Chapter 24

From the very beginning, the Bible speaks of

a King. It was a King who created the world with

just a word. It was a King who commanded the

water to do remarkable things-to flood the earth,

to turn to blood, to divide into two walls so his

people could escape. It was a King who sent his

people into exile and returned them again to their

land. It was a King who was born in Bethlehem.

For centuries the Jewish people were

expecting a great king to come and save them.

They were thinking the king would be powerful

and strong like other world rulers. They were

expecting a king with an army to free them from

the Romans. But their king, Jesus, was different.

He told them, “The time has come. The kingdom

of God is near. Repent and believe in the good

news.” The people were surprised. The high

priests were angry. This wasn’t the type of king

anyone expected.

The people had been following Jesus for

days, eager to hear his teaching and hopeful for

healings. Jesus hardly had a moment to catch his

breath. The crowds were so huge that sometimes

Jesus preached to the people on the shore from a

boat in the water.

This time, when Jesus climbed into the boat,

he simply wanted to rest. He told his disciples,

“Let’s take the boat to the other side of the sea.”

As soon as they left the shore, Jesus found a

quiet spot in the boat and stretched out for a nap.

He slept and slept, while the disciples steered the

boat and whispered to each other so they

wouldn’t disturb him.

Soon the skies turned dark and storm clouds

rolled in. The water became choppy; whitecaps

slapped the sides of the boat. The gently rocking

sea became wildly frightening! Water began to

slosh into the boat. The wind howled, thunder

boomed, and lightning lit up the sky.

“We’re going to drown!” cried the disciples.

“Help!” they shouted, holding on to the sides of

the boat. But Jesus was still fast asleep! The wind,

thunder, and lightning did not disturb him.

“Teacher!” yelled the disciples, trying to wake

him up. “Don’t you care if we drown?”

Jesus opened his eyes. Then he calmly stood

up and spoke to the wind and waves. “Quiet down!

Be still!”

The wind and waves obeyed. Immediately,

calm returned to the sea. The boat settled back

into its gentle rocking rhythm. Jesus turned to the

disciples. “Why are you so afraid? Don’t you

believe in me?”

The disciples, still amazed by what had

happened, couldn’t even answer. All they could do

was wonder, “Who is this man? Even the wind and

waves obey him!”

The little boy tugged on Andrew’s robe. “Sir?”

Andrew shooed the boy away.

Again the boy tried, “Sir … Sir … I can help.”

“You? Help? Thanks, but our problem is too

big for one little boy,” Andrew said, as he tried to

keep from laughing at the child’s offer.

“I can share my lunch,” the boy insisted.

Andrew looked at the thousands of people

who had gathered on the hillside to hear Jesus

teach. It was getting late, close to suppertime.

The crowd would be getting hungry soon. The

disciple looked again at the young boy. “Come

with me,” he instructed. Together, they walked

over to Jesus. “This boy would like to share his

meal with the people-but it’s only five loaves of

bread and two fish-not nearly enough for this

hungry crowd.”

Jesus smiled. “Tell everyone to sit down on

the grass,” he said.

As everyone settled down, Jesus held up the

bread and fish and said a prayer of thanks. He

gave the food to the disciples, telling them to

share it with all the people. They did as he

instructed.

The disciples went through the crowd of

thousands, giving food to everyone. The people

on that hillside had plenty to eat. There was so

much food that twelve baskets full of bread and

fish were left over.

The people had come to hear a lesson from

Jesus. But instead of hearing a lesson, they saw a

miracle! Two little fish and five little loaves were

miraculously multiplied by Jesus.

Jesus wanted to spend some time alone.

While he climbed a hill to find a quiet place to

pray, his disciples set sail on the Sea of Galilee

to cross over to a town called Capernaum.

During the night the wind stirred up, and

Jesus’ disciples rowed hard to keep the boat on

course. Jesus came down from his praying place

and watched the disciples struggling against the

wind.

Because he was the Son of God, Jesus could

do things that ordinary people could not do. Jesus

decided to join his disciples, so he walked out to

their boat … on the water!

He walked across the dark water as if it were

solid ground. When the disciples saw the

shadowy figure moving toward them, they were

startled.

Jesus tried to calm them. “Don’t be afraid, it’s

me!” he said.

One of the disciples, Peter, replied, “If it’s

really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”

Jesus said, “Come!” So Peter did. He climbed

out of the boat and began walking to Jesus. At

first, Peter felt brave knowing that Jesus was

near. But when he glanced at the rough waters, his

courage disappeared and he began to sink into the

sea.

Peter called to Jesus for help, “Lord, save

me!” Jesus reached down and pulled Peter up out

of the water. Once Jesus and Peter were back

inside the boat, the disciples filled the little craft

with praise and worship.

The followers now understood who Jesus

was, and they said, “Truly, you are the Son of

God.”