One thing I left out about this Sign is that there are only two people in the history of history who have ever walked on water. Jesus is the first, and Peter would be the second. No one else, ever, has been able to pull it off... ever.
There are people who will question that last statement, citing that the possibility exists that it just wasn't recorded, and that is possible. However, the real truth is that if it were of importance (and walking on water certainly is important), it would be written down. Let me say that again, so that there can be no possibility of miscommunication: if it mattered, and if we were supposed to know it, God would have included it.
Further, to show the ability to have control over the elements and nature is one of the most powerful Signs performed. Jesus does this twice by both walking on the water here, and calming the storm with only His voice (Matthew 8:23, Mark 4:35, Luke 8:22) and no other effort. Since this is a fairly significant Sign that He is Messiah, if it had happened multiple times with multiple people, it would be written down that way... even if they were nameless. The healings are innumerable, and the feedings almost impossible to capture in scope, because we need healing and we need feeding, and we need both from Him alone!
I would also like for you to consider who this Sign is really about. Think about the 12, all in the boat, and the one stand-out of the bunch, Peter, is the one bold enough to test Christ in this way. Peter is the one to walk on the water, and Peter is the one who begins to sink from his own fear and doubt. Peter is the one who will later boast that he needs no foot washing from Christ, and that he would never deny the Messiah. Of course, we know that he denies Christ three times, and that he learns why the foot-washing was needed and subsequently asks for a head-to-toe bath. This object lesson in faith and focus, in keeping your eyes on Jesus and nothing else, was huge for Peter. In Matthew, Peter climbs back into the boat exclaiming that clearly, Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah. Would you have any more doubts after experiencing that?
While considering that, though, know that Christ could have asked them to all come out of the boat, but He did not. Christ could've walked out when they were close enough to shore for people to see and witness this amazing work, but He didn't. He could've done it during the day, with no storm around Him, but He didn't. He could've had the man at the pool go stand on the pool water, but He didn't. He could have just changed the laws of physics so that everyone could have the experience Peter had, but He didn't. Christ could also appear before you today, and tell you to walk across water to Him, but that is not likely, either. This experience was for a single purpose, and that purpose was to strengthen Peter... by making Peter cry out to Jesus for aid!
In that way, still considering who the message here is for, I would ask that you broaden your mind and think of the billions of people who have heard this Sign talked about, and then recognize that we all need to come to the point of crying out to Jesus for help, just as Peter did. We all need to hear this story of how personally Jesus cared for this one man, one of the 12, and how He reached down and pulled Peter up above the waves, literally saving his life. (One could almost call this a baptism of sorts.) That shows Christ's love and personal care for the individual, and it is amazing!
So who is it about? Clearly, it's about Jesus, just like everything else in the Bible, the world, the universe are all about Jesus. But before you start to wonder, with respect to this or any other Sign you may read about, if there is more to it, please know that if there were, it would be written down. If it's not written down yet, then we are simply incapable of grasping it now, or aren't supposed to know it this side of Heaven.
God bless you all!!!
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