Background Scripture (read 2-3 times during the week)
Matthew 14:22-33, Mark 6:45-52, John 6:16-21
Story Summary
Jesus had tried to get away by himself to grieve the death of his cousin, John the Baptist, but the crowds followed him and the disciples, leading to the Feeding of the 5000. After he taught the crowd and fed them, he tried again (successfully this time!) to get away. It was evening, and he sent the disciples on ahead of him back to Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee again (the same way they came). Overnight, the disciples were rowing the boat back to Capernaum, and Jesus was on a mountainside alone, praying.
Another storm popped up on the sea (the disciples had some bad luck!) and Jesus saw that they were struggling to handle the boat in the tough weather. So he began walking on the water to go meet them. The disciples saw Jesus approaching and thought it was a ghost (wouldn't you!). Jesus called out to them and told them to be brave. "'Lord, is it you?' Peter asked. 'If it is, tell me to come to you on the water.' (Matthew 14:28) Jesus told him to come, so Peter stepped out of the boat and began to walk on the water towards Jesus. As Peter began fearing the winds and the waves, he began to sink. But Jesus picked him up and helped him into the boat. Jesus told Peter that he shouldn't have been afraid, and that he should have trusted him.
Where Did Jesus Walk on Water
This miracle happened on the Sea of Galilee, a prominent body of water in the gospels. Jesus had made his "home base" of ministry a town called Capernaum, a fishing town on the north side of the Sea. This cluster of stories were all around the northern short of this large lake. The exact mountainside Jesus retreated to isn't named. Wherever it was, they were on their way back to home base, so we know this happened in the northern part of the Sea of Galilee.
Why Did Peter Sink When He Walked on Water?
First, it should be noted that the Gospel of Matthew is the only one of the 3 that record this event (Luke does not record the story of Jesus Walking on Water) to include the detail about Peter also walking on the water to meet Jesus.
Peter was known to be an "act first / think second" sort of person. He was the natural leader of the disciples and he was first to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah (although he didn't quite get the details right on what that meant), the first to defend Jesus (like when he cut the soldier's ear off), and the leader of the disciples after the resurrection of Jesus.
In Matthew we learn that upon recognizing that it was Jesus walking towards them on the water (and not a ghost) he asked Jesus to invite him out on the water with him as proof that it was indeed Jesus. Miraculously, he started walking on the water too!
Matthew tells us that Peter began to lose heart and lose faith when he "saw the wind" and became afraid. As he started to sink, Jesus pulled him up out of the water and then helped him onto the boat.
Jesus Walks on Water vs. Jesus Calms the Storm
It is easy to confuse these two stories because they both involve miracles of Jesus on the Sea of Galilee with some sort of storm. But they are two completely different stories that happened at different times in Jesus' ministry.
When Jesus calmed the storm, the storm was raging and was so fierce the disciples thought they were going to die out on the water. But in this story, there was apparently some sort of storm, or at least heavy winds, enough to make it hard for the disciples to row the boat against them, but not the vivid description of the waves crashing and the terrible storm that suddenly appeared.
What Happened After Jesus Got into the Boat?
We often think of the story ending when Jesus and Peter get back in the boat, but John tells us what happened right after that. Jesus wasn't done doing miracles! John 6:21 says: "Right away the boat reached the shore where they were heading."
Can you imagine how unsettling that would have been to the disciples! In a short period of time they:
- Thought they saw a ghost
- Saw Jesus walking on water
- Saw Peter walking on water, and then almost sinking!
- Suddenly appearing on the shore where they were heading
Again, Jesus had compassion on his disciples. He knew they didn't have much more in them to be able to row the boat against the wind all night.
My Notes
What You Will Need
Supplies
- New Testament Bible map. Point out the region of Bethsaida (on the northeastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, where the feeding of the 5000 most likely took place), the Sea of Galilee, and Capernaum (on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, where they were headed)
Snack
Jesus Walks on Water Jello Snack
Video Options
From Crossroads Kids Club
From Saddleback Kids
Resource Sheet
This coloring sheet depicts Jesus walking on water to the disciples on the boat
1 Warm Up get your kids talking and engaged
If you could have one superpower, what would it be?
Today, we are going to learn about a time in the Bible when Jesus walked on water!
2 Teach the Story teach a holistic story
Read story from a Children's storybook Bible for younger children.
For older children, read the story from an age-appropriate Children's storybook Bible or read directly from the Bible.
3 Bible Mastery give them basic Bible skills
Scripture for Kids to Read Aloud Matthew 14:22-33
4 Comprehension Questions make sure they understand the story
First, ask the children if they have any questions about the story. What to do if you don't know the answer?
- What happened right before this story?
- Jesus fed the 5000
- What body of water were they on in the boat?
- The Sea of Galilee
- Where were they heading?
- Capernaum
- Where was Jesus?
