Matthew 14:27 Commentary and Bible Study

Immediately he spoke to them. He was that close to them that they could hear him and see him above the storm. He said three things to them: ‘Be of good cheer’ – that is our King James translation. The idea of good cheer translates the Greek for courage. Have courage, be courageous, be bold. Be confident that all will turn out well, because you' are my disciples, because I am here, so be confident in a good outcome. That’s the first thing he says. Perhaps it’s the first thing that he says to us in times of trial and difficulty, in grief and hardship. Be confident of a good outcome, eventually. Come, call upon me, pray. ‘Be of good cheer’, perhaps is not quite hitting the mark. ‘It is I.’ These are some of the greatest words imaginable that Christ says to the disciples. I am with you as your God, your defender, your loving Saviour. I am Lord of heaven and the earth and what is under the earth, and I will allow nothing to harm you. Their terror should have been turned to wonder, relief, and joy at this saying. The one we are following has power over all that can harm us and he will not let anything evil touch us. They should have brought tremendous encouragement and comfort to the disciples. It should have settled their fears, their anxiety, and pulled them around immediately. It was their beloved Saviour, who could do them no harm, whose great love for them could only do them good. He is their defender, and the one who has authority over all spirits, for even the devils obey him. Any fear that they have of the unseen world of spirits – and such fears are instinctive to mortal human beings – should have been driven away by his presence. But this is the problem. They don't appreciate him as they should. They have followed him; they believe in him, but they still see him too much as some kind of earthly deliver. They need to grasp who he is, that he is the second person of the Triune Godhead, the Son of God, equal with the Father. They have seen many miracles, and they have regarded them as wonderful spectacles – ‘He obviously has power from God to do great things’ – but they don’t see him, who he is, his status, his divine being, his special character. He was uniquely God and man, and he had come to be the Redeemer of the world, and possessed all power and all knowledge. ‘Be of good cheer.’ Don't be afraid. It is I.’ His walking upon the water, and his coming to them in the vessel, and the instant peace that resulted were going to do much to convince them. ‘Don't fear the waves or the wind. Don't fear, apparitions or phantoms, supposedly. Be not afraid of anything; I am with you.’