John 6:16-21: a reflection

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.

The disciples are alone in a boat at night, the sea tossed by a great wind, and Jesus has not come to them. Then, as they strain at the oars, they see Jesus walking on the sea, drawing near the boat, and they are afraid. But he speaks: It is I. Don't be afraid. His presence, coming to them across the storm, dispels their fear; and when they receive him into the boat, immediately they reach the land they were going to. Into the storm and the darkness Jesus came to his frightened disciples, and his presence and his word, it is I, do not be afraid, stilled their fear. What frightened them at first, his drawing near, became their comfort once they knew it was he.

Notice how Christ's presence dispelled the disciples' fear: it is I, do not be afraid. They were in a storm, in the dark, straining at the oars, and afraid; and even his coming frightened them at first. But he spoke, it is I, do not be afraid, and his presence changed everything. The storm did not vanish at once, but their fear was stilled by knowing he was there, near them in it. His presence, coming to them across the very storm that frightened them, was their comfort. What matters in the storm is not first that it ceases, but that Christ is present in it; and his presence, and his word, dispel the fear. Christ came to them in the storm, and his nearness stilled their fear.

That is worth resting in, for Christ comes to us in our storms, and his presence dispels our fear. We face storms, dark and frightening, and can feel that Christ has not come, that we are alone straining against the wind; but Christ comes to his people in the storm, saying, it is I, do not be afraid. His presence in the storm, more than the storm's ceasing, is what stills our fear. When you are in a storm and afraid, listen for Christ's word, it is I, do not be afraid, for he comes to his people in the storm. Take comfort that Christ comes to you in your storms and his presence dispels your fear, as he came to his disciples walking on the tossing sea and said, it is I, do not be afraid; for what stills our fear in the storm is not first that it ceases but that Christ is present in it, and his nearness and his word turn even our fright into comfort once we know that it is he.

Lord Jesus, the disciples are alone in a boat at night, the sea tossed by a great wind, and you have not come to them. Then, as they strain at the oars, they see you walking on the sea, drawing near the boat, and they are afraid. But you speak: it is I; don't be afraid. Your presence, coming to them across the storm, dispels their fear; and when they receive you into the boat, immediately they reach the land they were going to. Into the storm and the darkness you came to your frightened disciples, and your presence and your word stilled their fear. Show me how your presence dispelled the disciples' fear: it is I, do not be afraid. They were in a storm, in the dark, straining at the oars, and afraid; and even your coming frightened them at first. But you spoke, and your presence changed everything. The storm did not vanish at once, but their fear was stilled by knowing you were there, near them in it. What matters in the storm is not first that it ceases, but that you are present in it. Let me rest in that, for you come to me in my storms, and your presence dispels my fear. I face storms, dark and frightening, and can feel that you have not come, that I am alone straining against the wind; but you come to your people in the storm, saying, it is I, do not be afraid. When I am in a storm and afraid, help me listen for your word, it is I, do not be afraid, Lord, for you come to your people in the storm and your nearness stills our fear.