Context No. 2957 of 4322 · John

John 6:16-21: in context

16When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea. 17They entered into the boat, and were going over the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not come to them. 18The sea was tossed by a great wind blowing. 19When therefore they had rowed about twenty-five or thirty stadia, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat; and they were afraid. 20But he said to them, “It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 21They were willing therefore to receive him into the boat. Immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.

Evening comes, and the disciples set out across the sea toward Capernaum in the dark, without Jesus. A great wind rises and the water grows rough. When they have rowed three or four miles, straining at the oars, they see Jesus walking on the sea, drawing near the boat, and they are afraid. But he says, it is I; do not be afraid. They gladly take him in, and at once the boat reaches the shore they were heading for.

Picture the scene: the disciples in the dark, fighting the wind, and Jesus not with them, until suddenly he is, coming to them across the very water that terrifies them. His word is simple, it is I, do not be afraid. And the moment they welcome him into the boat, they are at the land. The presence they first feared turned out to be their rescue, and it had been walking toward them all along over the sea they thought might sink them.

In the dark and the wind, do I recognize that the presence coming toward me is Christ saying "it is I, do not be afraid," and welcome him into the boat?

Sources

John 6:20: "But he said to them, It is I. Don't be afraid."
Psalm 77:19: "Your way was through the sea; your paths through the great waters."
Matthew 14:27: "But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Cheer up! It is I! Don't be afraid."