"It is I; do not be afraid."

Jesus walks on the water. - John 6:16-21

When the disciples first see Jesus walking across the water, they are terrified. In the darkness and confusion of the storm, they do not immediately recognize him. In some versions of the story they even think they are seeing a ghost moving across the waves.

Fear has a way of distorting our vision.

When we are anxious or overwhelmed, our imagination often fills the unknown with the worst possibilities. What we cannot understand becomes something threatening. What we cannot control becomes something frightening.

But then Jesus speaks.

“It is I. Do not be afraid.”

These words carry more meaning than they might seem at first. The phrase “It is I” echoes the language of God’s self-revelation in the Old Testament. When Moses encounters the burning bush and asks God for a name, the answer is simple and mysterious: “I Am.”

By using this language, Jesus is not simply identifying himself to the disciples. He is revealing something about who he truly is. The one who stands before them in the storm is not just their teacher or traveling companion. The very presence of God is with them.

And that presence speaks directly into their fear.

Notice that Jesus does not begin by calming the wind or quieting the waves. His first response is simply to reassure them: “Do not be afraid.”

Fear often grows from the belief that we are alone. But when the presence of God becomes real to us, fear begins to lose its grip even in the middle of chaos. The storm may still rage, but it no longer has the final word.

The voice of Christ speaks above it all.

God who speaks peace into chaos, help me hear your voice above the noise of fear. Remind me that your presence is greater than any storm I face. Teach me to trust your words. Amen.

^{This piece is offered by Sterling United Methodist Church and was written in collaboration between Rev. Bert Cloud and Sharon Rosenfeld. It is inspired by the book Seven Miracles: Signs of Life in the Gospel of John by Gina Anderson-Cloud, Megan Dietrick, Bill Gray, Daniel Park, Isaiah Park & Lauren Todd}