Lesson 17: John 6:16-25 - Walking on Water

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,
17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.
19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened.
20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.
22 On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.
23 Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.
24 So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
25 When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”


While Jesus remained behind, His disciples went down the mountain to the sea. They got into their boat and began their trip back to Capernaum. Although it got dark, Jesus remained behind. Because a strong wind came up, the sea became rough and progress was slow. When they were about in the middle of their seven-mile trip, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and nearing their boat. Thinking it might be a ghost, they became frightened (Mark 6:49). Jesus assured them it was Him and it was okay. He told them not to be afraid. As soon as He got into the boat, the boat reached their destination – the shore of Capernaum. So Jesus not only walked on the water, He also relocated them to the shore immediately. Meanwhile, back at the east coast, the crowd wondered where Jesus went. The disciples had departed alone in their boat and Jesus could not be found. Other boats then arrived near the crowd. The crowds decided to go back to Capernaum in these boats to look for Jesus. They were really amazed when they found Jesus in Capernaum and asked Jesus when He had gotten there.

*Thought questions: Why do you think Jesus waited to go to the disciples when the storm was blowing, rather than going with them in the first place so He could prevent the storm?
*When you’re going through a “storm” in your life, does this mean you’re not in His will, doing what God wants you to do?