What happens when you look down?
Jesus sent his friends across the lake and went up a hill to pray. In the night the wind rose, and before dawn they saw him walking toward them on the water. They thought he was a ghost. Peter said, “If it’s you, tell me to come.” Jesus said, “Come.” Peter walked, then saw the wind, got scared, and sank. Jesus caught him at once.
Jesus sent his friends across the lake and went up a hill to pray. In the night the wind rose, and before dawn they saw him walking toward them on the water. They thought he was a ghost. Peter said, “If it’s you, tell me to come.” Jesus said, “Come.” Peter walked, then saw the wind, got scared, and sank. Jesus caught him at once.
About 6 minutes: 4 choices and 2 ways-of-knowing stops. Kids play one of the friends in the boat, Peter deciding to step out, and Peter in the water. The storm is told plainly, with calm mode hiding the wild-wave pictures. Jesus is a soft light, never a person.
Ages 5–10
Jesus called it “little faith,” not no faith, and he caught him first and asked second. You can say: Peter was the only one who got out of the boat. Sinking wasn’t failing; it was what happened when he looked at the scary thing instead of at Jesus. And the hand was there before he finished shouting.
Matthew 14:22–33; Mark 6:45–52 and John 6:16–21 tell the same night without Peter’s walk. After feeding the five thousand, Jesus sends the disciples across the lake and prays alone. Before dawn he walks to them on the water; they take him for a ghost; he says, “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid.” Peter asks to come, walks, sees the wind, sinks, cries “Lord, save me,” and is caught at once: “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” The wind stops when they board, and the disciples worship him as the Son of God.