The One Who Believes Has Eternal Life

At the end of a very long day and after they had fed the five thousand, you might think Jesus would be looking for a place to sleep. But no, he sends the disciples off across the Sea of Galilee. It would be at least a few more hours before they could find rest for the night. Jesus is still working to disperse the crowd and finally heads off to the mountain to pray. He begins walking in the night, a mile, two, five? Now Jesus sees his disciples struggling in the wind on the sea and walks to them, walking on the water. He stills the storm and they arrive in Gennesaret where the people immediately recognize him. They bring their sick from all around for him to heal. Jesus teaches about the bread of life, his body, his blood and life eternal.

Jesus Walks on Water

Mark 6:45-56
Matthew 14:22-36
John 6:16-24

They Saw Him Walking on the Sea

Mark 6:45–52
We know that before they began to feed the five thousand in Mark 6:35 “the hour had become late” so when we come to Mark 6:47 and “evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea” it must have already been well into the evening. Then “he saw them being beaten in their rowing because the wind was against them”. Here, “The lake is about seven miles broad at its widest part. So that in eight or nine hours they had only made some three and a half miles”.¹

But it wasn’t until, in Mark 6:48 “Around the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea”. This would have been “”between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.”.²

By this time, the last thing in the world they expected was to see Jesus walking on the water to the boat. But, in Mark 49-51, “They all saw him and were terrified … he spoke with them and said to them, “Have courage, I am he! Do not be afraid!” … the wind abated.

People Recognized Him Immediately

Mark 6:53–56
Now it seems that Jesus is recognized and in

Mark 6:56 (LEB) And wherever he would go, into villages or into towns or to farms, they would put those who were sick in the marketplaces and would implore him that if they could touch even the edge of his cloak. And all those who touched it were healed.

Command Me to Come to You

Matthew 14:22–33
Matthew records the same events but adds Peter’s request in Matthew 14:28-31 “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water!” 29 So he said, “Come!”. Peter was often quick to respond, a good characteristic to have. But he wasn’t quite ready for the task because, “But when he* saw the strong wind, he was afraid. And beginning to sink”. How often does it happen this way with us, we start out to follow the Lord and the circumstances around us cause us to doubt.

They Brought to Him All Those Who Were Sick

Mt 14:34–36

It is I! Do not be Afraid!

John 6:16–24
John adds in

John 6:19 Then when they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were afraid.

They had been rowing for six and maybe even nine hours and still were only half way across, three and a half miles or so.

Jesus is the Bread of Life

John 6:25–59

This is the Work of God: That You Believe

John 6:25-34