In today’s gospel reading, Jesus sends his disciples ahead in a boat while he goes up a mountain alone to pray. A storm comes up on the lake, and during the night Jesus comes toward them walking on the water. Peter asks to come to him on the water, starts to sink when he notices the wind, and Jesus reaches out and catches him. Discover more here.
Overview of Matthew 14:22-
In Matthew 14:22-33, Jesus makes the disciples get into a boat and go ahead of him while he dismisses the crowd and prays alone on the mountain. Later that night he walks out to the boat on the water; the disciples are afraid and think he is a ghost, but Jesus tells them, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” Peter walks toward him on the water until fear makes him start to sink, and Jesus catches him. When they climb into the boat the wind dies down, and the disciples worship Jesus as the Son of God. More tips and tricks can be found here.
Background
This event happens right after Jesus feeds five thousand people with five loaves and two fish. He sends the disciples on ahead by boat and dismisses the crowd so he can pray alone. The boat is already far from shore, fighting wind and waves, when Jesus comes to them early the next morning, walking on the sea.
Main Points
In today’s gospel lesson, we read about Jesus walking on the water to reach his disciples during a storm, and inviting Peter to walk out to him. This story is a reminder that Jesus has power over the storms in our lives, and that he reaches out to catch us the moment we call to him in fear.
Jesus walks on water
In Matthew 14:22-33, Jesus walks on the water toward the disciples’ boat during a storm. When they see him, they are terrified and think he is a ghost, until he calls out, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” This is an example of Jesus’ power over creation.
Peter’s faith and doubt
In Sunday School, we studied the passage from Matthew 14:22-33. In this passage, Peter asks Jesus, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” Jesus says, “Come,” and Peter climbs out of the boat and walks toward him. But when Peter notices the strength of the wind, he is afraid and begins to sink, crying out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reaches out, takes hold of him, and asks, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
This passage is a great example of how Jesus is always with his disciples, even when their faith wavers. He does not wait for Peter to swim back on his own — he reaches out immediately.
Summary of the main points
In today’s Sunday School lesson, we looked at the story of Matthew 14:22-33. In this passage, the disciples are in a boat fighting a storm when Jesus comes to them walking on the water. He tells them, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” Peter walks out to him, begins to sink in fear, and Jesus catches him. When they climb back into the boat, the wind dies down, and the disciples worship Jesus, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!” This story teaches us that Jesus meets us in our fear and doubt, not only in our courage.
Final thoughts and reflections
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus comes to his frightened disciples across the water and calms both the storm and their fear. As we reflect on this passage, it is worth remembering that Jesus reached for Peter the moment Peter cried out, doubt and all. He is not a God who waits for us to prove our courage before he helps us.