The miracle of Jesus walking on water is one of the most profound demonstrations of His divine authority over the natural world, as recorded in the New Testament. This event is documented in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John, each providing unique details that contribute to the full understanding of this miraculous occurrence.

Biblical Account:

The account of Jesus walking on water is found in Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, and John 6:16-21. After the miraculous feeding of the five thousand, Jesus instructed His disciples to get into a boat and go ahead of Him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, while He dismissed the crowd and went up on a mountainside to pray.

Matthew 14:25-27 : "Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. 'It’s a ghost!' they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately spoke to them: 'Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.'"

Significance:

1. Demonstration of Divine Authority: Jesus walking on water is a clear demonstration of His divine nature and authority over creation. By defying the natural laws of physics, Jesus reveals His identity as the Son of God, who has dominion over the elements.

2. Faith and Fear: The disciples' initial reaction of fear, thinking they were seeing a ghost, highlights the human tendency to fear the unknown. Jesus' reassurance, "Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid," serves as a powerful reminder of His presence and the peace that comes from trusting in Him.

3. Peter's Experience: In Matthew's account, Peter's interaction with Jesus adds another layer of meaning. Peter, upon Jesus' invitation, steps out of the boat and begins to walk on water toward Jesus. However, when he notices the wind and becomes afraid, he starts to sink. Jesus immediately reaches out to save him, saying, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (Matthew 14:31). This interaction underscores the importance of faith and the human struggle with doubt.

4. Revelation of Jesus' Identity: The miracle concludes with the disciples worshiping Jesus, declaring, "Truly You are the Son of God" (Matthew 14:33). This acknowledgment is a pivotal moment of revelation and recognition of Jesus' divine identity by His closest followers.

5. Symbolism of the Sea: In biblical literature, the sea often symbolizes chaos and danger. Jesus walking on the sea signifies His mastery over chaos and His ability to bring order and peace, reinforcing His role as the Savior who calms the storms of life.

Theological Implications:

The miracle of Jesus walking on water is rich with theological implications. It affirms the belief in Jesus' divinity and His power over the natural world. It also serves as an invitation to believers to trust in Jesus amidst life's storms, knowing that He is present and sovereign. The event encourages Christians to step out in faith, keeping their eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.

This miracle, like others performed by Jesus, is a testament to His mission to reveal the Kingdom of God and to invite humanity into a relationship with the divine through faith and trust in Him.Matthew 14:26-29
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Christ Teaching by Miracles
... The ship was full of water, and in danger of ... we see that Jesus performed some of
his miracles for the ... was preaching in the yard, or court, connected with some ...
/.../newton/the life of jesus christ for the young/christ teaching by miracles.htm

Miracles Granted to the Prayer of Friends.
... it may be, because the old will hold water no longer ... sins is by all of the narrators
connected with the ... These last miracles are especially full of symbolism and ...
/.../macdonald/miracles of our lord/vi miracles granted to the.htm

Authenticity and Credibility of the Gospel Narratives.
... As air and water and light meet the wants of ... class of writers, after denying our
Lord's divine nature ... a fable, why deny the lesser miracles connected with his ...
/.../barrows/companion to the bible/chapter iv authenticity and credibility.htm

The Night of Miracles on the Lake of Gennesaret
... holds equally true in regard to other miracles recorded in ... Peter to the difficulties
connected with the Biblical predictions ... it shall be upon the water; and so ...
/.../edersheim/the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxx the night of.htm

The Lord's Prayer
... only to remind us of some particular thing connected with Our ... all the accounts are
true and the miracles real. ... a thousand years for every drop of water in the ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kinkead/baltimore catechism no 4/the lords prayer.htm

Christ's Touch
... given to our Lord's touch as connected with His ... to me more remarkable about the miracles
of our Lord ... Like a sunbeam passing through foul water untarnished and ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/christs touch.htm

The Government of Nature.
... Water should wet the foot, should ingulf him who ... ours by any impassable gulf"rather
connected by gently ... Concerning these miracles, I think I have already ...
/.../macdonald/miracles of our lord/ix the government of nature.htm

Our First Proposition Was, that There is Satisfactory Evidence ...
... if we had no visible effects connected with the ... of Christ above all who performed
miracles in his ... healing every species of disease, but turning water into wine ...
/.../paley/evidences of christianity/chapter i our first proposition.htm

The Gospels
... 3:16, "I indeed baptize you with water," etc., comes ... of the fact that three of these
miracles are placed ... from believing material things to be connected with a ...
/.../pullan/the books of the new testament/chapter ii the gospels.htm

The Cavils of the Pharisees Concerning Purification, and the ...
... shown, that they accounted for the miracles of Christ ... be immersed, put into boiling
water, purged with ... point must be mentioned as connected with Purifications. ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxxi the cavils of.htm

Did Jesus change the water into wine or grape juice? | GotQuestions.org

What was the meaning of Jesus walking on water? | GotQuestions.org

Do the news reports of rivers turning blood red have anything to do with the end times? | GotQuestions.org

Water: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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