Jesus Walks on the Sea
Matthew 14:22–33
22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband said:
“One of the accounts from scripture that has always spiritually moved me is when Jesus Christ walked out on the water to meet His disciples who were traveling in a ship on the Sea of Galilee. These were leaders newly called, like many of us on the stand today. The account is recorded in Matthew:
“‘But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with [the] waves: for the wind was contrary.
“‘And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
“‘And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, . . . and they cried out for fear.
“‘But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid’ [Matthew 14:24–27].
“Peter heard that wonderful call of encouragement from the Lord.
“‘And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
“‘And [Jesus] said, Come’ [Matthew 14:28–29].
“Pretty bold. Peter was a fisherman, and he knew about the hazards of the sea. However, he was committed to following Jesus—night or day, on a ship or on dry land.
“I can imagine that Peter leaped over the side of the boat, not waiting for a second invitation, and began to walk on the water. Indeed, the scripture says, ‘He walked on the water, to go to Jesus’ [Matthew 14:29]. As the wind increased in strength and force and as the waves swirled about his feet, Peter became ‘afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried [out], saying, Lord, save me.
“‘And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him’ [Matthew 14:30–31].
“Such a powerful lesson. The Lord was there for him, just as He is there for you and for me. He reached out His hand and drew Peter to Him and to safety.
“I have needed the Savior and the rescue of His hand so many times. I need Him now as never before, as does each of you. I have felt confident at times leaping over the side of the boat, figuratively speaking, into unfamiliar places, only to realize that I could not do it alone.”
(“Standing with the Leaders of the Church,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2016, 48.)
