"It Is I"

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Dear Friend,

In Mark 6:45-52, Jesus' disciples were toiling to row against strong winds that not only impeded their progress but threatened their very lives. But with one word Jesus told them all they needed to know: "It is I," adding, "Be not afraid!" Let's review this story as it unfolded.

Jesus launched the twelve in a small boat with instructions to "go to the other side before him unto Bethsaida" (Mark 6:45). He then left them alone, sent the crowds away, and "departed into a mountain to pray" (6:46). Meanwhile, they were obeying Jesus' instructions, dutifully "rowing," indicating that the wind was in their faces rather than at their backs, making sailing impossible (they did not know how to "tack"). It looked to be a calm, uneventful crossing.

But it was anything but that! The headwinds were strong and unrelenting. The waves were buffeting and tossing their boat without any letup. They were "toiling" in rowing, or working exhaustingly (Greek, tortured, tormented) to make headway. It was "evening," and therefore completely dark. And they were still "in the midst of the sea [Galilee]," or nowhere near their intended destination. Their calm crossing was becoming a catastrophe. And Jesus was nowhere to be found! Then things took a turn for the worse.

Looking up, the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water - a distinctively divine act of power (see Job 9:8) - but mistook Him for a "ghost" - or disembodied spirit of someone who died at sea without proper burial. Suddenly, their tortuous toil turned to sheer terror. It seemed that not only the storm but also the spirit world was out to get them! In a full panic, they "cried out" as any of us might have done with their limited knowledge of Christ. What did Jesus do?

Lovingly, He "immediately" helped them (6:50). But in an unusual way. Did He stop the vicious winds and stubborn waves? Not yet. Did He turn the black night into a bright day? Not yet. Did He supernaturally transport their boat to the shore? Not yet. No, the first thing He did was simply say, "It is I." Was this what He should have done? Just tell them that He was there, present with them?

Absolutely! This was the real solution, a healing balm for their fear. Jesus – their miracle-working Master, the wondrous Healer, who had raised the dead, who had just multiplied a handful of fish and bread to feed thousands, and whom at that very moment they could see was walking on their stormy waters - He was with them. Right now! In the middle of their grave difficulty. It was too much for them, but not for Him!

And there's more: “It is I” means in the Greek, “It is I AM.” So, Jesus was assuring His Jewish devotees, who were well-acquainted with this distinctive Hebrew name, that He was their original, historic Deliverer, the great I AM, the mighty God of the Exodus who worked many stunning miracles to deliver His people. With Him present, every danger, problem, need, and perplexity, however problematic, was no problem at all!

His presence would protect them. His voice would comfort them. His power would empower them. His Spirit would reinfuse them. His wisdom would guide them. His faithfulness would support them . . . until their test of faith ended. Until the winds stopped. Until the waves laid down. Until they stepped from the terrifying waters onto Terra Firma. Until that moment, "It is I" was all they really needed to know.

I remember once, many years ago, when suddenly I experienced a trial of faith so shocking, so devastating, so paralyzing to my life and ministry, that it looked like the end. I mean, the end! It seemed there was no more reason to live. No hope. No light at the end of the tunnel. Nothing but black despair, personal devastation, and soul pain like nothing I had ever experienced. Agony. Torture. Torment. I began to see "ghosts" - fearful, tormenting, lying imaginations telling me my defeat was final and hopelessness was irreversible. A few days passed.

Then Christ spoke. What did He say? "It is I; be not afraid!" Suddenly, though everything in my life remained devastated for the moment, everything inside me felt different. The terror terminated. The searing pain stopped. The angst disappeared. The confusion cleared. And my hopelessness suddenly turned to hopefulness. Great hopefulness! What had changed?

Only this: I knew Jesus was still with me! The same Jesus who had saved me and baptized me with His mighty Holy Spirit years ago, the same Jesus who had called me to ministry, the same Jesus who had blessed my life in so many ways for so many years, was with me now in my terrifying trial. As Isaiah 41:10 promises so comfortingly, He would "strengthen" me, He would "help" me, and, if necessary, He would "uphold," or carry me. As I pondered this simple but explosively powerful insight, I easily regained my spiritual footing and inner peace. And I began moving forward again - and have never stopped! Why share this?

Perhaps today, you, or a loved one, or a fellow believer, may be toiling in a dark, stormy "Galilee" of your own, wrestling with ghostly imaginations of great loss, painful rejection, or irreversible failure, and far from any semblance of a safe landing. If so, this word is for you: JESUS IS THERE, NOW, STILL WITH YOU, WHEREVER YOU ARE, WHATEVER OR WHOEVER IS AGAINST YOU, HOWEVER HOPELESS YOUR SITUATION SEEMS.

If He is with you, your "storm" is suddenly rendered powerless. Sickness can't intimidate you. He's the Healer. Contentious critics cannot thwart you. He's the Peacemaker. Overwhelming financial needs can't take you down. He's the Provider. Loneliness can't spoil your contentment. His Spirit is your personal Comforter.

Slander cannot ruin you. He's your Vindicator. Unwanted divorce cannot destroy you. He remains your faithful heavenly Spouse. Friends or family turning against you cannot stop your faith-walk. He is your protecting Refuge. Experiencing defeats need not defeat your fellowship with Christ. He is your Victor, or Overcomer, who turns every defeat into victory in His time and way if you just stay unoffended and faithfully and habitually continue drawing near Him daily.

Even bereavement cannot take you down. He is the Resurrector of broken, emptied lives. He is ready to lift you from your graveside grief, wipe away your tears, and, if you're willing, draw you into a new closeness to Him you never thought possible. And, in time, He will bring new human relationships to replace the old, perhaps a Boaz for your Mahlon, a Keturah for your Sarah, or a Seth for your Abel.

So, let Jesus dispel your "ghosts!" Cast off your initial fear, "It's the devil!" and put on your newly found faith, "It is the Lord; let Him do what seems good to him" (1 Samuel 3:18, ESV). You have nothing to fear when He is near. And nothing means . . . nothing!

So, draw near Him today, while your "storm" still rages, and He will reveal His presence and person as never before. You'll hear His voice with a greater clarity. Timely, new insights will leap from His Word as you prayerfully study it at His feet. You'll see His hand working where before you only saw waves, darkness, and ghosts. You'll grow and mature spiritually more rapidly than you would in calm, carefree circumstances. And, in His time, He will stop the winds and restore normalcy. Beautiful normalcy. And the sweet peace of a great spiritual victory. And you will never again be thrown into a panic by a sudden, stormy test of faith. Why?

You will quickly remember, "It is I!" He is near! So, there's nothing to fear - and everything to be hopeful about!

Remembering, thankful, at peace,