Don’t be afraid… I am here – Mark 6:47-56
Have you ever been in the middle of a large lake in a boat when a big storm came up. I remember such an experience. With lightning popping around and the water thrashing every direction, it was downright scary! Fortunately for us we had a motor to get us to shore faster.
The Disciples were out in the middle of a lake before the sun came up when a terrible storm came up. They struggled to row to shore, but how could they row when the boat kept bobbling around so in the wind and waves?
Jesus was on the shore and knew they were in trouble so he walked out to them. The Disciples thought he was a ghost until he spoke his calming words, “Don’t be afraid… I am here.”
This is the same Jesus who had calmed the storm once before. The same Jesus who calms our fears. Sometimes he stops the storm altogether, and sometimes he walks through the storm with us to keep us strong.
Read more of this exciting adventure the Disciples shared with Jesus in the passage below, or click on the link and choose your favorite Bible translation to read.
47 Late that night, the disciples were in their boat in the middle of the lake, and Jesus was alone on land. 48 He saw that they were in serious trouble, rowing hard and struggling against the wind and waves. About three o’clock in the morning[a] Jesus came toward them, walking on the water. He intended to go past them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the water, they cried out in terror, thinking he was a ghost. 50 They were all terrified when they saw him.
But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said.“Take courage! I am here![b]” 51 Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed,52 for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in.
53 After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. They brought the boat to shore 54 and climbed out. The people recognized Jesus at once, 55 and they ran throughout the whole area, carrying sick people on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 Wherever he went—in villages, cities, or the countryside—they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.
–Mark 6:47-56 (NLT)