But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Mat 14:22; Mat 14:27
And straightway Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship, and to go before Him unto the other side.
The midnight voyage home
I. The feast followed by humiliation and trouble.
1. The feast in the desert was the greatest work in which the apostles were ever engaged during the ministry of Jesus. The miracle was of a more kingly character than others, shared by a greater number(and more plainly typical of great things to come in the kingdom of heaven. In this glorious work the twelve have been active ministers. They were not to remain to receive the congratulations of the multitude; they must go away at once. Jesus constrains them to return to the ship. Ministers must not intrude themselves into the Lords place; they must be willing servants, and then go their way and leave the rest to the Lord. The apostles had been highly exalted, and now they must be humbled. In the sight of the congregation they are sent away in charge of the empty boat, as if they were mere fishermen still.
2. But they are sent also into the midst of trouble. After we have had faith to distribute the bread of life comes the trial of obedience. It seemed as if providence were contrary to their course.
II. The storm aggravated by Christs absence, and stilled by his coming.
1. Jesus sent the twelve away alone, and all that the people saw was that He went not in the ship with them. Jesus was to come to them by the coast.
2. Jesus, meanwhile, has not walked along the coast, whence they expected to take Him in; but has left the shore altogether, and gone up into a mountain apart. In the retired mountain He cannot be seen by the disciples; but in His prayer to the Father they will not be forgotten.
3. Jesus comes to them according to His promise; but not according to their thoughts, either in time or in manner.
4. There is yet one more element of trial mingled for these midnight wrestlers with the waves. Jesus often appears to be going past in our time of need. Also His manner of coming alarms the disciples. In our trials we often mistake the coming of the Lord Jesus.
5. Jesus enters the ship; and how glorious is the effect of deliverance out of danger, of seasonable help, when obeying Christs command, against all adversity.
6. An unlooked-for blessing now awaits them on the shore. (A. M. Stuart.)
Jesus constrained His disciples
Why?
1. Lest they should take part with the rash, many-headed multitude, who would have made Him a king.
2. To inure them to the cross, and teach them to suffer hardship.
3. To give them proof of His power,
Nature and grace
The story of this miracle has instruction for us in connection with the material world in which we live. Nature is not, in all respects, to be separated off too sharply from grace; and this miracle reminds us that it is the Lord of this universe who is the Head of the Church and the Saviour of our souls. (Dean Howson.)
The government of nature
These miracles, dealing with nature, show themselves as interfering with what we may call the righteous laws of nature. Water should wet the foot, should engulf him who would tread its surface. Yet even in this, I think, the restoration of an original law-the supremacy of righteous man, is foreshown. While a man cannot order his own house as he would, something is wrong in him, and therefore in his house. I think a true man should be able to rule winds and waters, loaves and fishes, for he comes of the Father who made the house for him. Man is not master in his own house, because he is not master in himself, because he is not a law unto himself-is not himself obedient to the law by which he exists. (George Macdonald.)
Secret of Christs power over nature
A higher condition of harmony with law may one day enable us to do things which must now appear an interruption of law. I believe it is in virtue of the absolute harmony in Him, His perfect righteousness, that God can create at all. If man were in harmony with this, if he too were righteous, he would inherit of his Father a something in his degree correspondent to the creative power in Him; and the world he inhabits, which is but an extension of his body, would, I think, be subject to him in a way surpassing his wildest dreams of dominion, for it would be the perfect dominion of holy law-a virtue flowing to and from him through the channel of a perfect obedience. I suspect that our Lord, in all His dominion over nature, set forth only the complete man-man as God means him one day to be. I believe that some of these miracles were the natural result of a physical nature perfect from the indwelling of a perfect soul, whose unity with the Life of all things and in all things was absolute-in a word, whose sonship was perfect. (George Macdonald.)
The glorifying of Christs body
The difficulty here is our Lords withdrawing Himself personally from the control of earthly natural laws. It is common to conceive of the glorifying of Christs body as the work of a moment, at the Resurrection, or, at least, at the Ascension. But if we suppose the Spirits work in glorifying and perfecting Christs body to have been spread over the Saviours whole life, certain periods-such as this walking on the sea, and the transfiguration-being still distinguished as seasons of special activity, much that is obscure will be made clear. A body thoroughly of the earth, chained down by unseen hands to earthly matter, cannot shake itself free from its origin, but that a higher bodily frame, teeming with the powers of a loftier world, should rise above the earthly level is less surprising. This manifestation of Christs hidden glory was designed to build up His disciples in the faith. They saw more and more clearly with whom they had to do, and perceived that He was the revelation of the invisible Father, who alone spreadeth out the heavens, and treadeth upon the waves of the sea. (Olshausen.)
