Bible Story - Jesus Walks On Water

Welcome to another episode of Faithfulfable. In today's story, we will be sharing with you the Bible story of Jesus Walks On Water, where we'll discover how Jesus, while his disciples were in a boat on a stormy sea, showed his incredible power by walking on the water towards them and helping his friend Peter do the same.

Jesus Walks on Water: When the Impossible Happened

Chapter 1: A Long Day and a Dark Night

The sun had been shining brightly all day long, warming the hills around the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had been teaching a huge crowd of people, telling them wonderful stories about God's love and healing those who were sick. The disciples, Jesus' closest friends, had been helping Him, making sure everyone had enough space to hear and even finding some food when people got hungry. It had been a very busy and tiring day for everyone.

As the sun began to dip down below the horizon, painting the sky with beautiful colours of orange, pink, and purple, Jesus told His disciples, "It's time for you to go ahead of Me to the other side of the lake." He wanted them to sail their boat to the town of Bethsaida while He stayed behind to say goodbye to the large crowd.

So, the disciples climbed into their fishing boat. Most of them were fishermen by trade, so they knew how to handle a boat even when the waters got a little rough. They pushed off from the shore, waving goodbye to Jesus as they started their journey across the Sea of Galilee.

As the darkness of night began to settle in, the disciples were quite a way out on the lake. The stars were starting to twinkle in the sky, and the moon cast a silvery glow on the water. For a while, the sailing was smooth, and the gentle rocking of the boat might have even made some of them feel a little sleepy.

But then, something unexpected happened. The weather suddenly changed! A strong wind started to blow, and the calm water of the Sea of Galilee began to get choppy. Soon, big waves were crashing against the sides of the boat, splashing water over the disciples. The wind howled loudly, making it hard for them to hear each other.

The little boat was being tossed around by the waves like a toy in a bathtub. The disciples, even the experienced fishermen among them, were getting scared. They worked hard to steer the boat and keep it from being swamped by the water. They pulled on the oars with all their might, trying to row against the strong wind, but it felt like they were hardly moving at all. The night was dark, the storm was fierce, and they felt very far from land and all alone.

Chapter 2: A Strange Sight on the Water

The disciples kept fighting against the storm for what felt like a very long time. The wind and the waves just didn't seem to want to let them pass. They were tired, wet, and more than a little bit afraid. They probably wondered where Jesus was and wished He was there with them to calm the storm, just like He had done before.

In the darkest part of the night, when the storm was probably at its worst, the disciples suddenly saw something strange. Through the darkness and the spray of the waves, they saw a figure walking towards them on the water! Can you imagine how surprised and scared they must have been? Walking on water seemed completely impossible!

At first, they couldn't really see who or what it was. The figure looked like a shadow moving across the stormy lake. Because it was so unexpected and seemed to defy all the rules of nature, they thought it must be a ghost! They were terrified and cried out in fear. "It's a ghost!" one of them probably shouted over the roar of the wind and waves. Their hearts were pounding in their chests, and they didn't know what to do.

But then, a familiar voice called out to them from the darkness. "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." It was Jesus! Can you imagine their relief when they heard His voice? The person walking on the water towards them was their dear friend and teacher, Jesus. Even though it was still a very strange and amazing sight, hearing His voice calmed their fears a little bit.

Chapter 3: Peter Takes a Brave Step (and a Wobbly One!)

When the disciples realized it was Jesus walking towards them on the stormy water, they were still amazed. Peter, who was often very brave and spoke his mind, called out to Jesus, "Lord, if it's really You, tell me to come to You on the water."

Jesus looked at Peter and simply said, "Come."

Without hesitating, Peter climbed out of the boat and onto the top of the water! Can you believe it? For a moment, he was actually walking on the waves, just like Jesus! He took a few steps, his eyes fixed on Jesus, and it must have felt like a dream. The other disciples watched from the boat, their eyes wide with wonder and maybe a little bit of disbelief.

But then, Peter looked down at the waves crashing around him. He felt the strong wind blowing against his face. Suddenly, he became afraid. He thought about how impossible it was to walk on water, and he started to doubt. As soon as he took his eyes off Jesus and focused on the stormy conditions around him, he began to sink!

"Lord, save me!" Peter cried out, his voice full of panic as he felt himself going under the water. He was probably splashing and struggling, feeling the cold water closing over his head.

Chapter 4: Jesus Reaches Out

Immediately, as soon as Peter cried for help, Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. Jesus didn't say, "Oh, Peter, you should have had more faith!" Instead, He lovingly took hold of Peter's hand and pulled him up out of the water.

"You of little faith," Jesus said gently, "why did you doubt?" - Matthew 14:31

Together, Jesus and Peter walked back towards the boat, with the waves still crashing around them. As soon as they both climbed back into the boat, something amazing happened. The wind stopped blowing, and the sea became calm again. It was as if the storm had listened to Jesus and decided to take a rest.

