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Matthew 14:27 - TAKE COURAGE NOT FEAR.

Matthew 14:27 (NIV) But Jesus immediately 
said to them: "Take courage! It is I. Don't be 
afraid."  

INTRODUCTION

Jesus called out to the disciples over the 
storm, telling them to take courage. He identified 
himself and told them not to be afraid any longer. 
The literal reading for "It is I" is "I am" 
(Greek, ego eimi); it is the same as saying "the I 
AM is here" or "I, Yahweh, am here" (see Exodus 
3:14; Isaiah 41:4; 43:10; 52:6). Jesus, the "I 
AM," came with unexpected help and encouragement 
during the disciples' time of desperate need. Their 
need was real; their fear was real. But in the 
presence of Jesus, fear can be dismissed. [Life 
Application SB] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

Eyes to See
   Often when we read the story of Jesus 
walking on the water, we think of Peter and his 
experience as he joined Jesus there. What of the other 
disciples? When they all first spotted Jesus walking on 
top of the water, it did not make sense to them; 
they thought he was a ghost! They were overcome 
with terror as many of us would be in their same 
position. However, Jesus encouraged them to be brave 
and to not be afraid, assuring them that it was 
him that was walking toward them. 
   Fear can do strange things to our minds. 
It can shift our expectations, mess with our 
perceptions, and cause our nervous systems to heighten. 
The disciples were already afraid because of the 
storm that had overcome their boat. Seeing the 
figure of a man walking on the water just took it 
over the top. JESUS WALKS THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF 
OUR OWN STORMS TO MEET US. LET'S TAKE HOPE IN 
HIS PRESENCE, AND LET'S ACCEPT THE PEACE HE 
OFFERS AS HE SAYS, "TAKE COURAGE; IT IS I." 
   ASK JESUS TO BREAK THROUGH YOUR FEAR WITH 
HIS PRESENCE! [365 Days of Courage by Sara Perry 
of Broadstreet Pub] 

COMMENTARY

In the Storm
   After Jesus disciples fought a raging 
storm for nine cold hours, at about 4:00 AM the 
unspeakable happened. They spotted someone coming on the 
water. A ghost! they said, crying out in 
terror. (Matthew 14:26 MSG). They didnt expect 
Jesus to come to them this way. 
   Neither do we. We expect him to come in 
the form of peaceful hymns on Easter Sundays or 
quiet retreats. We expect to find Jesus in morning 
devotionals and meditations. We never expect to see him 
in a divorce or a foreclosure. We never expect 
to see him in a storm. But its in a storm 
that he does his finest work, for it is in storms 
that he has our keenest attention. 
   Jesus replied to the disciples fear 
with an invitation worthy of inscription on every 
church cornerstone and residential archway, 
Dont be afraid, he said. Take courage. I am 
here! (Matthew 14:27). [Max Lucado Daily 
Devotional at maxlucado.com] 

Storm Weary
   Lifeguards know there is danger in saving 
someone who is drowning, because people panic. More 
than one lifeguard has lost his or her life from 
being drowned by the person they were trying to 
save. Its one of the reasons lifeguards use 
flotation devices. Theyre for drowning people to 
hold on to. 
   I think sometimes the Lord waits until 
weve exhausted our resources before He comes 
through. As the disciples battled a violent storm on 
the Sea of Galilee, Jesus came to them at the 
last moment, but when the time was just right, 
walking on the sea. 
   Perhaps Jesus walked to them on the water 
to show His disciples that the very things they 
feared - the wind and the waves - were only a 
staircase for Him to reach them. 
   The disciples, however, didnt know it 
was Jesus, and they cried out in terror. Why 
didnt they recognize Him? I believe its because 
they werent looking for Him. God is there, but 
often we dont see Him because we arent 
looking for Him. And we never will know Jesus as 
deeply as we can until He comes to us in the midst 
of a storm in our lives. 
   Someone once asked me what the most 
spiritual moment of my life was, the moment when I 
sensed Gods presence more tangibly than any 
other time. That moment was right after my son 
Christopher died. I wouldnt wish that on anyone, but 
that is when God manifested His presence to me in 
such a tangible way. My wife and my son Jonathan 
have told me it was the same for them. 
   God came to us in a way that was unique, 
carrying us through. He gave us what we needed when 
we needed it. And He will do the same for you. 
[By Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries; 
https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

Courage or Fear?
   Lets give credit where credit is due. 
No one else volunteered to walk on water - not 
James, not John, and not any of the other 
disciples. But Peter did. So Jesus told him, Yes, 
come (Matthew 14:29 NLT). 
   What happened next? Matthew tells us that 
Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on 
the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the 
strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and 
began to sink. Save me, Lord! he shouted 
(verses 29"30 NLT). 
   Peter sank because he was afraid and 
because he took his eyes off Jesus. When fear 
reigns, faith is driven away. Fear and faith dont 
hang out together. Either faith will be there, or 
fear will be there. But when one walks in, the 
other walks out. 
   Sometimes were doing well, and then we 
look at the wind and waves in our lives, and we 
begin to sink. We check our email or social media, 
or we turn on the news, and it causes our 
hearts to panic. 
   Peter began to sink because he took his 
eyes off Jesus. And when take our eyes off Jesus, 
were going to sink as well. When we forget 
Gods promises to us, well start to sink. 
   But then Peter called out to Jesus, and 
He immediately reached out and grabbed 
[Peter]. You have so little faith, Jesus said. 
Why did you doubt me? (verse 31 NLT). 
   In The Early Days Of The COVID-19 
Pandemic, I Heard A Doctor On The News Say Something 
That Id Never Heard Before: Courage Uses The 
Same Pathways As Fear. 
   WHEN YOURE FACING THE STORMS OF LIFE, 
YOU HAVE A CHOICE: EITHER YOU CAN BE AFRAID, 
WHICH IS EASY, OR YOU CAN BE COURAGEOUS WHILE YOU 
KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS. [By Greg Laurie from 
Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com] 

CLOSING PEARL

COURAGE!
   When Jesus arrived, he made a huge 
difference! Because of Jesus - all he taught, all he did 
- your life is different now! You're not 
alone, and you're not lost. You have a heavenly 
Father, a living Savior, and a present helper, the 
Holy Spirit. All the problems that beset you are 
now theirs as well. 
   Lest we forget, try this. At The End Of A 
Phone Conversation, Instead Of "Good-Bye" Say 
"Courage!" Gently, Softly, Remind One Another Of What 
Jesus Gives Us. In The Face Of Every Trouble, 
Every Heartbreak, Every Troubling Diagnosis  
COURAGE! [Life Application SB] 

LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY

Deuteronomy 31:6 - Courage in Calamity.

https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240325-0830.html 

Isaiah 41:13 (NKJV) For I, the LORD your 
God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, 
'Fear not, I will help you.'  
Devotional pending.

Isaiah 43:2 - Help In Troubled Times.

https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220128-0840.html 

John 16:33 - Genuine Peace is Found in a 
Relationship with Jesus Christ! 

https://www.abible.com/devotions/2024/20240128-1114.html 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/