Just Another IRREGULAR  Messianic Weekly Dose of Encouragement entitled: Why did you doubt …!

Nov 11, 2016

Another Rough Draft By Rabbi John Wesley A. II  

Why did you doubt? does not seem very encouraging no matter how you view it! But let’s try to find and exploit the positive side of things in this passage, shall we? Our passage comes from the incident when Peter had just taken his eyes off of Yahushua.  Peter was not walking on the water but rather on the firmness of the word from Yahushua (Jesus) just above the water.  This is so important for us to understand before we go any farther. Otherwise, we miss the teaching point behind the question “why did you doubt?” This significant emotional event is found primarily in Matthew 14:22-32 in the Berean Study Bible; but I want us to focus our attention on verse 29 thru 32: “Come said Jesus (Yahushua) Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”  31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” 32 And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”

Obviously there is much to discuss here but I want you to focus on a few facts: first; Peter was the only one out of the twelve to challenge and take Jesus at his word when told to come. Second; The storm was not created by Yah to aid them in their efforts to fulfil Yahushua’s command in verse 22: “Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. (Please Note: Mark 11:22-24 gives an account when Yahushua was teaching his disciples or talmudim how to have and maintain The God Kind of Faith- or more literally how to possess the supernatural Yah faith; confidence, assurance, faithfulness, and trust:“Have faith in God,” Jesus said to them. 23 “Truly I tell you that if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and has no doubt in his heart but believes that it will happen, it will be done for him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.). As you can see here Yahushua’s disciples were to take that word from the Lord and execute its  directive.  Thirdly; The adversary immediately tried to hinder their progress. Another important fact which we will call fact number four; is that Peter’s faith did carry him within arm’s reach of Jesus. It was not until Peter was just about there that he began to take his eyes off Jesus. This has been overlooked by most but is greatly needed for us to spiritually explore. It is very possible that Peter reached that place of SELF-RELIANCE, you know- where those famous incriminating words begin to loudly scream over the final purpose of Yah  in our lives “… No need to worry I GOT THIS NOW!  

In Conclusion:

Peter was so close to his breakthrough that he could reach out and touch it without having to make a lunge or step toward it; verse 31 “Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?” Please notice Yahushua did not step toward him nor was he supernaturally translated near him to make up the difference  between the two of them. No and the reason was because peter had made it all the way to within in touching distance! How close are you  and I to our  breakthrough? ”

Shalom Shalom until next time …

Rabbi John Wesley A. II