Take Courage; It Is I

Lesson overview

Immediately after feeding the multitude, Jesus makes the disciples depart, dismisses the crowd, and goes alone to pray.

John’s parallel account reveals that the people want to make him king by force. The disciples cross a dark lake without Jesus, straining against the wind, while he sees them from the land. Their circumstances are difficult, but they are not unseen.

Jesus comes walking on the sea and "was about to pass by them." In Scripture, the Lord passes by Moses and Elijah to reveal his presence and glory, while Job and the Psalms describe God treading upon the sea. Mark’s language therefore does more than report an extraordinary rescue: Jesus is making himself known. His words—"Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid"—carry the ordinary reassurance that it is Jesus and may also echo the divine "I am." When he enters the boat, the wind subsides, but the disciples remain amazed because they have not understood the loaves. The danger outside the boat exposes a deeper danger inside them: hearts slow to recognize the identity of the One who provides, sees, comes near, and rules the waters.

Jesus reveals the divine identity of the compassionate King by seeing his struggling disciples, coming to them over the sea, and calling hard hearts from terror to courageous recognition.