The Divine coming unrecognized
It often happens that the coming of Christ to His disciples for their relief is that which frightens them most, because they do not know the extent of Gods wardrobe; for I think that as a king might never wear the same garment but once, in order to show his riches and magnificence, so God comes to us in all exigencies, but never twice alike. He sometimes puts on the garments of trouble; and when we are calling upon Him as though He were yet in heaven, He is walking by our Ado; and that from which we are praying God to deliver us is often but God Himself. Thus it is with us as with children who are terrified by their dreams in the night, and scream for their parents, until, fully waking, behold they are in their parents arms! (H. W. Beecher.)
The sea on which Jesus walked
Shortly after passing the spot which was the scene of the terrible discomfiture of the Christian hosts by Saladin, we came to the brink of a vast hollow, and the Lake of Tiberius lay slumbering far beneath our feet. The sun was nearly at the zenith, and diffused a flood of dazzling light upon the waters, just ruffled by a passing breeze, on which we beheld a solitary bark, a mere speck, slowly making its way toward Tiberias. That city, with its huge castle and turreted walls, a pile of melancholy ruins, lay scattered along the nearer shore. The lake, about ten miles long, add five or six broad, was embosomed in mountains, or, to describe it more correctly, was like a great caldron sunk in the lofty table-land, which broke down to its edge in steep cliffs and abrupt ravines. At one end we could see where the Jordan flowed into it, and, beyond, the lofty peak of Mount Hermon covered with eternal snow. There was no wood on the hills, there were no villages on the shore, no boats upon the water; there was no sound in any direction. If there was beauty, it was that of the intense blue sky of Palestine, reflected in the blue expanse of waters, and over-canopying a landscape of serene, but corpse-like, placidity, like a countenance fixed in death, but upon which there yet lingers something of a parting smile. (W. H. Bartlett.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 27. It is I; be not afraid] Nothing but this voice of Christ could, in such circumstances, have given courage and comfort to his disciples: those who are grievously tossed with difficulties and temptations require a similar manifestation of his power and goodness. When he proclaims himself in the soul, all sorrow, and fear, and sin are at an end.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
But straightway Jesus spake unto them,…. Directly, the very moment, as soon as ever they cried out, and he perceived the consternation they were in, as one truly affected towards them, and concerned for their welfare; he called out aloud unto them, not coming with any intention to fright them, but to save them;
saying, be of good cheer, it is I, be not afraid: take heart, be of good courage, do not be affrighted at my appearance, from whom you have nothing to fear; nor be afraid of the storm and tempest in which you are, I will deliver you; for it is I, your Master, Saviour, and Redeemer, and not any hurtful spirit; who am able to save you, and am come for that purpose. Christ may be sometimes near his people, and they not know him; as the Lord was in the place where Jacob was, and he knew it not, Ge 28:16 and as Christ was standing by Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre, and she took him to be the gardener: and for want of a distinct knowledge of Christ in his person, offices, and grace, persons have wrong apprehensions of him, and are filled with dread and fears, concluding they have no interest in him; that he is a Saviour, but not of them; that their sins are so many, and of such a die, and attended with such aggravating circumstances, that though he is able to save them, he never can be willing to receive such vile sinners as they are: but when Christ makes himself known unto them, as the able and willing Saviour, and their Saviour and Redeemer, then, instead of dreading him as a judge, their fears vanish, their faith increases, and they are ready to do anything he shall order them; as Peter says in the next verse, who was willing to come to Christ on the water, when he knew who he was, if he was but pleased to bid him come.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
1) “But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying,” (euthus de elalesen ho lesous autois legon) “Then immediately (when they had let go with screams) Jesus spoke to them saying” with quieting, encouraging, helpful assurance, to allay their fears and assure them that they had seen more than a spirit, Mr 6:50.
2) “Be of good cheer; it is I (tharaseite ego eim!) “Be of good cheer; I am – I am here; I still exist, as also recounted, Joh 6:20. His voice is calming and reassuring, like that of a loving mother to a frightened child, one seized by fear, as He reassures, Heb 13:5 I will never leave or forsake you.”
3) “Be not afraid.” (me phobeisthe) “Do not be afraid or fearful,” Joh 14:27; Joh 16:33. I rule the wind and the waters. And I care for you all. They recognized His voice and were assured by it, Isa 25:9; 2Th 1:7; Heb 2:15; Rom 8:15. The coming, and acceptance of Jesus, in troubled times, brings three things:
1) A dispelling of fear.
