Doubt is a part of life. Without doubt, we would never discover or learn. We would never think about the things we think. If it were not for doubt, we would never really be able to believe anything or be convinced of the veracity of any idea. Doubt is especially important when we think about eternity and God. Of course, it’s even more troubling because people don’t generally want to admit that they doubt God. They want to appear to be strong and immovable, the faithful people of God who do not turn from Him or question Him in any way. I have doubted often. Before I experienced conversion, I doubted God’s existence and the good of the church. After, I doubted God’s plan and my own place in His kingdom. There was a phase when I doubted other people. I was a cynic and a pessimist. If asked to step out and walk on water, I would have drowned at the bottom; I knew the laws of physics.

Matthew is telling his kinsmen about who Jesus is. How does Jesus feel about our doubt on this earth? Who is He in light of our doubt?

Matthew 14:22-36

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. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

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!”

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick; and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.

Do not fear (v. 22-27)

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.

Immediately after feeding the five thousand men and their families, Jesus sent the disciples and the crowds away so He could spend some time alone in prayer. Matthew does not share what Jesus was praying about, only that He prays by himself—alone in the evening. Jesus discipled people in community and taught that people should be discipled in community (Cf. 13:52). His prayers were most often private and personal, not communal—which is consistent with what He taught in His sermon on the mount (6:5-15). This verse does not negate the importance of corporate prayer (Cf. Acts 2:42) but does clue us in as to the nature of prayer as contrasted against the nature of discipleship.

When Jesus starts praying, the disciples have had time to travel a long distance in the boat. The boat is being battered by the waves because the wind is against the boat.

And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.
But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Between 3 and 6 in the morning, Jesus is walking out to the boat on the sea. The disciples are afraid because they think they are seeing a ghost. Jesus immediately assured them that it was Him and said, “Do not be afraid.” This is an important detail in the story. Jesus is going to the boat. He encourages His disciples not to be afraid because He is going to them. Peter’s response doesn’t quite match Jesus’s encouragement.

Why do you doubt? (v. 28-33)

Peter said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

Peter’s doubt begins before he is on the water. First, he says, “If it is you, Lord…” So, he doubts whether this figure claiming to be Jesus is actually Jesus. Second, he instructs Jesus to command him to go out to Jesus on the water. If Jesus is already going to the disciples (v. 25), why would any disciple need to exit the boat and walk on water to Jesus? Peter essentially responds to Jesus’s encouragement not to fear by telling Jesus to command him and so he can show Jesus how fearless he is. This is not the last time Peter will try to advise Jesus (Cf. 16:22). When he advises Jesus, he advises against Jesus’s plan—here, that He should go all the way to the disciples and, in chapter 16, that He should go all the way to the cross. If I understand the work of Christ correctly, there is no way we can contribute to what He is doing. As we learned last week, Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith and consequent works. We cannot meet Him halfway; He must come the full way and deliver us from destruction. 

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!”

Jesus commanded Peter to come. If Peter could make it, if he did not fear or doubt, he would make it to Jesus. Peter becomes afraid, doubts, and plunges into the depths of the sea. He cannot get to Jesus. If Christ does not save Peter, Peter will drown. There is nothing Peter can do to save himself or go to Christ. He is depraved and helplessly at Christ’s mercy. This isn’t the last time Peter’s doubt will be revealed (Cf. 26:69-75). Jesus is showing us that, despite our best intentions, we do not have the ability to come to Him or meet Him halfway. We refer to this doctrine as humanity’s total and essential depravity. Christ must come the full way and deliver us from the depths and the storm (Cf. Genesis 15; Deuteronomy 31:16-32:44; Ephesians 2:1-10).

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!”

Jesus saved Peter from the depths and the other disciples from the torrent. This is not the first time Jesus calmed a storm (Cf. Matthew 8:18-27). Jesus asks Peter why Peter doubted. This is the point at which many teachers depart from the Biblical story and say, “See, if you keep your eyes on Jesus or just have enough faith, you will walk on the proverbial water.” People like that sort of message because they like to elevate themselves and make themselves the central characters of God’s Bible. The disciples, here, fear and doubt. They are unable to meet Christ halfway; That’s where we are at—dead in our trespasses and sins. When Jesus asks Peter, “Why did you doubt,” he is not referring only to Peter’s doubt on the water but, also, in the boat. Peter tried to conquer his fear by stepping out on the water and he could not. Jesus had to go all the way. He did so despite the disciple’s fear and doubt. Jesus is the central character, here. That’s why the disciples confess, “You are certainly God’s Son,” a designation belonging to Israel’s kings in the line of David, which is established forever and perpetually fulfilled by Christ (2 Samuel 7:14-17; see also Proverbs 30:4; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; Daniel 3:25; Micah 5:1-3 concerning the “Son of God” motif in the Old Testament). When the disciples confess that Jesus is the Son of God, they confess that He is the Messiah and the rightful and perpetual heir to the throne established through King David.

Despite our insufficiency and doubt, Christ saves. When our lack of faith is made evident, it is revealed in order to highlight Christ’s steadfast faithfulness to save and sanctify His people. Peter did not become suddenly without doubt but realized, instead, that Jesus was indeed the Christ, God’s Son.

Jesus heals many (v. 34-36)

When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick; and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched it were cured.

They docked at Gennesaret, on the Sea of Galilee’s northwest shoreline. Again, we read about miraculous healing, which both fulfilled prophecy and highlighted Jesus’s role to, despite our insufficiency, heal sin, and bring His people out of their unrighteousness—which is evidenced by the doubt we saw earlier. Neither our doubt nor our inability to heal ourselves determines how God will or will not answer our prayers. It does not determine how God relates to us. He is king. He is the one with power. He is the one who saves us and brings us to Him. We are not the main characters; He is. When we doubt, we are in good company. God works our doubts together to reveal more about Himself.

Jesus’s Identity According to Matthew 14-17:

Who Jesus is:	Who Jesus is not:
The expected Messiah (Isaiah 35:4-5; 61:1-2): The one who would heal His people, take their infirmities, raise the dead, and restore justice to the earth.	John the Baptist; the new Elijah (Malachi 4:5-6): Not merely a prophet, teacher, or good person.
Compassionate provider; Israel’s Messiah (Cf. Exodus 3:6-9; 34:6; Psalm 78:38-39; 2 Kings 13:23; Isaiah 14:1; 49:13; Lamentations 3:32; Zechariah 10:6).	Not merely  an inspirational figure or brilliant strategist. Not limited by human means.
The Son of God; the king who perpetually sits on the Messiah’s throne prepared through King David (2 Samuel 7:14-17; see also Proverbs 30:4; Isaiah 7:14; 9:6-7; Daniel 3:25; Micah 5:1-3 concerning the “Son of God” motif in the Old Testament). Israel’s deliverer.	Not a wish-granter or halfway savior.

Questions:

1. How is this story commonly mistaught at the expense of the Gospel?
2. Is the story more about our faith or Christ’s faithfulness?