is believing what you can’t see
because of what you can see.
PETER WALKS
ON WATER
Bible Reading: Matthew 14:22-33 (Matthew 14:13-21 supporting)
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MEMORY VERSE | “Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is
being certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 (NIrV)
The disciples had experienced some amazing
things while following Jesus. But today had been
beyond anything they’d seen so far. Peter laughed
as they rowed the boat farther away from the
shore. “The look on your face, Philip! When He
told us to feed everyone.”
“It would have taken half a year’s wages to buy bread!” Philip
protested. “What did we have—five thousand men, and who knows
how many women and children?”
Peter’s brother Andrew grinned. “Especially when we were starting out with
two tiny loaves of bread and five small fish!”
“It true,” Peter agreed. “At first, I was afraid we’d look like fools. But we’ve seen
what God can do!”
“We sure have,” Andrew laughed. “He turned that kid’s lunch into a regular
buffet!”
“Wish we could hang out a little and enjoy the success,” Philip added. “Build
a campfire. Pull out the old harp and sing a few songs.” His deep voice started
booming, “Kumbaya, my Lord—”
Peter cut him off. “Guys, I think Jesus needed to be alone to pray. Look, He’s
already halfway up the mountainside.”
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“Well, that’s fine,” Philip shrugged. “But I don’t see why He wants us to cross the
sea tonight without Him.”
“He’s always got a reason,” Peter noted. “We should get moving.”
Dark clouds were gathering on the horizon as the disciples rowed across the Sea of
Galilee. Soon, the wind picked up.
“We need more men on the oars!” Peter called over the sound of the waves.
“But Peter,” Andrew cried. “We’re all rowing already.”
Philip’s deep voice began a round of “Row, row, row your boat, ” but everyone
quickly shouted him down.
The waves rose around them and began to crash across the deck of their boat.
Peter squinted into the dim light. “Is that the shore ahead?”
Dark clouds were gathering
on the horizon as the
disciples rowed. . . .
Andrew shook his head. “Can’t be. We’re still smack in the middle of the sea.
Haven’t made headway for an hour.”
“Well, I see something!” Peter shouted. He wiped the salt spray from his eyes
and blinked. Soon, he could make out the figure of a Person. “It’s someone!”
Philip nearly dropped his oar. “A ghost!”
But a clear voice rang out over the storm as the figure approached. “Be brave! It
is I. Don’t be afraid.”
Peter gasped. “It’s Jesus!”
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“But, He was on the mountain,” Philip protested. “How do we know it’s not a
ghost?”
Peter stood as tall as he could while the wind whipped at his soaking clothes. He
stared into the darkness. It certainly looked like Jesus! “Lord, is it you?” Peter asked.
“If it is, tell me to come to you on the water.”
Jesus held out a hand. “Come!”
Adrenaline pumping, Peter scrambled to the very edge of the boat, as the
others clambered for him to stop. “Peter, what are you doing?” they cried. “You
could drown!”
Jesus held out a hand.
“Come!”
Peter’s mind raced. It seemed crazy. But he had seen Jesus do impossible
things. Swallowing his fears, Peter plunged over the side of the boat! Philip and
Andrew staggered toward the edge, ready for a rescue mission. But instead of
sinking, Peter was standing on the surface of the water, rolling with the motion of
the waves! The others could only stare in amazement.
Fixing his eyes firmly on Jesus, Peter took a tentative step. The water held! He
picked up speed as he gained confidence.
His friends watched from the boat, white-knuckled. “On your left, man!”
bellowed Philip. “Big wave! Huge!”
For a split second, Peter’s gaze leapt from Jesus to the wind. The wind whipped
the water into a towering wall. In that moment, Peter’s heart sank—and so did his
body. The wave sucked him in, threatening to drown him.
He cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately, Jesus reached out and pulled Peter from the water. “Your faith is so
small! . . . Why did you doubt me?”
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Peter could only gasp and cough up seawater as Jesus helped Peter climb
back inside the boat. Immediately the wind died down. The sea became calm.
The other disciples stared at Jesus in awe and amazement. Not only could He
walk on water, He had just stilled a massive windstorm!
“You really are the Son of God!” gasped Andrew.
With Jesus onboard, the disciples continued rowing to the other side of the sea.
Peter watched as his oar cut through the water, still amazed he had walked on its
surface in the middle of a windstorm. It was only recalling the incredible things
God had already done that had given him courage to face his fears and step out
of the boat.
Let's Talk
Okay, so God probably has not helped you walk on water! But we
experience things that God is doing for us every day—and a lot
of the time we don’t even realize it. Can you think of a time in your
life when God helped you through something difficult? Share the
story. Together, talk about how remembering those experiences
can help you be brave next time you’re scared.
Kids, tell God about some of the fears you are currently facing,
and ask Him to help you be brave.
Parents, pray for your kids and ask God to bring to their minds all
the things He has done as they drift off to sleep.
Then, together thank God for all the the ways He has worked in
your lives so that when you are afraid, you can have the courage
to face your fears knowing our BIG God is by your side.
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL READER’S VERSION™ Copyright © 1995, 1996,
1998 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
©2013 The reThink Group, Inc. All rights reserved.