A storm comes up on the sea — but Jesus is not there.
Jesus comes walking toward them on the sea — totally freaky. What is he doing there? He can’t be walking on the water. No way!
But Jesus calls out I Am.
Don’t be afraid my friends. You thought I was just a guy like you. I am like you — but also, I Am.
He’s telling them, first in his action by walking on the water, then clear as a bell in his words, that he is God in the flesh.
That’s why he can say next, Don’t be afraid.
Don’t be afraid when the wind whips up the waves, because the one who is with you is God in the flesh.
Don’t be afraid even though you are sailing over the depths that could swallow you up and drown you, because the one who is with you is God in the flesh.
And take this big scene as a symbol, a metaphor, because you and I are sailing over some deep water right now, with some waves that look a lot higher than our little boats. Jesus is standing on those waters. Jesus says I am. Don’t be afraid.
This is the second of what I think of as John’s “secret” ‘I am’ sayings. There are others. Most English translations hide them. John’s Greek shows that we are intended to see them.
Interestingly enough, this is the one “I am” saying that both Matthew and Mark share with John. In all three Gospels, Jesus says to them from the surface of the sea I am. Don’t be afraid.” (John 6:20, Matthew 14:27, Mark 6:50)
God seems to want us to get the point.
And especially since John spends his whole Gospel hammering the issue, we should consider whether these two simple words are a summary of the good news in stormy times.
Used with permission – Gary Neal Hansen, Ph.D Website & Blog: garynealhansen.com Book: Kneeling with Giants: Learning to Pray with History’s Best Teachers (InterVarsity Press, 2012)