You Of Great Faith

Matthew 14:25-31: Shortly before dawn 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.

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!”

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

This is one of my favorite stories about Peter. It makes me a little sad, though, because Jesus seems disappointed with Peter when he becomes afraid. But when I thought about it more, I realized that isn’t the main point. The most exciting issue is that Jesus expected Peter to have great faith.

The first thing Jesus said to Peter when he said he wanted to walk to Jesus on the lake was, “Come.” Jesus believes we can have that kind of faith.

When the Roman Centurion in Matthew 8 shows his trust that Jesus can heal his servant without coming to his house, Jesus says, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.” Verse 10

When the Canaanite woman in Matthew 15 showed her bravery and belief that Jesus would accept her he said, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” Verse 28

He doesn’t expect more of us than we are able.

Matthew 17: 20 He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Sometimes in dark moments, I’ve felt I was only holding on to God with my thumbnails. But that was enough. Truly, it was not my strength that kept me holding on. God held me securely in his hands. John 10:28-30

God will help our faith increase, and he will do great things. Mark 9:23-34