It is I, don’t be afraid

because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” (Mark 6:50)

 

After the miracle of the five loaves of bread and two fish, Jesus went alone to the mountain in order to pray apart from the disciples. And the disciples were on their way to Bethsaida by boat. Jesus let his disciples go ahead of Himself to Bethsaida because He wanted to avoid the multitude who intended to make Jesus ascend throne, as the written in John 6:15. The eyes of people were mostly focused on the bread to be filled their stomachs. Looking at the miracle by Jesus, therefore, they expected Jesus to be a political leader for Israelite. But Jesus went alone to pray apart from them, and again came to the disciples who were in the troubles on the sea, said to them “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

 

The case of feeding for 5,000 people with two fishes and five loaves was clearly a great event. That’s an amazing miracle for all the others, but it was not special for Jesus, the Son of God. So is the case with Jesus walked toward the disciples on the sea. “It’s a miracle.” or “No, it’s not a miracle.” these two kinds of expressions arise from each different view one another concerning the event and subject. It has no choice but to be described as a miracle, for that cannot be reasonably understood in human standards and perspectives. But it can never be special from the point of view of Almighty God. At that time, the most necessaries to Jesus was to give spiritual and bodily bread to the hungry people. So Jesus had them given the spiritual teaching and the food.

People’s basic interests are the matters of taking a food for the flesh. And political issues along with eatings are an important concern for people who live with the flesh. An attitude that neglects or ignores such the things cannot be natural anywhere people live. That’s why Jesus gave food to the hungry crowd. He also taught them the lesson of the heavenly kingdom. But to be sorry they did not understand yet what Jesus’ real mind meant. Moreover it seemed then that even his disciples failed to follow Jesus with their firm faith. Everyone of us now is in the same situation as the crowd and the disciples’ standing of that time. Which of us doesn’t need bread, and we can live in perfect faith oneself?

But the hopeful thing for the crowd was that they had wanted for something from Jesus, followed Him and listened to. Through Jesus, they got all their spiritual and bodily food solved. Jesus calls “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” And He says “Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” Everyone who has come to Jesus and has been saved can be solved all problems of the life of spirit and body. The disciples also lacked faith then, but there was hope for them, too. Likewise, even though the workers specially selected among the people, their faith must not be enough in God’s standards. Nevertheless, for God makes them grow up and work, only praise the Lord with thanks.

The disciples were greatly surprised because Jesus appeared on the dark sea in the middle of the night to their disciples who struggled against the wind. This scene clearly represents our situation living in the world. Jesus comes near to us even in such a desperate situation, even in a life where we cannot live without suffering from adversity, in which the darkness of sin is filled in every corner. For fearing of adversity and darkness around oneself, even Jesus, who is right next to oneself, we often cannot realize. We pray by lips to God the Father and calls for Jesus’ name, but we very often live without confidence, because not accompanying with the Holy Spirit. At such that time, Jesus says “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

 

Anxiety and fear are elements to be removed from self in the Holy Spirit. People spend their lives as slaves of anxiety and fear, both large and small. Anyone who does not dwell in Jesus has no choice but to live so. But those who live with the Spirit of Jesus always can maintain real peace in spirit. You who have been friends with anxiety and fear, now in the name of Jesus, shake off those negatives and always have peace!

 

(Written by Koonoh, Pastor of JDO Presbyterian Church in Korea, on Aug 16th 2020)