|Jesus speaks words of comfort to His disciples and removes their fear. What are those words of comfort? What do Jesus’ disciples fear? How do those words of comfort remove His disciples’ fear?
“Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid” (verse 50). Jesus speaks these words to His disciples. His disciples fear for their lives. They are in a boat on the Sea of Galilee in the middle of an intense storm. And it’s dark. Not only do they believe that they could die, they also believe that Jesus has abandoned them. After Jesus orders His disciples to get into the boat and sail across the lake at night, He disappears from their sight. Where is Jesus? Because of Jesus’ command, His disciples find themselves in a boat on a storm-tossed sea at night. They need Jesus now, more than ever. Then, Jesus appears to His disciples. He assures them of His divine presence in their lives. They are not left alone, after all.
Jesus tells His disciples not to be afraid. Of what are the disciples not to be afraid? Should they fear the storm? Yes, because it is dangerous. Should they fear Jesus? They see Jesus walking on the water. They think He is a ghost (verse 49). Should they fear Jesus at that moment? No. Jesus apparently wants His disciples to bring Him into the boat. They do. He stills the storm and His disciples are comforted. Jesus is with them and they feel safe and secure.
How does this lesson from Mark, chapter six, apply to Jesus’ disciples in the present time? Jesus’ disciples have the same feelings now that they did in the New Testament. There are times when they fear for their lives. There are times when they feel that Jesus has abandoned them. There are times when they feel that Jesus has disappeared from their sight. Jesus’ disciples in the present time also need Jesus in their lives now, more than ever. And, Jesus appears to them. He assures them of His divine presence in their lives, also. How? He forgives their sins. When His disciples fear for their spiritual lives, Jesus tells them that their sins are forgiven and that they will be with Him always in heaven. Jesus assures His disciples in the present time that they are not left alone. How? He speaks to them. He gives them His words of comfort. Jesus is with His disciples in the present time, also, and they feel safe and secure.
Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 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. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded, for they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. And when they got out of the boat, the people immediately recognized him and ran about the whole region and began to bring the sick people on their beds to wherever they heard he was. And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and implored him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. – Mark 6:45-56
