Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but by this time the boat, battered by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was against them. And early in the morning he came walking toward them on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came toward Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Matthew 14:22-33, NRSV)
Little Faith…
It seems this is a phrase we hear over and over again from the text of the Bible. But in actuality it only occurs 6 times in the New Testament. 5 times in Matthew and once in Luke. Each time it refers to the disciples, and in today’s reading it specifically refers to one disciple…
All of the parallel passages from Mark have the disciples with “no faith”, Matthew seems to look with a little more favor on the disciples and say they have a little faith…
But a little is enough.
You see each time Jesus says “You of little faith…” He never tells them He will give them more, or advise them on how to get more…
You see the faith they (and you) have is enough. Jesus is excited when we ask Him to allow us to do things that take big faith, like stepping out of the boat. And He calls us to Him, but the thing we need to remember is we can’t do it on our own. We need Him with us.
And He will be, as He told the disciples, “Take heart, I am, do not fear!” Believe I am God and do not fear, because I am always with you.
And later to Peter, “You of little faith, why did you hesitate?” I am here in front of you, look at me, and what we have together is enough!
aSacredRebel 