"And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." [Mt 14:26-27]
After Jesus fed crowd of at least five thousand, (for “they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.” [Mt 14:21]), it came to pass that,
“Immediately Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone.” [Mt 14:22-23]
However, though Jesus was alone on land, in the mountain praying, “the ship,” which the disciples were using to cross the sea, “was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.” [Mt 14:25] But “in the fourth watch of the night,” at least six hours after Jesus and His disciples had split up, “Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.” [Mt 14:25] And it is here that our verse for today appears. In the dark of early morning, after hours of “toiling in rowing,” [Mk 6:48] and being battered by the winds and waves of the sea; after hours of extremely slow progress, (the disciples only making headway of “about five and twenty or thirty furlongs,” which is around 3.5 miles [Jn 6:19]), Jesus came to them. Jesus came to them walking on the sea. “And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.” [Mt 14:26]
But even though the disciples’ were afraid, even though their cry was not entirely directed toward Christ will full understanding or knowledge; even though they offered up but a feeble and frightened yelp; yes, even despite these weaknesses, it is written,
“Immediately Jesus spake unto them, saying, be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” [Mt 14:27]
Jesus did not condemn nor belittle the disciples for their fear. He did not discourage them for their lack of faith; nor did Jesus chastise or attempt to instruct them in that moment regarding their misguided and scared cries for help. No, but Jesus immediately said, “be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid;” and then, “He went up unto them in the ship; and the wind ceased.” [Mk 6:51] Our Lord is exceedingly gracious and is looking for any excuse to help us. The feeble, fearful cry of the disciples, which was barely directed at Christ, (for they thought He was a ghost), was taken by our Lord as a means to pour out upon them mercy and aid. God be praised; for truly as it is written, so we see here to be true, “God is our refuge and strength, an exceedingly near help in distress.” [Psa 46:1]
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