Pentecost 10 - Proper 14

Matthew 14:22-33

What the Savior thinks of Little Faith

“O man of little faith, why did you doubt?”   How the words must have seared Peter’s conscience, as they do ours. It’s embarrassingly easy to identify with Peter for we are so often tossed about by our doubts and fears. This morning let’s consider that the Savior has to say concerning a little faith.

I.        It shouldn’t exist.

A.         Jesus takes care of His disciples. Consider the situation in our text for this morning. (Vv.22-29)

Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. "It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid." "Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said. {Matthew 14:22-29}

1.      He sent His disciples away. They would not be tempted to join the crowd that wanted to make Him a bread king. “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd” (V. 22)

2.      He came to be them on the seas. Although the danger was overpowering. “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.”  (Vv.23-25)

3.      He comforted them by identifying Himself. “When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified.”It's a ghost," they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."  (Vv. 26-27)

4.   He granted Peter’s request with an enabling word. “Lord, if it's you," Peter replied, "tell me to come to you on the water." "Come," he said” (Vv.28-29)

B.         But His disciples forgot all this. (v. 30)

“Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

1.         Peter thought the wind and the waves were a bigger threat than Jesus was a help. We also face many forms of worldly forgetfulness.

a.       Some may half jokingly say, “I hope Judgment Day doesn’t come until after Friday night!”

b.   We may forget the Lord in our day-to-day concerns, relying instead on ourselves, our friends, our money, our cleverness, etc.

c.       In the church today there is a preoccupation with gimmicks. People then think it is only concerning with self-preservation.

2.         We believe Jesus – but only part way. And that’s worse of all. Peter was in no great danger until he got on the water and doubted.

Transition: Surrounded by doubt, fear, and little faith we must turn to Jesus our Rock and our Redeemer.

II.     Little faith willed with doubt and fear did not stop Jesus.

A.         He saves people of little faith. (V.31) “Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.”You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?"

1.         He is motivated by grace. There is no question who is carrying for whom.

2.         He substituted for all – even those of little faith.

a.         He lived with constant confidence in God. (V. 23) “After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.”

b.         He died facing the danger that results from little faith.

3.         Believing is receiving. Even when Jesus works a miracle its meaning must be apprehended in faith. “And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." (Vv. 32-33)   Yet faith receives Him and His forgiveness regardless of how great or small our faith may be. “Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or of a husband’s will, but born of God.” (John 1:12-13)

B.         This Jesus is the Son of God. “Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." {V.33}

1.         This is the great reality that exists prior to or even apart from faith. Even Jesus’ enemies had to recognize this.

2.         He has come to save not destroy. As the Son of God, He carried out the saving plan. His substitution worked because He is the Savior as St. Paul teaches, “God was in Christ Jesus reconciling the world unto Himself, not counting man’s sins against them. And He has committed to us this message of reconciliation.” {2 Corinthians 5:19}

3.         Those that have great faith are those who receive this great God in all His power and compassion.

4.         His Gospel word tells us about Him and brings Him to us. It engenders faith, just as this event strengthened the disciples’ faith.

The Lord is more than worthy of our trust. For a Christian to have faith in Him is like a child loving his parent.

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Words – 1,035

Passive Sentences – 3%

Readability – 75.8%

Reading Level – 5.8

Illustration from a woodcut by Baron Julius Schnoor von Carolsfeld, 1794-1872, a distinguished German artist known especially for his book, Das Buch der Bücher in Bilden (The Book of Books in Pictures). Copyright © WELS used by permission for personal and congregational use.