Why do I feel afraid if Jesus is with me?
Answer: Jesus is always with us even though we don’t see him and often we don’t feel any different. Jesus wants us to learn to trust him, to believe and know that he is there. It’s natural to feel afraid.
In fact, being afraid can be good. We should be afraid of danger. For example, fear can keep us a safe distance from a mean dog or something else that might hurt us.
God wants our fears to remind us to trust him. Being afraid should be a signal to trust God and do what he wants us to do. But it doesn’t mean that Jesus isn’t with us.
Key verse: May the Lord of peace himself give you his peace no matter what happens. The Lord be with you all. (2 Thessalonians 3:16)
Related verses: Matthew 28:20; Philippians 4:6
How did Jesus walk on water?
Answer: Jesus did a lot of miracles. We don’t know how he did them. Jesus is God, so he can do anything. Walking on the water was not Jesus’ ordinary way of getting around.
He did this miracle, like other miracles, to teach his disciples and to show them his power. Jesus is Lord of the laws of the universe – he’s in charge of the water, too, so he can walk on it whenever he wants to.
Key verses: That evening his disciples went down to the shore to wait for him. Darkness fell and Jesus still hadn’t come back. So they got into the boat and headed out across the lake toward Capernaum.
But soon a storm swept down upon them as they rowed. The sea grew very rough. And they were in the middle of the lake. Suddenly they saw Jesus walking toward the boat! They were terrified.
So he called out to them and told them not to be afraid. Then they were willing to let him come to them. And suddenly the boat was already at the place where they were going! (John 6:16-21)
Related verses: Matthew 14:23-32; Mark. 4:35-41; 6:45-51
Note to parents: Lots of well-meaning people have tried to explain miracles (such as Jesus’ walking on the water) to make them believable to children.
But this is a tragic mistake. The fact that miracles are incredible is exactly the point – they show us that God is awesome and powerful.