Walking on the Water is the night He came to them on the sea.
The boat was a long way from the land,
beaten by the waves,
for the wind was against them.
About the fourth watch of the night He came to them,
walking on the sea.
They thought it was a ghost and cried out.
Immediately He spoke:
Take heart; it is I.
Do not be afraid.
It is I is the Name on the water.
He had sent them ahead while He went up the mountain to pray. The crowd had wanted to make Him king after the loaves. He would not stay for that crown. Night stretched. The wind was contrary.
- Job had said God treads upon the waves of the sea.
- Habakkuk saw His ways in the sea.
Job’s God showed up in a form they did not expect, and terror filled the boat. Take heart. Ego eimi. Do not fear.
- Peter said, Lord, if it is You, command me to come.
- Come. He walked, saw the wind, and began to sink.
- Lord, save me. Jesus took him by the hand: O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
When they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
- John adds that they were glad to take Him in, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
- Matthew says those in the boat worshiped Him: Truly You are the Son of God.
The sea is not His enemy and not His equal. It is a floor when He decides to walk. The same voice that said Peace, be still now says It is I. The loaves were not the last sign of that night.
- He prays on the mountain while they strain at the oars. Absence is not abandonment.
- Walking on the sea is Job’s portrait of God made visible.
- It is I is more than identification. It is I AM on the waves.
- Come is permission that still requires His hand when the wind is seen.
- Little faith is not no faith. It is faith that looked at the gust.
- Worship in the boat is the right end of the story.
- Immediately at land is John’s extra mercy: arrival as gift, not only survival.
- After the Loaves – He withdraws from a crown of bread.
- Contrary Wind – Night hours; the boat beaten.
- On the Sea – He treads what they fear.
- It Is I – Take heart; do not be afraid.
- Peter’s Come – Walking, sinking, Save me.
- Into the Boat – Wind ceases; worship.
- At the Land – The shore given at once.
- Matthew 14:22-33 – He made the disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side… And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea… “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.”… But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
- Mark 6:45-52 – He meant to pass by them… They all saw Him and were terrified… He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves.
- John 6:16-21 – They saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat… “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
- Job 9:8 – Who alone stretched out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea.
- Habakkuk 3:15 – You trampled the sea with Your horses, the surging of mighty waters.
- Psalm 77:19 – Your way was through the sea, Your path through the great waters; yet Your footprints were unseen.
- Exodus 3:14 – God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.”
- Isaiah 43:2, 5 – When you pass through the waters, I will be with you… Fear not, for I am with you.
- Mark 4:39-41 – Peace! Be still! Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?
- Matthew 28:17-18 – They worshiped Him… “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
- Hebrews 13:5-6 – I will never leave you nor forsake you. The Lord is my helper; I will not fear.
He came to them, walking on the sea.
Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.
Lord, if it is You, command me to come. Come. Lord, save me.
O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
Truly You are the Son of God.
Immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
He trampled the waves of the sea. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.
Do not stare at the wind until you sink. Hear It is I. Take Him into the boat. Worship. The floor under His feet is still water—and still His.
Entry compiled for the JESUSaves.com Bible Glossary. Optimized for wiki.js Visual Editor.