The disciples who were still in the boat were completely astonished. They had seen Jesus walk on water, and they had even seen Peter do it for a little while! And now, the storm had calmed down as soon as Jesus got into their boat. They were filled with awe and wonder at the power of Jesus.

Chapter 5: A Special Kind of Friend

The disciples looked at Jesus with deep respect and amazement. They had seen Him do many incredible things before – healing the sick, feeding thousands of people with just a little bit of food, and teaching with such wisdom. But walking on water and calming a storm was something truly extraordinary.

In that moment, the disciples knew in their hearts that Jesus was more than just a good teacher or a special man. They bowed down before Him in the boat and said, "Truly You are the Son of God!" They recognized that Jesus had power over nature, over storms, and even over things that seemed impossible.

They continued their journey across the Sea of Galilee, but now their hearts were filled with even more faith and trust in Jesus. They had learned a very important lesson that night: even when things seem scary and impossible, if they kept their eyes on Jesus and trusted in Him, He would be there to help them.

What Can We Learn from This Story?

1️⃣ Trust Jesus Even When Things Are Scary: The disciples were in a terrible storm and were very afraid. But Jesus came to them and calmed their fears. We can learn to trust Jesus even when we face difficult or scary situations in our lives. He is always there to help us.

2️⃣ Have Faith, Even If It's Small: Peter showed great faith by stepping out of the boat and walking on the water. But when he doubted, he started to sink. We might not always have big faith, but even a little bit of faith in Jesus can help us do amazing things. And when we feel our faith wavering, we can always ask Jesus for help.

3️⃣ Jesus Has Power Over Everything: This story shows us that Jesus has power over nature, even over strong winds and big waves. This reminds us that nothing is too difficult for Jesus. He is truly powerful and can help us with anything we face.

4️⃣ Keep Your Eyes on Jesus: Peter started to sink when he took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the storm around him. When we focus on Jesus and trust in Him, we can overcome our fears and challenges. But if we focus on our problems instead of Jesus, we might feel like we are sinking.

Discussion Questions:

• Have you ever been afraid of something? How did you feel? What helped you feel better? (This helps children connect with the disciples' fear.)
• Why do you think Peter started to sink when he was walking on the water? What could he have done differently? (This encourages them to think about the importance of faith.)
• What are some "storms" or difficult times we might face in our lives? How can we trust Jesus to help us through them? (This helps them apply the lesson to their own lives.)

Bible Verses to Remember

• “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” —Matthew 14:27 (Jesus' comforting words to His disciples.)
• “‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’” —Matthew 14:31 (Jesus' gentle question to Peter.)
• “The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” —Psalm 28:7 (A verse that talks about trusting in God.)

Activity: Apply the Lesson!

1️⃣ "Walking on Water" Experiment: You can try a fun science experiment to understand why things float or sink. Fill a bowl with water and try putting different objects in it (like a small toy boat, a leaf, a stone). Talk about why some things float and others sink. This can help them think about how amazing it was that Jesus and Peter could walk on water!

2️⃣ Make a "Stormy Sea" in a Bottle: You can create a visual representation of the storm the disciples faced. Fill a clear plastic bottle about three-quarters full with water. Add a few drops of blue food coloring and some glitter to represent the waves. Seal the lid tightly. Now, when you shake the bottle, you can see a "stormy sea" inside! This can help them imagine what it might have been like for the disciples in their little boat.

3️⃣ Draw a Picture of Jesus Saving Peter: Get some paper and crayons or markers and draw a picture of the moment when Peter started to sink and Jesus reached out His hand to save him. You can draw the stormy waves, the boat in the background, and the expressions on their faces. This helps them visualize this important part of the story.

4️⃣ Practice Trusting: Think about a small thing you might be a little bit scared to do, like trying a new food or talking to someone new. Ask Jesus to help you be brave and trust that everything will be okay. Talk to a grown-up about how you felt afterward. This helps them practice trusting in Jesus in their own lives.

5️⃣ Learn a Song About Jesus: Find a simple song about Jesus that talks about His power and love. Singing together can be a fun way to remember the story and the lessons it teaches us.

My Final Thoughts

The disciples' experience on the stormy sea served as a powerful lesson in faith. Just like the story of Tabitha, who was brought back to life by Peter's faith, and just as the walls of Jericho fell by the Israelites' faith, this story shows us that when we keep our eyes on Jesus, He gives us the strength to walk through any storm.

Thank you for listening, dear ones. Sleep well tonight, and may your dreams be filled with the gentle lapping of peaceful waters and the steadfast presence of Jesus by your side.

For more Bible stories, see Elijah's incredible journey or how a young boy named David defeated a giant in David and Goliath.