What should we learn from the account of Peter walking on water?

TL;DR:

Peter walking on water teaches us the importance of where we place our faith. Even when fear and doubt come, like they did for Peter, we can trust in Jesus to sustain us through life’s storms.

The account of Jesus walking on water and Peter's response holds profound lessons for believers. It illustrates the power of recognizing who Jesus is and how it should move us to action, as Peter boldly stepped out of the boat to join Jesus. Despite Peter's momentary doubt and fear, his instinctive cry for help demonstrates the importance of turning to Jesus in times of trouble. This highlights the need to nurture and guard our faith against doubt and distraction, emphasizing the necessity of relying on God's strength rather than our own. While our faith journey may be marked by moments of courage and doubt, as long as we keep our eyes on Jesus, our faith in Him will sustain us through life's storms. Peter's imperfect yet courageous faith serves as an example for us to follow, reminding us that even in our imperfection, we can trust in Jesus to rescue us when we call upon Him.

from the old testament

The account of Peter walking on water is found in the New Testament.

from the new testament

Three of the Gospels record Jesus walking on water (Matthew 14:22–33; Mark 6:45–53; John 6:15–21).
Peter walking on water took place after Jesus fed the crowd of five thousand men, plus women and children. Jesus sent the disciples ahead of Him while He went to pray. Then He caught up to the boat by walking across the water. All three accounts record that the disciples were afraid when they saw Jesus. Jesus told them who He was so they would not be afraid. Matthew and Mark added that when they saw Jesus walking to them on the water, they thought He was a ghost. Only Matthew includes that Peter asked Jesus to "prove" it was Him by enabling Peter to walk out to Him.
Matthew 14:22–33 records that upon seeing the Lord walking on water amidst the storm, Peter requests to join Him. Stepping out of the safety of the boat, Peter walks on water until fear creeps in, causing him to falter. Even in his moment of doubt, Peter calls out to Jesus for salvation. Jesus reaches out to grasp Peter's hand and rebukes his doubt.

implications for today

Peter's encounter with Jesus walking on water offers poignant lessons for believers. We see that recognizing who Jesus is should move us to action. Peter recognized Jesus and wanted to join Him on the water. He was moved to action. Jesus’ response to Peter’s request to walk on the water was one of welcome, not rebuke. Jesus told Peter to “come.” Faith calls us to respond, and faith calls us to continue trusting in God. Peter walked on water as long as his focus was on Jesus. When he began to fear, he began to sink. But he pressed on in faith and cried out, "Lord, save me." With that "Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him" (Matthew 14:31). While faith calls us to action, it must be nurtured and guarded against doubt and distraction. Peter's instinctive cry for help when he begins to sink teaches us the importance of turning to Jesus, reminding us of the necessity of relying on God's strength rather than our own. Our faith journey might be marked by moments of courage mixed with doubt and fear, but as long as our eyes are on Jesus and we trust in Him, we know our faith in Him will sustain us. Yes, Peter did begin to sink, but he was the only disciple who had the courage to get out of the boat. When he began to sink, he knew who to call. Therefore, Peter's faith, imperfect as it was, is a good example for us, imperfect as we are.

understand

Three of the Gospels document Jesus walking on water (Matthew 14:22–33; Mark 6:45–53; John 6:15–21), which occurred after He miraculously fed the crowd of five thousand.
Upon seeing Jesus walking on water, Peter boldly requests to join Him. Peter briefly walks on water until fear overcomes him.
Despite Peter's doubt, he calls out to Jesus for salvation when he begins to sink. Jesus immediately reaches out to grasp Peter's hand, rebuking his doubt and demonstrating His divine power and care for His followers.

reflect

How often do you find yourself focusing on your circumstances rather than on Jesus during challenging times?
Reflect on a time when fear or doubt caused you to falter in your faith. How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience?
In what ways can you nurture and guard your faith against doubt and distraction in your daily life?

engage

Why do you think Peter's request to walk on water was met with a positive response from Jesus, despite his doubt?
How does Peter's experience of walking on water and then sinking relate to our own experiences of faith and doubt?
What are some practical ways we can keep our focus on Jesus amidst life's storms and challenges, as Peter did when he initially walked on water?