Agatha Christie was a master of mystery, weaving intricate plots and unexpected twists that kept readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. But there is one story that even she could not have imagined – the miraculous account of Jesus walking on water.
The tale is told in the Gospel of Matthew, where we learn that Jesus had sent his disciples ahead in a boat while he stayed behind to pray. But as they sailed across the Sea of Galilee, a fierce storm arose, tossing their vessel about like a toy boat in a bathtub. In fear for their lives, they looked out into the darkness and saw what appeared to be a ghost coming towards them.
But it was no ghost – it was Jesus himself, walking on water towards them. And when Peter asked if he too could walk on water to join him, Jesus said yes.
Now let us pause here for a moment and consider what this means. Walking on water is impossible by any natural means – humans sink in water unless they are supported by something else like boats or life jackets. So how did Jesus accomplish this feat?
Well, some may argue that it was simply an illusion or trickery – perhaps he walked along some hidden platform under the surface of the water. Others suggest that maybe there were rocks or shallow areas near enough to shore for him to move from one spot to another without sinking.
But those explanations miss the point entirely – because at its core, this story isn’t really about walking on water at all. It’s about faith.
Peter had enough faith in Jesus’ power and authority that he stepped out onto the waves with confidence; but when he lost sight of that trust and began to doubt whether it was truly possible for him to walk without sinking, he started sinking indeed!
Jesus reached out his hand and pulled Peter back up again; but then rebuked him gently for his lack of faith: “You have so little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
In the end, it’s not about how Jesus walked on water – what matters is that he did something impossible to show his disciples (and us) that with faith in him, anything is possible.