TAKE COURAGE; IT IS I, DON'T BE AFRAID

Passage: Mark 6:45-56

Key verse: 50

NIV

Jesus Walks on the Water(A)(B)

45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat(C) and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida,(D) while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.(E)

47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost.(F) They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.

Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”(G) 51 Then he climbed into the boat(H) with them, and the wind died down.(I) They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.(J)

53 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there.(K) 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55 They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak,(L) and all who touched it were healed.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Walks on the Water

45 (A)Immediately he (B)made his disciples get into (C)the boat and go before him to the other side, (D)to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 And after he had taken leave of them, (E)he went up on the mountain to pray. 47 And when (F)evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about (G)the fourth watch of the night[a] he came to them, walking on the sea. (H)He meant to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, 50 for they all saw him and (I)were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, (J)“Take heart; it is I. (K)Do not be afraid.” 51 And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, 52 for (L)they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts (M)were hardened.

Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret

53 (N)When they had crossed over, they came to land at (O)Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately (P)recognized him 55 and ran about the whole region and began to bring (Q)the sick people (R)on their beds to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, (S)they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even (T)the fringe of his garment. And (U)as many as touched it were made well.

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Footnotes
  1. Mark 6:48 That is, between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m.
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Jesus sent the disciples ahead to Bethesda while he was dismissing the crowd. Then he stayed on the mountainside to pray. Later that night, while the boat was in the middle of the lake, Jesus saw them struggling against the wind. Jesus started coming to them on foot, walking on the lake. When Jesus came near the boat, the disciples were frightened, thinking that he was a ghost. Jesus comforted his terrified disciples, "It is I, Don't be afraid." Jesus was reminding them to have their eyes open to see who it was. his words, "It is I," also remind us of God introducing himself as 'I am who I am' when Moses asked his name. (Ex 3:14) Jesus is the Creator God himself who has been with us always.

The author notes that the disciples' hearts were hardened because they did not understand about the loaves. Without understanding Jesus' heart and his nature as the Creator God, they thought they saw a ghost when Jesus walked on the lake and came toward them. They had to recognize Jesus and overcome fear. Then they would come to know Jesus and understand his work.

When Jesus got into the boat, the wind stopped, and they sailed peacefully to their next mission field.

Prayer: Father, thank you for revealing who Jesus is to me. Help me to see your power through Jesus so I can take courage.

One Word: Take courage.