Single lesson
Jesus Walks on Water
Matthew 14:22–33; Mark 6:45–52; John 6:16–21
Jesus sends the disciples ahead by boat, prays alone, then comes to them on the sea in the dark and wind. This lesson helps children trace the story, notice the disciples’ choices, and hear Jesus’ words, “Don’t be afraid.”
Before you teach
Matthew, Mark and John each tell this sea crossing. All three say the disciples were out on the water in strong wind, saw Jesus walking on the sea, became afraid, and heard him say, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” Matthew also tells about Peter going onto the water. Mark notes the disciples’ amazement. John says they were willing to receive Jesus into the boat, and the boat was immediately at the land.
Students will be able to put the main events in order, name at least two choices people made in the passage, and state one truth the passage shows about Jesus.
Welcome: What happened on the lake?
4 minBriefly introduce today’s story and ask children to listen for who acts first, who becomes afraid, and what Jesus says. Explain that all three readings agree on the stormy water, the disciples’ fear, Jesus walking on the sea, and his words, “Don’t be afraid.”
Matthew 14:22, Matthew 14:27, Mark 6:48, Mark 6:50, John 6:19, John 6:20
Read and explain: Jesus comes to the boat
8 minRead the passage aloud in short parts. Point out the order: Jesus sends the disciples ahead, goes to pray alone, the wind troubles the boat, and later Jesus comes walking on the sea. Keep “fourth watch of the night” in the words of the passage. Note that the disciples think they are seeing a ghost, so they cry out in fear.
Matthew 14:22, Matthew 14:23, Matthew 14:24, Matthew 14:25, Matthew 14:26, Mark 6:46, Mark 6:48, John 6:17, John 6:18
Discuss: Choices and outcomes in the story
7 minTalk through the choices in the passage. The disciples go in the boat as Jesus says. Jesus speaks to calm their fear. In Matthew, Peter asks to come, steps onto the water, then becomes afraid when he sees the strong wind and cries, “Lord, save me!” Jesus takes hold of him. In Matthew and Mark, when Jesus gets into the boat, the wind ceases.
Matthew 14:22, Matthew 14:27, Matthew 14:28, Matthew 14:29, Matthew 14:30, Matthew 14:31, Matthew 14:32, Mark 6:51
Make and respond: Sequence cards of the account
7 minChildren make simple sequence cards and place them in order: disciples leave, Jesus prays, wind and waves trouble the boat, Jesus walks on the sea, disciples fear, Jesus speaks, Peter comes and sinks, Jesus saves, Jesus gets into the boat, those in the boat worship. Encourage children to match each card to words from the reading.
Matthew 14:23, Matthew 14:24, Matthew 14:25, Matthew 14:27, Matthew 14:29, Matthew 14:30, Matthew 14:31, Matthew 14:32, Matthew 14:33
Closing: What does this show about Jesus and people?
4 minReview the finished sequence and ask children to say one thing this passage shows about Jesus and one thing it shows about people. Keep answers close to the text: Jesus comes to them, speaks, saves Peter, and in Matthew and Mark the wind ceases when he gets into the boat. Those in Matthew’s boat worshipped him, Mark says they were amazed, and John says they were willing to receive him into the boat and the boat was immediately at the land.
Matthew 14:27, Matthew 14:31, Matthew 14:32, Matthew 14:33, Mark 6:51, Mark 6:52, John 6:20, John 6:21
Questions to explore
What happens before Jesus walks on the sea, and why does that matter for the order of the story?
Look first for Jesus sending the disciples ahead and going up the mountain to pray, then notice the boat struggling in the wind before Jesus comes to them.
Matthew 14:22, Matthew 14:23, Matthew 14:24, Mark 6:46, John 6:17, John 6:18
What choice does Peter make in Matthew’s account, and what happens when he becomes afraid?
Read Peter’s request, Jesus’ answer, Peter’s step onto the water, and then his cry for help when he begins to sink.
Matthew 14:28, Matthew 14:29, Matthew 14:30, Matthew 14:31
How do the disciples respond to Jesus at the end of the passage?
Compare the ending details: in Matthew they worship and confess who he is, in Mark they are amazed, and in John they are willing to receive him into the boat.
Matthew 14:33, Mark 6:51, John 6:21
Make, think or respond
Boat Journey Sequence Cards
What you’ll need
- Plain paper or card
- Pencils or markers
- Scissors
- Bible
Try it together
- Ask children to fold or divide paper into 8 to 10 small cards.
- On each card, draw or write one event from the passage, such as Jesus praying, the windy sea, Jesus walking on the water, Peter sinking, or the disciples worshipping.
- Mix the cards and work in pairs or small groups to place them back in story order using the Bible reading.
- Invite each group to explain one card by reading the verse that supports it.
This activity helps children sequence the account carefully and connect each event to the wording of the passage.
Adapt for your group
- For younger children, prepare fewer cards and include simple picture cues such as a boat, waves, and praying hands.
- For older or confident readers, ask them to sort details under Matthew, Mark, or John and notice which account includes Peter, amazement, or reaching the land.
An optional closing prayer
You may pray: “Lord Jesus, thank you that you came to the disciples in their fear. Please help us listen to your words, trust you, and remember who you are.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Matthew 14
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23 After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone.
24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
25 In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear.
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
28 Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”
29 He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.
30 But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
32 When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”
Mark 6
45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitude away.
46 After he had taken leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray.
47 When evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land.
48 Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea; and he would have passed by them,
49 but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out;
50 for they all saw him and were troubled. But he immediately spoke with them and said to them, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
51 He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very amazed among themselves, and marveled;
52 for they hadn’t understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
John 6
16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea.
17 They entered into the boat, and were going over the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them.
18 The sea was tossed by a great wind blowing.
19 When therefore they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid.
20 But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
21 They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat. Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.
Source passages
Something to make together
These activities connect with the passage. Choose one that suits your group and the time you have.
