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When I look at the picture I can almost hear the Lord's words, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" Look at the picture. Doesn't Jesus look a bit upset? I wonder how Jesus really felt at that moment.
It seems that those words would have been more appropriate for the other eleven still in the boat than for Peter. But the text doesn't allow us to make that judgement. It is obviously a singular "you" in the sentence.
That phrase is used three times by Jesus. In Matthew 6:30 and Luke 12:28 Jesus is telling us not to worry about what we will wear as the Father is aware that we need to be clothed and He will clothe us better than He clothes the grass of the field. In Matthew 16:8 Jesus is chiding the disciples for their focus on bread rather than the devious teaching of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. The last time is His statement to Peter after failing to continue trusting Him as he walked on water in Matthew 14.
In each of these passages the "little faith" has to do with a concern of life overshadowing the work of God. Worried about clothes when God has promised to supply our needs, is an indication of little faith. Worried about food when God's truth is being corrupted, is an indication of little faith. Worried about the wind when God's power is being miraculously displayed, is an indication of little faith.
So "little faith" is not a statement about the amount of faith someone has, but more a statement of the duration and tenacity of that faith! Perhaps that is why faith the size of a mustard seed can move a mountain. It has little to do with littleness. Little faith is faith that gets distracted easily from the truth.
Peter had little faith because he let the strong wind distract him from what God was doing in his life. So this brings me back to the original question of this post. How did Jesus really feel when Peter stepped out of the boat, walked on water and then looked at the wind and began to sink?
I'm thinking that His original emotion was elation that Peter had the faith to ask to come out on the water. He was probably thrilled to see Peter entering into the miracle and moving closer to Him. And then He was sad to see Peter's faith get distracted by the wind. A wind which was a reality when Peter was in the boat. A wind which was a normal part of sailing on the Sea of Galilee. The normalcy of the wind overshadowed the work that God was doing in Peter's life.
Although Jesus was sad that Peter's faith was little (distracted), He was there to save Him and continue to work with Peter. Later in the training process Jesus told Peter that Satan had asked to sift the disciples like wheat but Jesus was praying that Peter's faith would not fail. (Luke 22:31,32) Jesus was well aware of Peter's little faith and never gave up on him.
This is my last week as the pastor of Desert Hills. God has invited me to step out of the boat and walk on water. May my faith not be little!
Lord, give me a great faith as I walk on the water. Teach me to keep my attention on the work you are doing in my life and in the lives of those around me. Don't let me be distracted by the normalcy of life, job, home, food. Count me in on the miracle You have invited me to live out in faith. Let my faith be pleasing to You! Amen
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