"But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." [Mt 14:27]
After Jesus had multiplied bread to feed over five thousand people, “Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side.” [Mt 14:22] Then, after sending the multitudes away, “He went up into a mountain apart to pray.” [Mt 14:23] While Jesus was upon the mountain praying, “the ship,” wherein the disciples were, “was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with the waves: for the wind was contrary;” and “[Jesus] saw them toiling in rowing.” [Mt 14:24, Mk 6:48] While the disciples were toiling in rowing, attempting to get to the other side as Jesus had directed them, Jesus saw them from afar, upon the mountaintop. And as Jesus does for us today, no doubt He was engaged then, interceding for them in prayer, as it is written, “wherefore He is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” [Heb 7:25] Then eventually,
“In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went unto 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. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” [Mt 14:25-27]
It was in the midst of this great trial that Jesus came unto His disciples. The disciples, after struggling intensely for a multitude of hours, who were in that moment much like those in Gideon’s day, “faint, yet pursuing,” [Jdg 8:4], were finally met with aid, as Jesus approached them. However, when they saw Him through the storm, Jesus did not seem to them as aid; for in that moment they cried out for fear as if having seen a ghost. However, despite their ignorance, despite their inability to see the truth of Christ who was approaching them, immediately upon their cries He helped them. And so, it is Jesus’ response to them wherein we shall be encouraged today: for it is a response we may freely apply to ourselves as well, in whatsoever trouble we come to.
Jesus said in response to His disciples’ fear, “be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” The phrase “It is I,” is the Greek phrase, ego eimi, which is the phrase literally, “I Am.” As Jesus said to the Pharisees, “verily, verily, I say unto you, before Abraham was, I Am,” [Jn 8:58] so too He says here: “I Am.” This comfort given to the disciples is the same comfort we can receive today. Does any man reading this today find themselves in trouble? Find themselves struggling and tired? Find themselves in need? May you hear the words of Christ fresh today: “I Am.” Jesus is The I Am; He is God. And for that reason, we do not need to fear. We can be of good cheer and have joy because Jesus is I Am. He is The LORD; the Creator; The one for whom all things were made and presently exist. Jesus is beyond all things and above all things. Whatever problem exists; however complicated the situation – Jesus Christ is The I Am, and He is able to help, to fix, to restore, to encourage, to do all that is necessary.
Because Jesus is God, we do not need to be afraid; rather, we can have joy in even the darkest of situations, even like Paul said, “I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation.” [2 Cor 7:4] What a truly everlasting encouragement that we can receive from Jesus’ words: I Am. May we apply His words to all circumstances. The Lord over all things, who is eternally wise and strong and loving; the One who has the power and the will to change any person or thing, to help us, to give us victory, or whatsoever result may be required so that He is honored and lifted up – yes, He is with us and for us: Jesus is The I Am, and we can rejoice and be of good cheer as a result. What troubles you? What ails you? What tugs at your heart or soul today, dear reader? May Christ’s eternal consolation pierce your heart and fill it with His love, that He is God; He is The I Am, and He says still today as He did upon the sea, “be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”
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