Fear Not!

When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Caper′na-um. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, but he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

John 6:16-21

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Chaotic Waters of Creation

Darkness, turbulent waters, and a mighty wind threatened to capsize the disciples into the whirling vortex of chaos. The image recalls the antediluvian chaos at the dawn of creation.

and the earth was without form or shape, with darkness over the abyss and a mighty wind sweeping over the waters—

Genesis 1:2 (New American Bible Revised Edition)

Order Out of Chaos

“I AM. Fear not.”

John 6:20

Egō eimi. The Greek words for “I AM” in John 6:20 recall the Septuagint translation of the Hebrew Tetragrammaton (the divine name) in Exodus 3:14. By the power of the indwelling Spirit in his divinized humanity, Jesus pacified the wind and waves. “In the beginning,” the Spirit also hovered over the waters when God spoke order into being.

And the earth was tohu vavohu (without form, and void); and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Ruach Elohim (Spirit of God) was hovering upon the face of the waters.

Genesis 1:2 (Orthodox Jewish Bible)

Timeless Encounter

Space and time seemed to spiral to a point in that moment of encounter with God in a man. In the twinkling of an eye, the boat landed ashore at Capernaum.