# 113 It IS I,Fear Not

 

# 113 It Is I, Fear Not

 

Joh 6:16 Now when evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into the boat, and went over the sea toward Capernaum. And it was already dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18 Then the sea arose because a great wind was blowing. 19 So when they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near the boat; and they were afraid. 20 But He said to them, "It is I; do not be afraid." 21 Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

 

There are three different accounts of Jesus walking on the water given in the Gospels. Three different perspectives of the same event. In Matthews account, (Mt 14:22-33) Jesus sends the disciples away, dismisses the crowd, then goes up the mountain by Himself to pray.  In the evening, He walks on the water to catch up with the disciples in the midst of a stormy sea. Peter walks on the water in Matthew’s account, falls in, is rescued by Jesus, and the wind ceases when Jesus steps into the boat.

 

In Mark’s account (Mk 6:45-52) there is no mention of peter walking on the water, but the rest of the account parallels the account given in Matthew.

 

John’s account is somewhat shorter and includes the miraculous transport of the boat to the shore. All three accounts have some common points. It was dark. It was stormy. The disciples were struck with great fear as they spotted Him walking on the water, and in ALL three accounts Jesus admonished the disciples to “fear not.”

 

Both Matthew and Mark assert  that the disciples thought they were seeing a spirit or a phantom….in other words, a ghost! But Jesus spoke to their deepest fear and assured them , “It is I.” It was after that assertion that He commanded them to “fear not.”

 

Perhaps you are in a situation today that is making your soul cry out in fear. Let me remind you that as a believer, Jesus has promised to be with you always. He is there, right beside you, urging you to recognize His presence. You’ll know He is present as He brings peace to your situation.

 

“It is I,” is just another way of saying, “I got this. Do not be afraid!” This fearful, stormy night incident was not meant just for the disciples, it was meant for your stormy nights as well. Fear not my brother. Fear not my sister. Jesus has not abandoned ship! “Willingly receive,” His presence as He ushers you to shore.