I AM here

Matthew 14:27

But Jesus immediately said to them, “Take courage!  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.” NIV

In the New Living Translation this verse reads, “But Jesus spoke to them at once. “Don’t be afraid,” he said. “Take courage. I am here!^[a]”  That footnote then says, “Or The ‘I Am’ is here; Greek reads I am. See Exod 3:14.”

Last night, a dear friend taught a beautiful lesson on this passage.  This is the story of a great storm.  The disciples are in a boat, and Jesus is not with them, and they are all pretty worried, and then Jesus appears to them walking on the water.

In the midst of this discussion, the leader mentioned something that really got me thinking.  She was talking about the humanity of Jesus, and she asked the group, “Was He fully God?  Or, was He fully man?”  I believe, and the group also said, that He was both.

But then, she pointed out the phrase, “I am here!” and, she said, there is something special about “I am.”  It is, of course, one of the names of God, as noted in Exodus 3:14 — “I AM WHO I AM.  This is what you are to say to the Israelites, I AM has sent me to you.”

So, when Jesus tells Peter, “I am here,” it is beyond powerful.

That’s what struck me.  God was right there.  Fully God, and fully man, and Peter had nothing to fear.

Those who knew Jesus had the privilege of having God RIGHT THERE.  I won’t know that joy until I cross over into heaven, but, I have the same assurance.

There is nothing to fear or worry about, I must only remember that God, the Great I AM, is here.

That’s what I’m thinking about today.