Be Not Afraid

Le Christ marchant sur la mer ~ 1866 Amédée Varin

John 6:16–21– Jesus Walks on Water (Matthew 14:22–33; Mark 6:45–52)
When evening came, His disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them. A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew agitated. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the sea— and they were terrified. But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.”

John 6:17 really struck me when I read it this week. “It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them.” No doubt when the disciples went out in the boat at evening they thought they would encounter Jesus right away before nightfall. But as the sky grew darker and they were tossed in the sea by the winds, their fear and uncertainty was made more pronounced. Surprisingly, Jesus met them in their fear and comforted them!

My prayer is that as we go through a dark period, we will be stilled by Christ’s words, “do not be afraid.” He is always with us and will comfort us.

Though darkness and winds crouch in, be not afraid!

When evening came,
opsios: evening
From opse; late; feminine (as noun) afternoon (early eve) or nightfall (later eve) — even(-ing, (-tide)).
https://biblehub.com/greek/3798.htm

It was already dark, and Jesus had not yet gone out to them.
skotia: darkness
4653 skotía – darkness, a brand of moral, spiritual obscurity (i.e. which blocks the light of God when faith is lacking). 4655 skótos (“darkness”).
https://biblehub.com/greek/4653.htm
https://biblehub.com/greek/4655.htm

A strong wind was blowing, and the sea grew agitated.
megas: great / anemos: wind
https://biblehub.com/greek/3173.htm
https://biblehub.com/greek/417.htm

But Jesus spoke up: “It is I; do not be afraid.”

I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
Luke 12:4

“Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last, the Living One. I was dead, and behold, now I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of Death and of Hades.
Revelation 1:17-18

During the month of Elul (the sixth month on God’s spiritual calendar) I have been reading the sixth chapter of these books with a verse a day. The words and stories expressed in these chapters have been so powerful to read and meditate upon.

Psalm 6, Daniel 6, John 6, and Ephesians 6

Daniel 6 is full of reminders of God’s faithfulness and safety when Daniel was put into the lion’s den.

Ephesians 6 equips us with the tools – the armor – God dresses us to protect us from evil onslaughts. Prayer is an invisible weapon of mighty power!

The Living Word is strong and powerful!

♔Be Not Afraid – John Michael Talbot (with lyrics)♔