"Take Courage! It is I. Do not be afraid."
Gospel of Mark
Does Jesus ever seem distant when trials and difficulties come?
At times, in scripture, we can get so caught up in the story and the events that are happening that we miss the underlining teaching.
Right after Jesus performed the miracles of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes, He leaves the disciples so that He could go off and pray. The disciples go off by themselves, across the Lake of Galilee where they are confronted with a life-threatening storm. Although they are experienced fishermen, they recognize the seriousness of their situation and fear for their lives. It was in their most desperate moment that they sighted Jesus coming towards them on the Lake. And they heard the words of reassurance come from the One who they thought was a ghost: "Take Courage! It is I. Do not be afraid." In other words: "Don't give in to fear and panic, take courage, be calm. You are never alone. I am here with you."
There's a couple of points in Mark's Gospel story that are easy to miss. As Jesus was coming towards the disciples, Mark includes a very unusual phrase. "Jesus meant to pass them by, but when the disciples saw Him, they thought He was a ghost and cried out."
The Israelites believed that to see God's face meant death. In Exodus, we have reference to God setting Moses in a hollow of a rock and covering him with His hand until He had passed by. This was to protect Moses from looking upon the face of God.
Jesus, in being attentive to the panic and fear of the disciples, acts in a different manner. Jesus reveals a new relationship, a new way of responding. He comes to be with those who are afraid. He assures us with the words: "IT IS I". It is His presence with us, His walking with us, that defines a new type of relationship between ourselves and Christ. It is this presence, this walking with us that drives out all fear as described in the letter of John.
"In love, there can be no fear, but fear is driven out by perfect love."
Mark also says in the Gospel story that the disciples hearts were hardened in respect to the miracles. In the Jerusalem Bible it says that their minds were closed. Mark is looking for something deeper from the disciples and from his readers. Mark is looking for something deeper from us than just the surface reading of this Gospel narrative. Mark is hoping that we will begin to question our owl level of intimacy with Christ.
During our own wind-tossed times; during the storms in our own lives; will we be able to stand firmly on that stabilizing rock of our faith in Christ? Will we know, no matter what comes our way, we are not alone?
Christ is there, sharing our journey. His presence is not just an intellectual understanding or consent. It is something real, something sustaining, something healing.
Do we experience Jesus as present with us when trials and difficulties come our way?
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