Matthew 14:22-36 Walking on Water

Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea....Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water." And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"  When they got into the boat, the wind stopped. And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God's Son!" [Matthew 14:22‭-‬36 NASB]

After the death of John the Baptist, Jesus got in a boat and went to a secluded place to be alone. The crowds, however, followed him on land an met Him in that place. Jesus, having compassion on them, set aside His own grief to heal the sick. Instead of having time for Himself, He spent the day - into the evening - helping others.

Finally, He sent the crowds away, as well as His disciples, so that He could be alone. He processed the death of John the Baptist by getting alone with the Father in prayer. What a wonderful example this is for us. When overwhelmed by life - the grief of loss, the demands of others - it may seem impossible to find time to get alone with God in prayer. That is when you need to make the time.

Jesus went up into the mountains alone in the evening. He came down during the fourth watch of the night, or roughly 3:00 or 4:00 AM, walking on the water.

This is one of the most told and retold events of the Bible. The obvious life application is also retold in countless sermons: keep your eyes on Jesus and not on the storm, but if you falter, call on Him and He will be there to rescue you.

What strikes me is that Jesus describes Peter as having "little faith"

It must be a matter of perspective. What I see is the one and only person to step out of the boat in the first place. Yes, he allowed doubt to enter when he saw the winds. Relative to Jesus, Peter had little faith. But, since he actually stepped out of the boat, relative to the other disciples, he had extreme faith.

Peter had an advantage that we no longer have. He could physically see and hear Jesus calling him onto the water. Without that clear calling, if I went out in a boat and stepped out onto the water, it wouldn't be faith, but presumption. There is no reason to assume the God would honor my presumption of stepping out without a calling by allowing me to walk on the water.

If, however, you have confidence, and your heart bears witness that He has called you, then by all means, step out. This applies to any calling, whether it be full-time ministry, or weekend volunteerism, or being His witness at work.

According to Jesus, it only takes a little faith to step out. It takes great faith to continue without doubting.

A little faith will get you out of the boat, but extreme faith will get you across the water.