- In a remote place, praying by himself
- What happened in the middle of the night while the disciples were on the boat?
- A storm popped up
- What did Jesus do next?
- He walked out on the water to meet them
- Who the disciples think Jesus was when they saw him walking on the water?
- A ghost
- What did Peter ask Jesus?
- If it truly was Jesus, to tell him to come out on the water to meet him
- When did Peter begin to sink?
- When he became fearful of the winds and the waves
- What happened when Jesus and Peter got into the boat?
- It immediately arrived in Capernaum
5 Faith Questions open up a conversation about faith and the gospel; close with prayer
- In this story, we learn that Peter needed to trust Jesus and not be afraid of what was going on around him.
- What is going on in your life right now that you need to trust Jesus about?
6 Memory Verse hide God's Word in their heart
All 10 activities below are free to use with no sign-up — complete with instructions, supply lists, and an age label for all-ages, early elementary, or late elementary classes.
Peter Sinking Craft
- Cut a slit in middle of card stock.
- Paint or color bottom half of card stock blue.
- Color and cut out Peter picture from resource sheet.
- Glue Peter to a popsicle stick.
- Glue a picture of Jesus on the far right side of page, with his feet touching the blue.
- Slide Peter through the slit.
- You can make Peter sink into water, by moving him up and down.
Sinking Paperclip
- Drop a paper clip in a cup of water. What happens?
- Tear off a piece of paper towel that is slightly larger than the paper clip.
- Place the piece of paper towel on top of the water.
- Gently place another paper clip on the piece of paper towel. Wait a few seconds. Now what happens?
- Explanation: If you drop a paper clip in water, the paper clip sinks. But if you put the paper clip on a piece of paper towel after about 30-45 seconds the paper towel sinks and the paper clip floats. This is because water particles are attracted to each other in all directions, making them "stick" together. However, because there are no water particles above them, the water particles at the surface "stick" only to particles next to and below them. This makes the surface act as if it had a thin "skin". This is called surface tension. The paper towel helps you to lower the paper clip onto the surface gently without breaking the surface tension.
Walking on Water
- Mix cornstarch and water to correct consistency.
- Have children remove their shoes and socks.
- Take turns running and stepping on the cornstarch mixture.
- Keep running, so you don't sink!
Human Thunderstorm
- Have everyone in the room do the actions at the same time. If you have a really large group, have them begin the next action in waves.
- Someone at the front can lead them in the actions and when to change.
- Rub your hands together.
- Snap your fingers.
- Clap your hands together (not at the same rhythm).
- Slap your hands on your legs.
- Stomp your feet.
- Slap your hands on your legs and stomp your feet.
- Stomp your feet.
- Slap our hands on your legs.
- Clap your hands together.
- Snap your fingers.
- Rub your hands together.
- Quiet
Make a Wind Sock
- Decorate one side of card stock.
- Glue tissue paper onto the bottom of card stock.
- Cut slits in the tissue paper, all the way up to the card stock.
- Staple card stock together.
- Attach a strip of card stock for handle.
- Tie one piece of string to the handle and another to the end of a pencil.
Jesus Walks on Water Jello Snack
- Make a boat using a banana slice.
- Stick a pretzel stick into the banana.
- Stick a triangle of cheese or melon onto the pretzel to make the sail.
- Have students place the boat on top of the jello.
- Stick a teddy graham into the jello, just far enough so he will stand up.
Float and Sink Activity
- Fill tubs part of the way full of water.
- Have test items for the kids to see if they float or sink.
- They can make a guess before testing each item.
Watercolor Stormy Seas Craft
- Paint a stormy sea using the watercolors.
- Glue Jesus and Peter in the stormy sea.
Making an Anemometer
- Peter took his eyes off of Jesus, noticed the wind and the waves and began to sink.
- Punch two holes in 5 dixie cups (make them across from each other).
- Take one of the cups and add two more holes, also across from each other, only slightly lower than the first holes.
- Place a hole into center of bottom of the cup with 4 holes. Make sure pencil has plenty of room to move around, so it does not fit snug.
- Place straws through the cups with 4 holes.
- Put the pencil through the hole in the bottom of the cup, eraser side up.
- Place a straight pin through the straws and into the eraser.
- Slide one of the other cups onto each straw. Make sure they are pointing with the top in the same direction.
- Bend the end of straw and tape to outside of each cup to secure.
- It should spin when you blow on it.
Float and Sink Egg Activity
- Place egg in freshwater and see if it floats.
- Remove egg.
- Add salt and stir to dissolve (approx 4-6 tablespoons).
- Once the egg is floating, you can slowly (so it doesn't mix) add freshwater down the side of the glass. The egg will stay suspended in the middle!
- An egg sinks in regular water because the egg is heavier (denser) than the water molecules. Adding salt packs extra mass into the water without adding much volume, making the water dense enough to push the egg upward
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Walking on Water Example
