Jesus Dispels Fear

GOLDEN TEXT: “But straightway Jesus spoke unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” —Matthew 14:27

MATTHEW 14:22-33

THOSE who are able to exercise a strong faith in God and in his ability to cause all their experiences to work out for their best interests, do not fear. The boisterous waves of troubled human experiences may be breaking all around them, but they know that they will be supported and eventually piloted into their desired haven. This, perhaps, is the most important highlight in today’s lesson.

Now the world is filled with fear as never before, and there is little that can be done to offset the situation, for there are so very few who are able to exercise faith in the promises of God. Nevertheless, it is the privilege, yea, the commission, of the Lord’s consecrated and truth-enlightened people to say “to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; he will come and save you.”—Isa. 35:4

The message of comfort thus described is the same as that referred to in Isaiah 6:1-3, where we are bidden to bind up the broken-hearted, declare “the day of vengeance,” and to “comfort all that mourn.” We declare the day of vengeance simply by explaining in our message the true meaning of a collapsing civilization, that this is occurring because the time has come in the divine plan when God will no longer permit unrighteous governments to hold rulership over the people.

However, with this explanatory message there is also the assurance that the due time has come for the kingdom of Christ to manifest itself for the blessing and salvation of all mankind. Thus it is true, as Isaiah points out, that while the Lord will come with “vengeance,” he also comes to bring salvation. It is a glorious message we are commissioned to give to all who can receive it. To these it should mean as much in dispelling their fear as it meant to Peter when Jesus said to him and to the others, “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”

The circumstances leading up to the experiences related in today’s lesson help to reveal the complete unselfishness of Jesus, and his willingness to be wholly spent in the service of his Heavenly Father and of his fellowmen. The death of John the Baptist had helped to give added publicity to the mighty works being performed by the Master, and this resulted in even more constant demands upon his time and strength by those seeking to be healed, and incidentally, to hear the gracious words which fell from his lips.

Under the strain, Jesus and his disciples became physically weary and they sought the seclusion of a “desert place” (a deserted area on the shore of Galilee) where they could “rest awhile.” (Matt. 14:13,14; Mark 6:31,32) But the multitude followed them there. Tired though Jesus was, when he saw all these people who needed his help and had followed him to the “desert place” to obtain it, he “was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.” Another account states that he also “taught them many things.”—Mark 4:2

So what had been planned as a day of rest became one of the busiest of the Master’s ministry. Evening approached, but the multitude lingered. The disciples became apprehensive lest darkness should settle over the scene, and these five thousand men, in addition to many women and children, should be trapped—hungry, and with no provision for spending the night.

Acting in a manner which they considered wise, they suggested to Jesus that before it was too late the crowd be sent away into the villages where they could buy food. They would thus be more favorably located for the night, as they would not all be in one area, and that a “desert place.” But Jesus continued to be “moved with compassion.” He had taught and healed them, but in addition he wanted to feed them before they were dismissed. Then followed the miracle of feeding the five thousand.

It was after this miracle, the multitude having been sent away, that Jesus instructed his disciples to enter the boat in which they had reached the place, and to return to the other side of the lake. Then, alone after a very strenuous day, Jesus went up into a mountain to pray. He would not need to travel far to do this, for the Galilean mountains almost completely surround the Sea of Galilee, and in many places run down very close to the shore. The great multitude might well have been seated on the side of the mountain while Jesus taught them.

Now the darkness of night had settled down on the scene. Seemingly, though, it was a moonlight night, for Jesus, from the vantage point in the mountain where he was praying, saw that the disciples were in distress out in the center of the lake. “Contrary winds” had arisen, and the water had become extremely rough. This is still characteristic of the Sea of Galilee. It can be as smooth as a mirror one hour, with scarcely a breath of air blowing on the surface, yet the next hour it can be whipped up into billowy waves by “contrary winds” which break loose with tempest like fury and suddenness.

It was just this which occurred on the night in question. Jesus still had had no rest, but he saw that his presence was needed, this time not by the multitude, but by his own disciples; so he descended from the mountain, walked out on the wind-tossed sea and rescued them. When Jesus approached the boat, the disciples in their excitement and fear thought him to be a “spirit.” But he assured them that all was well, “Be not afraid; it is I.”

Being assured of this, the impetuous Peter did not want to wait until Jesus actually reached the boat, but asked if he could not go out on the waves and meet his Master. Jesus gave his consent, but Peter’s faith failed after he left the boat, and in fear he cried out to his Lord to save him. Jesus chided him gently with the question, “O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

There are valuable lessons in this incident for every consecrated Christian, the chief of which is our great need for an abiding faith when the storms of life are raging threateningly around us. We should always realize that our Lord is near and that he sees what is happening and will not allow us to perish in the “storm.” It is still true that “the just shall live by faith,” and that the victory which overcometh the world is our faith. (Heb. 10:38; I John 5:4) Faith will repel fear and enable us to continue on courageously in the narrow way.

QUESTIONS

What is the practical application of today’s lesson to Christian experience?

Why is it impossible to dispel the fear that is now in the hearts of the people generally?

Is there anything that Christians can do about the fear in the world?

Relate the circumstances leading up to the experiences comprising today’s lesson?

What noble characteristic of Jesus is displayed in these circumstances?

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