: The Storm is Your Floor 🌟
Why did Jesus walk on water? To show you that the very thing you fear is merely a staircase for Him to reach you.
The waves that were threatening to kill the disciples were the pavement for Jesus. He didn’t make the storm disappear instantly; He joined them in it.
If you are in the “fourth watch” of the night—exhausted, scared, and fighting a headwind—look up. The ghost you fear might be the Savior you need.
Reflection: Are you staring at the wind, or are you looking for the One who treads on the waves?
For Further Study
