Analysis of the story of Jesus walking on water (Matthew 14:22-33)
First: Analysis of the story:
Narrative elements:
Location: Sea of Galilee (Lake)
Preliminary events: Jesus forces his disciples to get into the boat and go before him, then he goes up to the mountain to pray alone
The causative event: the opposing winds and waves that tormented the ship in the middle of the sea, the coming of Jesus walking on the water.
Complications:
The coming of Jesus walking on the sea in the fourth watch
The students became confused and thought it was a fantasy
Peter asked to walk on water
Peter walked and then got scared when he saw the wind
The climax: The disciples scream in fear as a result of the raging sea, and the second part is the moment when Peter begins to sink and shouts, “Lord, save me!”
Solution: Jesus’s statement: I am, do not be afraid. Then Jesus immediately reached out his hand and grabbed Peter
Additional Events/Results: The wind stopped as they entered the ship
Conclusion: The disciples prostrated themselves before Jesus and confessed, “Indeed, you are the Son of God!”
Conflict in the narrative:
External conflict: The disciples’ fear of opposing winds and waves (the ship is tormented by the waves)
Internal conflict: The struggle of the disciples and Peter between faith and fear
The conflict begins: when the ship was in the middle of the sea, tormented by the waves
What contributes to its formation: the separation of the disciples from Jesus, the harsh natural conditions, the late time of the night (the fourth watch)
Narrative climax: The moment when Peter begins to sink and cries out, “Lord, save me!” – This is the moment of greatest tension when the conflict between faith and doubt reaches its climax.
The final solution: There is a clear and final solution: Jesus saving Peter, the wind calming down, and the disciples acknowledging the divinity of Christ. The story ends with a solution.
Second: Character analysis:
Main characters:
Jesus: the central character
His name: means the Savior
His actions: commits the disciples, dismisses the crowds, prays alone, walks on water, reassures, commands, extends his hand, holds Peter
His speeches: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid” – “Come” – “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
The author’s portrayal: a figure with absolute authority over nature and almighty, present in times of trouble, an immediate savior
Peter: the secondary hero
His name: means “rock”, but the story shows his human weakness
His actions: asking, getting off the ship, walking on water, getting afraid, drowning, screaming
His speeches: “Lord, if it is you, command me…” – “Lord, save me!”
Students: Collective personalities
They appear as a group going through one experience
Additional comments about the characters:
Jesus:
His feelings: Not directly stated, but his concern and sympathy are shown
His attitudes: firm (“commit”), withdrawn for prayer, present in distress, patient with doubt
Peter:
His feelings: first courage and enthusiasm, then fear
His thoughts: shown through his bold request and then his doubt
The writer portrays him as a reckless person, but sincere in his resort to Christ
Students:
Their feelings: confusion, fear, then faith and prostration
The writer depicts them as moving from fear to faith
Hero and antagonist:
Hero: Jesus Christ (main hero), Peter (secondary hero in his attempt to believe)
Opponent:
Natural elements (wind and waves) as an external opponent
Doubt and lack of faith as an internal opponent
Fear and doubt can be considered as the real enemy that students face, or their selves and thoughts, which give them feelings of fear and doubt, as the greatest enemy of a person is himself and that he must surrender himself to his thoughts.
Third: Context:
The context of this story is a series of miracles that highlight the character and authority of Jesus.
Time indicators: The fourth watch, which is the darkest watch, and there is a clear chronology of events between “immediately” Jesus needing to enter the boat, in the evening his prayer alone, then the torment of the waves, and in the fourth watch Jesus comes to them walking on the water, immediately Jesus rescues Peter.
Connection: A series of miracles showing Jesus’ authority, such as (Matthew 14:13-21): The miracle of the feeding of the five thousand – demonstrating Jesus’ authority over material resources, (Matthew 14:34-36): Healings at Gennesaret – continuing to demonstrate Jesus’ power.
The cultural custom is praying alone on the mountain (a Jewish custom), as the Samaritan woman said in John 4: Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, the fourth watch (the divisions of the night), prostration (a declaration of worship and confession).
Fourth: Meditation:
The story contributes greatly to the goal of the Gospel of Matthew in general, which is to prove that Jesus is the awaited king, the Son of God, as the miracle of walking on water proves the divinity of Christ when he said to them, “I am he, do not be afraid,” and shows them his authority over nature when he came walking on the water. Then the disciples acknowledged his divinity after they saw what happened with Peter and with them. This story is not just a miracle, but a profound lesson about the nature of faith and doubt, and a clear declaration of Jesus’ identity as the Son of God with divine authority. The story invites each reader to step out of their “ship” in faith toward Christ, with the certainty that His hand is always ready to catch us when we begin to sink.
The main idea in the text is to prove the divinity of Jesus that he is the Son of God who has absolute authority over nature and the circumstances of our lives, and he calls us to believe in him even in the midst of storms, and when we doubt and begin to drown, his hand is always extended to save us.