Author's Note: All previous volumes of this series are here. The first 56 volumes are compiled into the book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible." "Part Two," featuring volumes 57-113, was published in December 2022.
Thanks for joining us today for Part 2 of the “Jesus Boat” study. If you missed last week’s Part 1 – Vol. 283: “Why ‘Jesus Calms the Storm’ Applies to Your Life,” please review it now. There are faith lesson connections between “calming the storm” and “Jesus walks on water,” as both involve miracles with Jesus, a boat, and the sea.
While the newcomers catch up, listen to this 1972 classic rock hit with its “on-the-water” title and famous guitar riff. How many classic rock aficionados can guess the song before clicking?
We begin with a recap of last week’s Daily Mail news report headlined: “Mysterious 'Jesus boat' found in Sea of Galilee linked to walking on water miracle.” Note this and last week’s headline photo is from when we saw the boat at the Yigal Alon Centre Museum on the edge of the Sea of Galilee in 2019.
To repeat, this “Jesus boat” is unconfirmed as the one mentioned in the three Gospels: Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, and John 6:16-21. However, as reported, the discovery location, its size, construction, scientific date, and the rainbow’s appearance, point to why this could be the actual boat.
For our study, I chose Matthew’s version since it tells the whole story, subtitled “Jesus Walks on the Water”:
“Immediately, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
“Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ ‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,' he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
“But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’ And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’” (Matthew 14:22-33).
Interestingly, there are two different boat and sea-related miracles performed by Jesus in the Gospels. What we just read in Matthew 14 appears seven chapters after Jesus calmed the storm in Matthew 8:23-27.
Mark’s Gospel records Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:35-41, just two chapters before He walks on water in Mark 6:45-52. Luke’s Gospel chronicles that Jesus calmed the storm, but no mention of His walking on water. In contrast, John’s Gospel does not include Jesus calming the storm, but he wrote that Jesus walked on water.
Note that in John's and Mark’s Gospels, there is no mention of Peter walking on water. Please don’t ask me to explain why. There are numerous New Testament passages where Gospel accounts differ, most famously with Jesus’s last words on the cross.
For our sake, when Jesus calmed the sea and walked on water, He demonstrated His command over nature and taught His disciples (and us) various lessons. Let’s review.
When Jesus calms the storm, He is in the boat. Initially, he is sleeping as the storm rages and threatens the lives of His disciples. Jesus is passively present amid chaos. That happens in the lives of believers. We don’t trust that He is always there for us. Matthew records:
“The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.”
Mark records Jesus telling the sea and winds, “Peace! Be still!” (Mark 4:39). Jesus demonstrated His divinity by speaking directly to the elements. Amazed at His power, the disciples asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” They did not yet understand who He was. Their faith was a journey, just as ours always is, that develops and is shaped by events.
Contrast that miracle with when Jesus walked on the water. Initially, He is absent, then appears supernaturally, amidst strong winds, albeit not a storm. The terrified disciples think they are seeing a ghost until He reassures them: “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” (Matthew 14:27).
In Matthew, Peter’s attempt to walk to Jesus shows a mix of faith and doubt. When Peter sinks, Jesus says, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31).
Afterward in the boat, the disciples worship Him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:33). Note that this incident happened immediately after Jesus fed the 5,000 - as well as spiritually feeding them. Thus, due to all these miracles, the disciples exclaimed that Jesus is the “Son of God.”
While calming the storm highlighted Jesus’ power over nature, which extends to all creation, Jesus wanted the disciples (and us) to trust in His invisible presence during times of chaos and significant challenges.
Walking on water emphasizes faith, especially amid fear and uncertainty, revealing Jesus’ divine identity in a more supernatural, personal, and relational way.
What can we apply to our lives from Jesus walking on water and calming the storm?
In large and small storms, Jesus is Lord. He doesn’t always prevent storms, but enters into them with us. Sometimes He is in the boat, and at other times He is outside, but He makes His presence known if you seek Him.
Jesus speaks to us if we are open to hearing Him. While walking on water, He told the disciples, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Peter showed doubt, asking, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” So Jesus took Peter up on his offer.
Initially, Peter walked on water, but fear overcame him. That means we must walk in faith, with our eyes fixed on Jesus and ignore natural, sinful instincts to fear.
In both passages, Jesus responded to the cries of the apostles who thought they were going to drown, and then, in Peter’s case, when he began to sink, crying out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus did and said, “You of little faith,” asking, “why did you doubt?”
That is always our challenge. Are you ready to battle fear and doubt, the enemies of faith? Believers will triumph and not sink when our eyes are focused on the Lord Jesus.
That first-century fishing boat discovered on the Sea of Galilee may or may not be Jesus’s boat, but we know these miraculous events are real. He is calling us to walk toward Him. He said, “Come.” Amen to that!
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer. Her book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible" reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. "Part 2,” reprints Vols. 57 –113. Order it here.
She is also the Executive Director of the National Shroud of Turin Exhibit. You can join our new effort in Orlando, Florida. Contact: <Myraadams01@gmail.com>
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