If Jesus walked on water, why does physics say this is impossible without external forces?

I. Scriptural Account of Jesus Walking on Water

One of the most direct records of Jesus walking on water appears in Matthew's Gospel. “And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea” (Matthew 14:25). This event takes place following the feeding of the five thousand, as Jesus approaches His disciples who are in a boat buffeted by wind and waves. Notably, the disciples' immediate reaction is fear and the assumption that they are seeing a ghost (Matthew 14:26). The text then highlights how He speaks to reassure them, saying, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).

II. The Scientific Impossibility Under Normal Conditions

Physicists generally contend that water’s surface tension is insufficient to hold the weight of an adult human. Laboratory experiments with fluids reveal that no human can displace so little water as to remain buoyant solely by an unassisted step. Because of density and gravitational forces, one naturally sinks unless some external factor—like a flotation device, surface modification, or running so rapidly on highly viscous fluids—comes into play.

However, the biblical narrative offers no indication of artificially altered water, hidden supports, or illusions. It straightforwardly describes an act defying natural limitations. Such defiance of recognized physical law understandably stimulates questions. From that standpoint, the claim that Jesus literally strolled across open water appears impossible without a power outside normal physical constraints.

III. The Supernatural Explanation

Scripture, taken as a cohesive whole, presents God as the Creator of all physical laws (Genesis 1:1) and thus able to override them. When unusual events exceed the capacity of nature alone, the Bible classifies these as miracles. Miracles, by definition, do not submit themselves to ordinary explanations; rather, they highlight divine intervention.

A key point in this instance emerges from the biblical perspective that Jesus is not merely a man but the Incarnate Word (John 1:1–3). This identity undergirds both the possibility and the purpose of miracles in the Gospels. Passing over water casts a direct spotlight on His authority over creation in a manner consistent with God calming the storm (Psalm 107:29), revealing that the same power behind the world’s design can intervene in it.

IV. Historical and Textual Reliability of the Event

The Gospel narratives, when assessed as ancient historical records, offer consistent testimony. Multiple manuscripts—many dating centuries earlier than other classical works—confirm the event. For example, in widely cited manuscripts such as Codex Sinaiticus (fourth century A.D.), the text is preserved with minimal variation, supporting continuity and accuracy in transmission.

Additionally, these accounts appear in contexts that include verifiable geographic references. Matthew’s narrative records the location around the Sea of Galilee (Matthew 14:22–34). Archaeological findings corroborate the names and topography (e.g., the boat remains discovered near the Sea of Galilee in 1986, often called the “Jesus Boat,” show the style of vessels from the New Testament timeline). Such discoveries, while not proving a supernatural event per se, affirm the real-world setting in which the Gospel accounts place the miracle.

V. Philosophical Considerations on Miracles and Reality

Water-walking, seen purely through conventional physics, is impossible. Yet many philosophers have argued that unless one presupposes a closed system with no divine involvement, appealing to laws of nature alone cannot exclude miracles a priori. The question then becomes whether an all-powerful Creator, who established the laws of physics, can momentarily supersede them.

If the cosmos is not a sealed, mechanistic box but open to God’s agency, then miraculous occurrences become feasible. As philosopher-scientists have observed, when the evidence for an event transcends naturalistic explanation, reevaluating presuppositions about God’s involvement is a logically consistent step.

VI. Overarching Biblical Context and Other Miracles

The biblical narrative underscores many miracles, some medical (e.g., instantaneous healings), some climatic (e.g., the parting of the Red Sea), and some involving resurrection (e.g., Jesus rising from the dead). Each demonstration of power operates as a sign to confirm His identity. Walking on water is one layer of that tapestry, focusing on the Creator’s sovereignty over natural forces.

From the standpoint of biblical chronology, these astonishing deeds illustrate God’s consistent interaction with humanity. Events such as the plagues in Egypt (Exodus 7–12) and Elijah’s fiery ascension (2 Kings 2:11) become analogs to the direct workings of divine power. The pattern reveals that Scripture anticipates the seemingly impossible whenever it aligns with God’s redemptive purpose.

VII. Intelligent Design and the Young Earth Perspective

Within an understanding of the earth as relatively young, the intricacies of life and planetary frameworks point to a Designer who formed the laws regulating gravity, thermodynamics, and buoyancy. If the One who established matter and its properties has a reason to demonstrate mastery over it, the laws are tools in His hands.

A young earth perspective frequently cites geological formations like the Grand Canyon’s stratification as evidence of a catastrophic global flood. Proponents argue this worldwide event showcases God’s authority over despairing natural forces, much as Jesus walking on water showcases God’s authority at a personal scale. The central theme remains consistent: the Author of creation is not confined by creation’s typical boundaries.

VIII. Acknowledging Resurrection Power as the Ultimate Confirmation

From the broader Christian viewpoint, the pivotal affirmation of everything Jesus taught—including His power over nature—comes through the resurrection. “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!” (Luke 24:5–6). If the resurrection stands, then the earlier miracle of walking on water is consistent with a life that wields authority over all creation and, ultimately, over death. The evidence for the resurrection (e.g., the empty tomb, documented appearances to both individuals and groups, and the transformative impact on eyewitnesses) underscores the trustworthiness of miracles claimed in the Gospels.

IX. Finding Harmonization with Physics Through Divine Agency

From the vantage point of pure material study, the event is impossible. From a viewpoint that allows God to act sovereignly, the event is coherent. The laws of physics do not become invalid; rather, they are momentarily superseded by the intention of the One who set them in place. Much like a software programmer can momentarily override lines of code, the Creator has the prerogative to introduce exceptions when it serves a greater purpose—such as revealing identity or imparting a lesson of faith.

X. Conclusion

When Scripture asserts that Jesus walked on water, it offers a deliberate portrait of divine authority surpassing natural order. Physics alone, examined without regard to divine agency, labels it impossible. Yet the biblical record, along with historical manuscripts and archaeological frames of reference, consistently testifies to the veracity of Jesus’ supernatural acts.

The event’s ultimate purpose emerges not as a spectacular trick but as part of a larger revelation of who Christ is and what He came to accomplish. Trusting this account involves acknowledging the possibility of divine intervention in the natural realm. Coupled with the resurrection and supported by broad evidences for the reliability of Scripture, Jesus' act of walking on the water remains a prominent testimony to a power beyond the limitations of our physical system—a moment in which creation responds to the voice of its Creator.