Friday, February 10, 2006
John 6:20 "It is I; don't be afraid."
JESUS CALMS OUR FEARS
A Lutheran congregation acquired an older church building and was refurbishing it for their own use. One thing needed was an altar. One was found in another old church that was being torn down. This altar featured a large painting of Jesus walking on the water. Beneath the picture were carved the words Jesus called out to His terrified disciples as He came walking to them across the stormy waters of the Sea of Galilee, "It is I; don't be afraid." -- in Swedish letters.
Since no one in the congregation understood Swedish and the language was not common to the people of the area which the congregation served, it was decided to remove the inscription and simply let the picture convey the message with which Jesus calmed, and still calms, the fearful hearts of His disciples.
It is precisely for this reason that the Apostle John includes this miracle among the seven he, by inspiration, features in his Gospel. This miracle is a sign pointing to who Jesus is. No ordinary man can walk on water. This fact is so obvious that the phrase "walking on water" is currently used as a proverbial expression for doing what only God can do. Such a reference was used as far back as Job: "He alone stretched out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea" (Job 9:8).
Jesus still comes to us in the midst of life's storms. Still He calls, "It is I; don't be afraid." Nothing can keep our Lord from coming to our side and reaching out His strong hand to us when none but He can give the help we need. Nothing calms our hearts like remembering no storm could ever be stronger than Christ our Lord. After all, not only is He the Creator, He is the Savior who has redeemed us from sin and death and hell.
"It is I; don't be afraid." The Son of God entered human history, died our death, and returned from the grave so that He might speak those words to your heart no matter what language you speak.
