Why Did You Doubt?

Trinity XI --- August 7, 2005

Matthew 14:22-33

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

It is the fourth watch of the night, somewhere between 3:00 and 6:00 AM, and we know from the other Gospel writers that the disciples are about three and a half miles from shore. Considering that they had left Jesus just after supper the evening before, they were not far. They had gone approximately three and a half miles in over seven hours? Progress wasn’t good.

Their progress is evidence for us of the struggles they were facing that night on the lake. Sailing into a headwind is impossible, so we may conclude that they were rowing to the other side. From the amount of territory they have covered, that rowing has been tedious work. These men have been fighting the wind which has also brought about the buffeting waves.

These are hardy men. They know that storms like this come along. Most of them, having been fishermen, while cautious on this body of water, take it all in stride. Their concern about the conditions is justified, but cautious concern is much different from being terrified.

Notice from our text however, when these men do become terrified. 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.(vv. 25-26) They were terrified only after seeing someone walking on the water, incorrectly presuming it is a ghost.

Let’s face it, these men are more than physically tired. It isn’t the best of conditions to be out on the water. If it were Lake Michigan, there would have been small craft advisories broadcast by the Coast Guard to warn people. The conditions, wind and waves causing the boat to lurch and bob, combined with the water spray, made it hard to see clearly. Add to this their tired condition, and normally people don’t walk on the water, and we can see why they didn’t really recognize Jesus. As if the wind and the waves were not enough, now this? They were terrified!

Jesus, omniscient God, knows what is going on in their hearts and minds. So it is that Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”(vs. 27)

They are no different from us, they doubt. They’d seen the feeding of the five thousand for their last meal, but they doubt. Jesus had sent them off because, as John informs us in his Gospel account of this event, (John 6:15) the crowds there wanted to make Him their bread king. Jesus didn’t want the disciples to get caught up in earthly things. Jesus didn’t want them to be obscured in that which is most important, to confess who Christ truly is.

So, as Jesus walks toward them on the water, even as He speaks to calm their fears, doubt remains. Did you hear what happened next? “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?” (vv. 28-31)

“If it’s you? If? If it is really you, Jesus, tell me to come to you on the water.” Peter doubted.

And, what did Jesus do? He said, “Come.”

And so, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. Seeing the wind and such, he was afraid and began to sink. There, standing on the water before him was Jesus, and yet he doubted. He saw the evidence of the wind in the turbulent waves that buffeted the boat and surrounded him, and he was afraid. His got caught up in his earthly situation, and his fear was a sign of doubt, a lack of faith. And as he doubted, he sank.

You and I are like Peter. We have evidence of God’s presence, for the very Word of God is in our midst, and yet we doubt. We want all problems removed and the storms of life to be stilled.

But look at our text, Christ didn’t remove the wind or the waves, but expected Peter to trust Him in the midst of it all.

In the Old Testament lesson, things are much the same. Elijah goes into hiding because of fear. God asks him what he is doing there, why is he hiding out. Elijah explains that they have rejected God’s covenant, broken the altars, put God’s prophet’s to death by the sword and they are now trying to kill him - the only prophet left.

The Lord passed by Elijah then - not in the wind, not in the earthquake, not in the fire, but in the gentle whisper. And God instructs Elijah to continue to go about his task. The Lord informs Elijah that he had reserved seven thousand who have not bowed down to Baal. This is what He, the Lord has done, even in the midst of the trials and tribulations.

Look at our world. Cancer takes a beloved spouse, “Where’s God?” we cry. A job is lost - “Why does God allow it to happen?” Catastrophe strikes - “Can’t God fix this?” Persecution comes because of what we believe - and we think that if God is really God, He should punish those who ridicule and oppose His religion. In all these things, often faith falters and doubt creeps into our life. We look for something, just as did Peter. “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

Jesus doesn’t calm the sea, He doesn’t remove the storm. Jesus but speaks a single word, “Come.” Trust the Word of God to do what it says - and so, by the power of that Word of Christ, Peter is able to walk on the water. The wind doesn’t calm, the troubles are still there, Peter is still at risk - but by that Word of Christ, he is able to walk on the water.

It is as Peter looks around and focuses not on Christ nor on His Word of promise, that His faith falters and he begins to sink. Christ reaches out with His hand and catches him. All this takes place as the wind howls around them.

Christ doesn’t calm the storms of life in your case either, but expects you to keep your eyes focused upon Him as your strength, even in the midst of life’s storm. Trust the Word; trust that He has indeed overcome the world. Know that this isn’t only your struggle. Paul struggled with this in his life, too. It wasn’t all a bed of roses. Here is what happened in his life. He had a particular illness, we’re not sure what it was. But here is what he wrote. So to keep me from being too elated by the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:7-10 ESV)

It is the Word of Christ which sustains us even in the trials of our life. It is His Word which builds faith and gives us the courage to step out into life’s troubled waters. It doesn’t calm them, it doesn’t overcome them, but it keeps us focused upon Christ alone that we may rise above them.

Jesus asks Peter, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” The same could be said to you and me, “You of little faith, why do you doubt?” What sinful and frail people we are. We get so caught up in the cares and concerns of this life that we lose sight of Christ. And by being consumed with the world and losing sight of Christ, His Word of promise is also forgotten.

But Christ, the Son of God, came not to destroy those who have little faith, but to save them - even as He caught Peter and brought Him into the boat.

The world was against Jesus. They shouted, “Crucify Him!” Jesus was unwavering in His trust. Even in excruciating pain upon the cross, as horrific death loomed before Him, Jesus spoke, “Into Your hands I commit My spirit.”

His trust and confidence, His unwavering faith, is the gift He gives you with the gift of forgiveness. In speaking to you His Word, Christ moves you from being consumed with the world, to instead look to and focus upon Him alone.

As Christ came to the disciples on the water, so He comes to you to save you. As He spoke a word that moved Peter to trust in Him, so He speaks a word of forgiveness to you that you trust His salvation.

To save Peter, Christ drew Him into the boat, and there the storms were calm. Christ draws us into the ark of Christendom, His church. His Church is the place where the storms of this life are calmed and stilled for a time. In His church, we are safe and strengthened to step out of the boat and into the turbulent storms and waves of life.

As His presence in the boat brought a confession to the lips of the disciples, so His presence in His church - His body and blood - feed your faith to confess Him as your Savior and God. And in confessing Him, you are bold in the faith to life everlasting. Amen.

The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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