No Fear

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

NO FEAR

John 6:16-21

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed three or three and a half miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were terrified. 20 But he said to them, "It is I; don't be afraid."  21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

NIV

Another one of those famous records in the life Jesus, which of course every moment of his life on earth as a man is famous, but this is one of those we remember well. Matthew includes the part about Peter walking on the water after Jesus tells him, “Come”, but John leaves than out for whatever reason. It would seem the most important aspect of this event God desires for us to learn through John’s account is to not be afraid. We could see this in two different, but in the some sense the same, ways. First, as we travel through life, we may very well encounter some tough times. We might be trying to get somewhere in life and come up against what seems to be insurmountable odds, strong winds and rough water. These storms of life may be a part of our journey so that Jesus can come to our rescue, or they are just a part of life, they happen because of our own doing, but still Jesus comes to the rescue. His words will be just as he told those disciples, “It is I; don’t be afraid”. Fear can overpower reason. Fear of the unknown, fear of the future, fear of making a decision, fearing it will be the wrong one. Fear can freeze us, so that we will not go forward accomplishing God’s plan for our life. Fear of doing something we have never done before, or have no training, skill, or educational background for that task. We make excuses because of fear. But Jesus tells us not to be afraid. The second way we could see this is that the crossing of the lake is like our crossing over from life to death, the journey each of us must make. Again, although we are people of faith, of believing in Jesus Christ as our lord and Savior, none of us have ever been to the other side, the shore of heaven and returned to tell us it is indeed there. The trip to the other side could have a certain amount of fear attached to it. It might be a rough trip, including serious illness, or injuries that cause us to make that journey. But when Jesus shows up, he tells us, “It is I; don’t be afraid” and immediately we will arrive at the shore where we were heading.  Whether it is one or both of these views, we have no reason to fear, and when we see Jesus we certainly have no reason to be terrified. He has come to rescue us.