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Peter Walks on Water: A Retelling

Have you ever noticed that only one of the four Gospels recounts the story of Peter walking on the water beside Jesus? I have a sneaking suspicion that there is a very good reason for this. Let’s take a minute and really try and imagine the scene as it might have played out two thousand years ago.

It’s a stormy night. Visibility is quite bad and the disciples are out trying to digest what had just happened. A spontaneous gathering of five thousand people set the stage for one of their Master’s quietest, yet most astounding, miracles. The love of this Jesus is a mighty thing. He was no magician. Rather, the way he gave of himself to others inspired them to do the same. And when five thousand people care more about the person sitting next to them than themselves, the kingdom of God comes very near and a little goes a very long way!

But what did it all mean? What was really happening? As the waters became more turbulent, one of the disciples, maybe Thaddeus, spotted something—or was it someone—out in the misty distance.

“It’s a ghost!” someone exclaimed, maybe Andrew.

“I doubt it,” said Thomas.

But sure enough, as the figure drew nearer, it became clear that this was no ghost. It was their Master, walking upon the waters!

Now Peter, drawn to the idea of mastering the elements, moved to the front of the boat.

“Master! If it is truly you, ask that I may come upon the waters alongside you?”

Jesus smiled and gave a chuckle as if to say, “What are you waiting for, kiddo?” And with that, Peter was up and out.

Then the thunder clapped. Lightning struck. A fin strolled by sticking out of the water. And the disciples looked at them both in amazement. So what happened next? You guessed it.

“Help! Dear Lord! Help! What the heck am I doing out here?”

Yes, this poor Peter, with a simple trust in Jesus, was able to do the impossible. It just goes to show what faith can do. But what was it that stood in the way of this faith? Was it the thunder? Was it the darkness? How about the dangerous sea creatures that could have been lurking beneath the surface?

I would venture to say it was none of the above. Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and onto the bad weather and all the danger involved, but really, he was most concerned about himself. When the dark clouds come over us, who can we rely on? When the storms of life overtake us, who can protect us? And when we find ourselves sinking fast, who will rescue us? Peter thought he was something special and forgot that Jesus is the only one that can save him. But when his life was actually on the line, how quickly he remembered!

So, while we can learn a lot in this little story of Peter’s triumph and failure in the Gospel of Matthew, perhaps we can learn a lot more from its absence in Mark, Luke, and John. For as the story itself demonstrates, the last one we ought to be looking at is Peter. Let us turn our eyes only to Jesus!