Walking on the Sea
Wording of this Handout:
Walking on the sea
After a long, hard day's work, Jesus needed some time to pray, so he told his disciples to get into their boat and leave him alone for a while.
The disciples were obedient men. The went straight down to the beach and got into their fishing boat. Then away they sailed and a the night fell, Jesus sat by himself.
After a while the disciples were a long way across the lake, but suddenly, the weather changed. The wind blew and the waves began to toss the boat this way and that.
A storm had come!
The disciples pulled on the ropes and tied the sail to the mast. They slipped on the deck and they staggered this way and that, and began to fear for their lives.
Then they saw something... A shape, out in the sea. What was it? "It's a ghost!" said the men in great fear.
The shape came closer and they recognized who it was.
"It's Jesus!" They gasped.
And it was.
Jesus came walking towards the boat. His feet were on the water but he didn't sink in, and as the waves rose and fell they sank and went smooth where Jesus was walking.
"Don't be afraid!" Jesus called, "It is me! Cheer up!
The disciples watched in amazement as Jesus came right up to the boat. Then he climbed over the side and stood on the deck.
The storm seemed to be throwing itself at the boat now, as if it was trying to sink it.
Jesus frowned and looked at the great, black clouds and rough sea.
As soon as he looked at the storm, the wind dropped, and the water went flat and still.
Everything went very, very quite.
"Who is he?" The disciples whispered to each other, "Only God can control the weather!"
And of course they were right. Only God can tell the weather what to do... And Jesus was the Son of God. That was why he could do so many miracles, and order Nature about.