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.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus' simple, familiar "It is I" ("I AM") isn't just a statement of identity, but a profound revelation of God's own name, meant to instantly banish their terror and replace it with awe and peace. His words are an immediate reassurance, showing He is present with them in their fear, not an apparition passing by.
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.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
After feeding the five thousand and sending the crowds away, Jesus immediately sent his disciples across the Sea of Galilee in a boat while he went up a mountain to pray alone. As the disciples struggled against a strong headwind in the middle of the night, Jesus appeared to them, walking on the water, which terrified them into thinking he was a ghost. Jesus then spoke to them, identifying himself and calming their fear.
Imagine being in the middle of a dark, stormy sea. Suddenly, you see a figure walking on the water. Your first reaction? Terror. What could possibly change that terror into peace?
In Mark 6:50, Jesus confronts His disciples' intense fear not just with His presence, but with His voice. When they see Him walking on the water, their immediate thought is 'an apparition!' (v. 49). They are terrified. But Jesus doesn't let their fear paralyze them. He speaks immediately, saying, 'Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.'
This isn't just a casual reassurance. The phrase 'It is I' carries immense weight. In the original language, it's a powerful declaration of being. It echoes God's self-revelation to Moses as 'I AM.' When Jesus says 'It is I,' He is not merely identifying Himself as their friend or teacher; He is revealing His divine identity. His voice, familiar yet imbued with divine authority, cuts through their terror. He’s not just telling them who He is, but reminding them of the One who has ultimate power over the storm. His words are designed to shift their focus from the terrifying appearance to the reassuring reality of His presence and power.
Seeing Jesus walk on water was terrifying. But what happened next? Did the fear instantly vanish, or was there a transition? The text gives us a clue.
The disciples' reaction to seeing Jesus on the water is intense terror. They cry out, convinced they're seeing a ghost. But Jesus’ immediate response—'Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid'—begins a transformation. While the text doesn't explicitly detail the moment their fear turns to awe, the context in Mark suggests a shift.
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Immediately after Jesus speaks, He gets into the boat with them, and the wind ceases (v. 51). The disciples’ response to this? They are 'astonished beyond measure.' This astonishment isn't just surprise; it's a deep, revelatory wonder at who Jesus is. Mark highlights that 'they had not understood about the loaves; for their hearts were hardened' (v. 52). This implies that their initial terror stemmed partly from a lack of understanding and a hardened heart, unable to grasp Jesus’ power demonstrated just before.
Jesus' words are the bridge. They calm the immediate panic, allowing them to then witness and comprehend the greater miracle of the calmed storm, leading to profound astonishment and a deeper, though still incomplete, understanding of His divine nature.
Understand the original words
tarasso · Greek Verb/Adjective
A state of extreme distress, panic, or awe in the presence of the divine or supernatural; it is the natural human reaction to witnessing a manifestation of God’s power.
tharseo · Greek Verb
An imperative command to be of good courage or confidence; it is frequently spoken by the Lord to His people to replace fear with faith based on His presence.
ego eimi · Greek Pronoun/Verb
The divine name ("I AM") used by Jesus; in the New Testament, it serves as a powerful declaration of His deity and His identity as the Yahweh of the Old Testament.
phobeomai · Greek Verb
The state of being afraid; in a spiritual sense, it is often discouraged by God, who commands His people to trust in His providence rather than yielding to anxiety or terror.
The disciples' terror stems from a deeper blindness—a failure to grasp Jesus' divine power demonstrated just hours before. His calming words, 'It is I,' are not just an identification but a reminder of who He is, meant to overcome their fear and awe them with His presence.
c. AD 28
Jesus commissions the Twelve Apostles
Jesus sends out the twelve apostles in pairs, empowering them to preach, heal the sick, and cast out demons. They return with exciting reports of their success.
c. AD 28
Herod executes John the Baptist
John the Baptist is beheaded at Herod Antipas's command, a tragic event that prompts Jesus to seek a quiet place for reflection.
c. AD 28
Jesus feeds the five thousand
Jesus miraculously feeds over five thousand men with only five loaves and two fish, a sign of his power and compassion that draws a huge crowd.
c. AD 28
Disciples sent across the Sea of Galilee
After feeding the five thousand, Jesus sends his disciples ahead in a boat across the Sea of Galilee, while he stays behind to pray.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus walks on water
In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus walks on the stormy sea towards the disciples' boat, intending to pass them by.
c. AD 28
Disciples react with terror
Seeing Jesus walking on the water, the disciples mistake him for a ghost and cry out in fear. Jesus immediately speaks to them, reassuring them: 'Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.'
c. AD 28
Jesus enters the boat and the storm calms
Jesus joins his disciples in the boat, and the wind immediately stops. The disciples are overcome with astonishment, their hearts having been blinded to his power.
This passage describes the disciples' initial terror and their mistaken belief that Jesus was a ghost, directly paralleling the fear and confusion in Mark 6:50.
John 6:20John's Gospel records Jesus' similar reassuring words, 'It is I; do not be afraid,' highlighting the profound impact and divine authority behind Jesus' identity in such a moment.
Isaiah 43:1-2This Old Testament passage speaks of God's promise to be with His people through trials, using the powerful declaration 'When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,' which resonates with Jesus' calming presence amidst the storm.
Psalm 23:4The imagery of walking through the valley of the shadow of death and not fearing evil because God is with us echoes the disciples' need for reassurance and the power of Jesus' presence to overcome their fear.
pooleMark 6:50: "For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid."
See Poole on "Mark 6:47"
vincentMark 6:50: "For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid."
They all saw himPeculiar to Mark.Spake with them (ἐλάλησεν μετ' αὐτῶν)Both Matthew and John give the simple dative, αὐτοῖς, to them. Mark's with them is more familiar, and gives the idea of a more friendly and encouraging address. It is significant, in view of Peter's relation to this gospel, that Mark omits the incident of Peter's walk…
Jesus' simple, familiar "It is I" ("I AM") isn't just a statement of identity, but a profound revelation of God's own name, meant to instantly banish their terror and replace it with awe and peace. His words are an immediate reassurance, showing He is present with them in their fear, not an apparition passing by.
After feeding the five thousand and sending the crowds away, Jesus immediately sent his disciples across the Sea of Galilee in a boat while he went up a mountain to pray alone. As the disciples struggled against a strong headwind in the middle of the night, Jesus appeared to them, walking on the water, which terrified them into thinking he was a ghost. Jesus then spoke to them, identifying himself and calming their fear.
After feeding the five thousand and sending the crowds away, Jesus immediately sent his disciples across the Sea of Galilee in a boat while he went up a mountain to pray alone. As the disciples struggled against a strong headwind in the middle of the night, Jesus appeared to them, walking on the water, which terrified them into thinking he was a ghost. Jesus then spoke to them, identifying himself and calming their fear.
"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.”" — Jesus' simple, familiar "It is I" ("I AM") isn't just a statement of identity, but a profound revelation of God's own name, meant to instantly banish their terror and replace it with awe and peace. H…
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Last reviewed October 2026