On that day, as evening drew on, he said to them, "Let us cross to the other side." Leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that is was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Quiet! Be still!" The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, "Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?" They were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this whom even the wind and sea obey?"

Then he made the disciples get into the boat and precede him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. After doing so, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When it was evening he was there alone. Meanwhile the boat, already a few miles offshore, was being tossed about by the waves, for the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid." Peter said to him in reply, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water." He said, "Come." Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him " Oh you of little faith, why did you doubt?" After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, "Truly, you are the Son of God."

In the time of Jesus, the Sea of Galilee was known by several other names, including (Kineret - Hebrew for harp - which is the shape of the sea, Tiberias Lake, Lake of Gennesaret). The sea is about 12 miles long and seven miles wide and serves as the main reservoir for the state of Israel. It is dependent on the snow melt from Mt Hermon (in the northernmost tip of Israel), and winter rains for its water level. During a recent and severe drought, the remains of a fishing boat from the time of Jesus emerged from the bottom (see photographs below). This boat is being carefully preserved by Israel and will soon be relocated to a new museum being built on the western shore of the sea. When you look across the sea to the eastern bank, you are looking at Syria to the northeast and Jordan to the southeast.