John 6:20
But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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John 6:20
But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
When Jesus says "It is I," he's not just identifying himself, but asserting his very being in a powerful way that directly addresses their terror. This phrase echoes God's own declaration of his eternal nature, "I AM," revealing that his presence, even in a terrifying form, is the ultimate source of peace, not fear.
After Jesus miraculously fed thousands, the crowd wanted to force Him to be their king, but He withdrew. As evening fell, His disciples set out across the Sea of Galilee in a boat, facing a strong wind and rough waves while Jesus hadn't yet joined them. In the dark and stormy conditions, they were terrified when they saw a figure walking on the water towards their ship, only for Jesus to reveal Himself and calm their fears.
Imagine being in a terrifying storm, miles from shore, and then seeing a figure walking on the water towards you. What would your first reaction be?
This is exactly the scene the disciples faced in John 6. After a miraculous feeding event, the crowds wanted to make Jesus king by force, a plan Jesus rejected. He then went to pray, and his disciples set out across the sea. A storm arose, and in the dark, they saw a figure approaching on the waves. Their terror was immense; they thought it was a ghost.
This moment reveals a profound truth: God's interventions, even when meant for good, can sometimes appear frightening. The disciples had just seen Jesus perform an incredible miracle, yet when they encountered Him in a new, unexpected way, their immediate response was fear.
This isn't a sign of their lack of faith, but a testament to how overwhelming and unfamiliar God's power can be. It highlights that our understanding of God often needs adjustment when He shows up in ways we don't anticipate.
When faced with the unknown, how often do we wish for a clear sign, a voice of reassurance? Jesus provides exactly that.
Jesus' response to the disciples' terror is simple yet powerful: "It is I; do not be afraid." This isn't just a statement of identity; it's a divine introduction designed to conquer fear.
The Weight of His Words
Understand the original words
Egō eimi · Greek Pronoun/Verb phrase
The literal translation of the Greek 'Ego Eimi,' which is the covenant name of God (Yahweh) revealed to Moses; Jesus uses this expression to assert His own divinity and eternal existence.
phobeisthe · Greek Verb
A state of alarm or anxiety; in the presence of God or His manifestations, believers are frequently exhorted not to be afraid because of His presence, power, and promise of care.
This moment occurs immediately after Jesus fed 5,000 people and the crowd wanted to make him king. The disciples, caught in a terrifying storm, mistake Jesus approaching them on the water for a ghost, highlighting how even those close to Jesus can be gripped by fear and misinterpretations when faced with the unexpected or overwhelming.
c. AD 27-30— this verse
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus' earthly ministry, including miracles like feeding the 5,000 and walking on water, occurred during this period, drawing large crowds and impacting Jewish society.
c. AD 28
Feeding of the 5,000
This massive feeding miracle (John 6:1-14) caused the crowd to recognize Jesus as the prophesied prophet and consider forcing him to be king.
c. AD 28
Jesus Withdraws from Crowd
To avoid being made king by force and to escape the political fervor, Jesus retreated to a mountain, leaving his disciples to cross the Sea of Galilee by boat.
c. AD 28
Disciples' Stormy Voyage
The disciples encountered a severe storm on the Sea of Galilee while Jesus was praying alone, experiencing intense fear and distress during the night.
This passage is the parallel account from Matthew, highlighting that Jesus first said, 'Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid,' emphasizing the fear the disciples experienced and Jesus' immediate reassurance.
Mark 6:50Mark's Gospel also records this event, noting that the disciples were terrified and that Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'It is I and do not be afraid,' echoing the same theme of fear and reassurance in the face of the miraculous.
Isaiah 43:1-3This Old Testament passage speaks of God's presence with His people through trials, stating, 'when you pass through the waters, I will be with you... Do not fear, for I am with you,' which parallels Jesus' words of comfort and presence to His fearful disciples.
Genesis 15:1After Abram had a significant victory, the Lord's word came to him in a vision, saying, 'Fear not, Abram, I am your shield.'
John 18:5-6Here, Jesus again says 'I am he' to a group that comes to arrest Him, but this time, their response is to fall to the ground, showing how the same declaration can evoke different reactions depending on the heart and purpose of those who hear.
calvinJohn 6:14-21: "Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world."
- Those men, therefore, when they saw the miracle which Jesus had performed, said, This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world. 15. And when Jesus knew that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he again withdrew alone into a mountain. 16. And when it was evening, his disciples went down to the sea. 17. And havin…
ellicottJohn 6:20: "But he saith unto them, It is I; be not afraid."
(20) See the same words in Mark 6:50 . St. Matthew’s account is more full here, adding the trial of St. Peter’s faith.
When Jesus says "It is I," he's not just identifying himself, but asserting his very being in a powerful way that directly addresses their terror. This phrase echoes God's own declaration of his eternal nature, "I AM," revealing that his presence, even in a terrifying form, is the ultimate source of peace, not fear.
After Jesus miraculously fed thousands, the crowd wanted to force Him to be their king, but He withdrew. As evening fell, His disciples set out across the Sea of Galilee in a boat, facing a strong wind and rough waves while Jesus hadn't yet joined them. In the dark and stormy conditions, they were terrified when they saw a figure walking on the water towards their ship, only for Jesus to reveal Himself and calm their fears.
After Jesus miraculously fed thousands, the crowd wanted to force Him to be their king, but He withdrew. As evening fell, His disciples set out across the Sea of Galilee in a boat, facing a strong wind and rough waves while Jesus hadn't yet joined them. In the dark and stormy conditions, they were terrified when they saw a figure walking on the water towards their ship, only for Jesus to reveal Himself and calm their fears.
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For believers, these words are a constant reminder that even when God's presence feels overwhelming or His actions are mysterious, His identity as our Savior and Redeemer is unchanging. His voice is the ultimate source of peace.
"But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”" — When Jesus says "It is I," he's not just identifying himself, but asserting his very being in a powerful way that directly addresses their terror. This phrase echoes God's own declaration of his eter…