If you are a talmid, you want to do everything your rabbi does – it is your calling to be as much like your rabbi as you can be. When Peter steps out of the boat to walk on the water to Jesus, but starts to fail, Jesus says to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” Who does Peter doubt? Why? (See Matthew 14:22-32)
david wrote @
I initially fell into Bell’s trap that Peter actually doubted himself,but upon further review, I agree with Jack..we need to keep our eyes on Jesus. Using Bell’s reasoning, we, as a student, or any other student of Jesus could be like Jesus and actually save others by dying on a cross. If you look at vs 28 Peter says ” if it is you,command me to come to you “. Using Bell’s explanation of students being directly behind their rabbi’s steps, then all of the disciples would have already been in the water trying to walk behind Jesus and Peter wouldn’t have to ask anything.
melissa wrote @
I, too, fell into the Rob Bell trap of thinking that Peter doubted his ability to walk on water. It sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? It’s all about Peter, right? Wrong. It’s all about Jesus. I firmly believe that we can do anything if we simply hold onto Jesus. He has all power and can do anything, including allowing us to do something that we could in no way have the power to do on our own, i.e. like Peter walking on water. As disciples, we should be continually striving to be like the Rabbi, in our actions, our deeds, our words., allowing His dust to fall all over us. Unfortunately, we get in the way and fall short of all He intends for us.
Mike Powers wrote @
As I contmeplated this question, I tried to put mysef in Peter’s shoes. If it was me walking on the water towards Jesus would I be more likely to loose faith in myself or Jesus. What would hold me back is fear that all of my sin (internal junk) would prevent me from the enourmous faith needed to walk on water. Insecurities that I’m not good enough to do as my rabbi does. Therefore I think there would be more doubt in myseft than Jesus. I have no doubt in Jesus’ capabilities and Peter probably didn’t either. I agree with Bell on this one that Peter began to doubt himself.
Having said that, Jack gave a great answer that made me “doubt” my answer.
Bill Chick wrote @
Isn’t it interesting that Bell spend the bulk of this chapter extolling and admiring rabbis and their teaching methods. But when he offers a statement on Matt 14 he ignores that pattern of teaching and interpreting scripture.
Just for the fun of it, let’s see what some more recent Christian scholars (maybe our equivalent to a Rabbi have to say about this passage.)
(CAPS WILL DISDINGUISH MY WORDS FROM THE RABBI JUST QUOTED)
And Peter answered Him and said, “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 afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matt. 14:28-31)
Peter’s if did not reflect doubt that it was actually his Lord,—MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The
Mere impetuosity might have caused him to jump out of the boat, expecting Jesus somehow to come to his rescue. But he knew better, and he therefore asked the Lord, Command me to come to You on the water. He knew Jesus had the power to enable him to walk on the water, but he did not presume to attempt the feat without His express instruction. Peter’s request was an act of affection built on confident faith. He did not ask to walk on water for the sake of doing something spectacular, but because it was the way to get to Jesus.—MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The
It was safer to be with Jesus on the water than to be without Him in the boat.—MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The
Jesus’ telling Peter to come confirms the disciple’s right motive. Jesus never invites, much less commands, a person to do anything sinful.—MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The
Peter temporarily took His eyes off the Lord and, seeing the wind, he became afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” His faith was enough to get him out of the boat, but it was not enough to carry him across the water.—MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The
Faith is strengthened by its being taken to extremities it has never faced before. Such strengthening is basic to Christian growth and maturity. “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial,” James says; “for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12). The Lord takes us as far as our faith will go, and when it ends we begin to sink. It is then that we call out to Him and He again demonstrates His faithfulness and His power, and our faith learns to extend that much further. As we trust God in the faith we have, we discover its limitations; but we also discover what it can yet become.—MacArthur New Testament Commentary, The
DID PETER REACH THE LIMIT OF HIS FAITH?
DID PETER LEARN THAT HIS FAITH CAN AND WOULD BE STRETCHED?
DID PETER REMEMBER THIS LESSON WHEN GOD LOWERED THE SHEET WITH UNCLEAN BEASTS AND TOLD HIM TO EAT?
