The Many Faces of Fear

Matthew 14:27

But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid."

...............

The disciples were a long way from land, being beaten by the waves in their little boat on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus had stayed behind, seeking to be alone in prayer, possibly to mourn the loss of John the Baptist (see 14:13). The storm was fierce, the boat was rocking and reeling and apparently in danger. And then, in the fourth watch of the night, there appeared what looked like a ghost, coming toward them over the waters. Perhaps there had been sea-faring superstitions about such ghosts; maybe not. Either way, the disciples were "terrified."

Jesus responds to fear with words of courage that point to Himself. He identifies himself. He reminds them that His presence is cause for courage in the midst of this storm. He has proven again and again His awesome power over demons and the physical world. He calmed a similar storm earlier in His ministry (Matt. 8). Knowing who He is, knowing what He is capable of, and knowing that He is present should resolve the fears of any believer.

The key word is believer. If you look at the beginning of this chapter, you get an example of what the presence of Jesus can be for an unbeliever: a true cause for alarm.

Herod the tetrarch had heard about the "fame of Jesus" and it did not comfort Him in the least. For a man of power like him, anyone else of significance was a threat to his position and to his reputation. He had John the Baptist put in prison for this very reason, because this ruler was not about to be "talked down to" by a mangy young prophet from the wilderness. But, hearing of the fame of Jesus, Herod was also terrified. Could this be John the Baptist again, risen from the dead to seek revenge upon me? These are the kinds of thoughts that might keep an unbelieving man awake at night.

The terrors of God and His law are very real, for the man who has not been forgiven should have no pretense of being right with God. The guilt of sin is real, and it is a burden that weighs even heavier in the presence of God. But, there is hope in the gospel, even for the vilest of sinners. Remember that, though the apostle Paul was once a "blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent," the Lord chose to redeem him, "and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus" (1 Tim. 1:14). There is no one who is beyond the reach of His love and forgiveness. I pray that His presence would be a comfort and not a terror, that we would remember the mercy we have received as believers, but also the very real fear that exists in the hearts of the lost. We must remember what it felt like to live without the comfort of God's presence and let that compel us to introduce others to our Savior and only Hope.