2) A presence of continuing joy.
3) A security and safety from eternal harm.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
27. But immediately Jesus spake to them. As Christ is not known to be a Deliverer till he actually makes his appearance, he speaks, and desires his disciples to recognize him. That confidence, to which he exhorts them, is represented by him as founded on his presence; plainly implying that, since they perceive him to be present with them, there are abundant grounds of hope. But as terror had already overpowered their minds, he corrects that terror, lest it should hinder or abate their confidence: not that they could all at once lay aside fear and experience unmingled joy, but because it was necessary that the fear which had seized them should be allayed, that it might not destroy their confidence. Although to the reprobate the voice of the Son of God is deadly, and his presence appalling, yet the effect which they produce on believers is here described to us as widely different. They cause inward peace and strong confidence to hold the sway over our hearts, that we may not yield to carnal fears. But the reason why we are disturbed by unfounded and sudden alarms is, that our ingratitude and wickedness prevent us from employing as shields the innumerable gifts of God, which, if they were turned to proper account, would give us all necessary support. Now though Christ appeared at the proper time for rendering assistance, yet the storm did not immediately cease, till the disciples were more fully aroused both to desire and to expect his grace. And this deserves our attention, as conveying the instruction, that there are good reasons why the Lord frequently delays to bestow that deliverance which he has ready at hand.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(27) Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.The accuracy with which the words are given by St. John, as well as by St. Matthew and St. Mark, shows the impression which the incident made on the minds of the disciples. To hear the familiar tones and the cheering words was enough, even amid the howling of the winds and the dashing of the waves, to give them confidence and hope. We can scarcely doubt that in after years that moment came back to their recollection, invested for them, as it has since been for the Church at large, with something of a symbolic character. Often the sky became dark, and the waves of the troublesome world were rough, and the blasts of persecution beat on them, and the ark of Christs Church was tossed on the waters, and they were wearied and spent with rowing. They thought themselves abandoned, and then in the dim twilight they would see or feel once again the tokens of His presence. He was coming to them through the storm. Be of good cheer became the watchword of their lives.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
27. It is I So does the Christian in the time of trial recognize the presence and cheering voice of his Saviour.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer; it is I; don’t be afraid.” ’
Jesus immediately sought to remove their fears saying, ‘Take courage, it is I, don’t be afraid’. ‘It is I’ is ego eimi. In LXX this was also the Name of God revealed to Moses (Exo 3:14). While it was not Jesus’ intention Matthew does, in a context like this, probably intend his readers to take the hint. Compare ‘the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit’ (Mat 28:19).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Ver. 27. But straightway Jesus spake, &c. ] He waits to be gracious, Isa 30:18 . Our extremity is his opportunity. Cum duplicantur lateres venit Moses. God brings his people to the mount with Abraham, yea, to the very brow of the hill, till their feet slip, and then delivers them: when all is given up for lost, then comes he in, as out of an engine, .
It is I, fear not ] Quid timet homo in sinu Dei positus? A child that is in his father’s bosom fears no bugbears.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mat 14:27 . : Jesus spoke; the words given ( , etc.), but the mere sound of His voice would be enough.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
it is I = I am [He].
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Be: Mat 9:2, Joh 16:33, Act 23:11
it: Isa 41:4, Isa 41:10, Isa 41:14, Isa 51:12, Luk 24:38, Luk 24:39, Joh 6:20, Joh 14:1-3, Rev 1:17, Rev 1:18
Reciprocal: Gen 43:18 – the men Gen 45:3 – I am Joseph Gen 45:4 – I am Joseph Gen 50:19 – fear not Mat 28:10 – Be Mar 6:50 – it is I Mar 16:6 – Be not Luk 24:37 – General Joh 20:16 – She
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
4:27
They did not recognize Jesus from his appearance but did know his voice, hence the Lord spoke to let them realize who was coming to them.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mat 14:27. It is I. An assurance, through a living voice, of His bodily presence.
Be not afraid. The presence of Christ always brings with it this cheering injunction.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Observe, when the disciples were in the saddest condition, how one word from Christ revives them; it is a sufficient support in all our afflictions to hear Christ’s voice speaking to us, and to enjoy his favourable presence with us.
Say but, O Saviour, It is I; and then let evils do their worst: that one word, It is I, is enough to lay all storms, and to calm all tempests.