Do Not Be Afraid

John 6:16-21

Evening came

It was dark

Duh

Why would John point out such an obvious fact?

Jesus had not yet come to them

The evening and darkness are symbolic of the absence of Jesus

The sea became rough

A strong wind came in

The Sea of Galilee is 600ft below sea level, and sometimes the cold air from the higher surrounding regions would sweep down into the valley and cause strong winds to blow

The middle of the lake is not where you want to be when this happens

Their rowing would have become hard and their progress slow

When they rowed 3-4 miles they saw Jesus

They were smack in the middle of the lake

The Sea of Galilee is about 8 miles wide at its widest point

Mark and Luke record that they thought He was a ghost

They are very afraid- listen to Mark’s account

Mark 6:47-50- And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified.

Jesus speaks

“It is I”

Literally “I AM”

Not only was He making known that they know Him

He is doing it in such a way that bears witness to who He is

“Do not be afraid”

Jesus’ command is not a foreign command to these men

“Fear not” is the most commonly given command in the Bible

In the vast majority of cases, the ground for not fearing is God Himself

He is commanding them not to fear because He is God

Isaiah 41:10- fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

The Disciples are glad

They are thrilled to take Jesus into the boat

They are immediately at the place to which they were going

Psalm 107:23-32- Bible

Fear not

Unbelievers have much to fear

They ought to tremble

Isaiah 41:2-5- Who stirred up one from the east whom victory meets at every step? He gives up nations before him, so that he tramples kings underfoot; he makes them like dust with his sword, like driven stubble with his bow. He pursues them and passes on safely, by paths his feet have not trod. Who has performed and done this, calling the generations from the beginning? I, the Lord, the first, and with the last; I am he. The coastlands have seen and are afraid; the ends of the earth tremble

The judgement of God is coming to every person

Revelation 19:11-16- Bible

A Christless life is as futile as rowing a boat into the wind of a hurricane

Believers have nothing to fear

Isaiah 51:12- I, I am he who comforts you; who are you that you are afraid of man who dies, of the son of man who is made like grass

Isaiah 41:10- fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

We must stop trying to put our hope in things that simply will not due

Political candidates and legislation

A prosperous economy

Financial security

Social progress

These hopes will inevitably come crumbling to the ground and fear will certainly grip us

Do not fear because He is with you always

He will never leave you or forsake you

He will hold you tightly no matter what

Romans 8:31-39

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.