When he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid—It was by faith in the power of Christ he was upheld; when that faith failed, by which the laws of gravitation were suspended, no wonder that those laws returned to their wonted action, and that he began to sink. It was not the violence of the winds, nor the raging of the waves, which endangered his life, but his littleness of faith—Adam Clarke’s Commentary
WAS PETER’S FAITH IN HIS OWN POWER OR IN THE POWER OF CHRIST?
WHAT WOULD IT SAY ABOUT HIS FAITH DESIRE TO PLEASE GOD IF HIS FAITH WAS IN HIMSELF?
Here is an instance of the characteristic ardour and rashness of Peter. He had less real faith than he supposed; more ardour than his faith would justify: he was rash, headlong, incautious, really attached to Jesus, but still easily daunted, and prone to fall. He was afraid, therefore, when in danger, and, sinking, cried again for help. Thus he was suffered to learn his own character, and his dependence on Jesus: a lesson which all Christians are permitted to learn by dear-bought experience.—Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament
WHAT LESSON DID PETER LEARN ABOUT HIS OWN FAITH?
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. [So long as the attention of Peter was fixed upon the Lord's command he succeeded in his venture; but so soon as he let the power of the tempest distract his thoughts, his faith failed and he began to sink.] 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and took hold of him, and saith unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? [Fear is a source of doubt and an enemy of faith. Those who would achieve the victories of faith must overcome their fears.] —Four-Fold Gospel
WHERE WAS PETER’S ATTENTION WHEN HE WALKED ON THE WATER?
WHERE WAS HIS ATTENTION WHEN HE BEGAN TO SINK?
Christ bade Peter come, not only that he might walk upon the water, and so know his Lord’s power, but that he might know his own weakness. And the Lord often lets his servants have their choice, to humble and prove them, and to show the greatness of his power and grace. When we look off from Christ, and look at the greatness of opposing difficulties, we shall begin to fall; but when we call to him, he will stretch out his arm, and save us. Christ is the great Saviour; those who would be saved, must come to him, and cry to him, for salvation; we are never brought to this, till we find ourselves sinking: the sense of need drives us to him.—Matthew Henry Concise
DID PETER LEARN HIS LESSON AND RUN TO CHRIST?
FORGIVE ME FOR BEING SO LONG WINDED, BUT JUST A FEW MORE QUESTIONS.
WHY WOULD JESUS REBUKE PETER FOR LOSING FAITH IN HIMSELF?
DOESN’T GOD WANT US TO HAVE FAITH IN HIM AND NOT OURSELVES?
WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT BELL’S POINT OF VIEW WHEN HE ASKED ABOUT FAITH IN MAN RATHER THAN FAITH IN GOD?
Bill Chick wrote @
Wow, I just watched he video you posted Jack, he does a masterfull job of getting to the point, too bad I did not watch it before making any comments, there would have been ss to read!
Ray wrote @
Everyone had so much to say and it is all good , I find sometime that I don’t have enough faith to walk on water, sometime I don’t even have enough faith to get out the boat.
The attached link to a You Tube video I came across and I have to agree with. I reference it below, if you have time, it’s abou 10 minutes long.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8wSAEezBc3s
Rob Bell talks about how Peter lost faith in himself. Is this Biblical, is this true, has Rob Bell just taken you in a different direction than God intended. I have to say that I really agree with this Pastor on You Tube and that it isn’t about Peter losing faith in himself, but losing faith in Jesus. Peter had too much Faith in himself (as seen in another story) as Jesus had to rebuke him and even tell him that he would betray him three times. It may be true that Peter doubted that he physically could not do this, but I think that Rob Bell jumps to that as if that is what the Bible says.
Read, Matt 14:28-31, …….But when he (Peter) saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me! …….Jesus stretched out His hand and caught himm, and said to him, “O you of little faith, whay did you doubt?”
Does God really think we can be like Him? If so, why did he have to leave us with the Holy Spirit?
The only way we can be like Him is to take up our cross daily, die to our flesh, put our full trust in Him, rely on His Holy Spirit. Peter needed to keep his eyes on Jesus, realizing that it isn’t his strength or faith in himself but by faith in Jesus and placing his trust in Christ would he be able to walk on water.
This pastor (who I don’t know) references 3 scriptures:
Jeremiah 17:5, Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord.
Prov 3:5, Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
Rom 7:18, For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find.