Jesus was walking on the stormy sea, coming to the aid of His disciples, whom He had seen "toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them; But they, when they saw Him walking on the sea, supposed that it was an apparition, and cried out; For they saw Him, and were troubled. But He straightway spoke with them, and said unto them, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid." (Mark 6:48-50,RV)
These were comforting words to the disciples, and they have comforted many disciples since that night on the sea; but the disciples at that time did not derive all the comfort from them they ought, "for their heart was hardened;" (Mark 6:52) and very few of the disciples since that day have seen in the words as they read them all that the Saviour really said.
The words rendered, "It is I," meant far more than a simple assurance that it was their Teacher, a real person, who was coming to them, and not an apparition. They included that, which was certainly reassuring; but if the hearts of the twelve had not been hardened, they would have found not merely relief from their childish fears, but eternal comfort; for the words that Jesus uttered, literally translated, were, "Be of good cheer; I am."
Here we see that Jesus identified himself with the "I Am" who sent Moses to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt. "I Am that I Am." (Exodus 3:14)
That expresses infinity of existence,--the One "who is, and was, and who is to come, the Almighty." (Revelation 1:8)
Of God alone can it be said that "He is." That means that He is the Source of all existence, for everything that exists, exists solely in Him. "I Am" is the power that creates and upholds. In Jesus is the name of God, "For in Him were all things created." (Colossians 1:16,RV)
The words that Jesus spoke that night on the sea, were used by Him several times, but only once do they appear in our translation, namely, in: "Before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:58)
But twice more in the same chapter He declares himself to be the "I am," and points us to the cross as proof of the fact. Thus: "When you have lifted up the Son of man, then shall you know that I am." (John 8:28)
From John 12, we know that the lifting up of Christ is His crucifixion: "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. This He said, signifying what death He should die." (John 12:32-33)
There is no salvation except by the cross of Christ; and the cross, as we have seen, is the proof that He is the "I Am," the Creator; therefore He said, "If you believe not that I am, you shall die in your sins." (John 8:24)
"I Am" signifies eternal power,--self-existent, independent power. It is the name of Him who is "from everlasting to everlasting," (Psalm 90:2) and who is the dwelling-place of all mankind,--the One in whom "we live, and move, and have our being." (Acts 17:28) "In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the strength ofthe hills is His also. The sea is His, and He made it; and His hands formed the dry land." (Psalm 95:4-5)
So when Jesus said to His disciples, "Be of good cheer; I am," (Mark 6:50) He really assured them that in Him was the power that made the sea, and that could therefore rule its raging, and that could save them, not only from momentary danger, but from eternal death.
In that name, "I am," there is everlasting strength. And it is all our hope. "He that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that seek after Him." (Hebrews 11:6,RV)
To us, as well as to the disciples on the sea, He says, "Be of good cheer; I am."
He is always present, with all power in heaven and on earth. Simply believe that He is, and continue believing, and you have eternal salvation. "I am He that lives, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, and have the keys of hell and of death." (Revelation 1:18)
How boundless are those words, "I am." "He that has ears to hear, let him hear." (Mark 4:9) "Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts," (Hebrews 3:15) as did the twelve, and thus lose the infinite comfort and strength that lies in the assurance, "I am." When in deep trouble or temptation, fix your mind upon the fact that He is. Listen to His voice saying, "I am," and let your soul be swallowed up in contemplation of it, and you will be lost to everything else. Trouble will be light as air, and temptation will lose its power. The tempter will flee from you.
What cannot one endure, who knows not only that Christ is near, but that His presence creates, upholds, and saves! Let Him be to you the "I am," and you will find that in Him you have everything that is. For, "He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32)
Let this be your confidence, and soon you will "see Him as He is." (1 John 3:2)--Present Truth, April 7, 1898--Timeline: IV-39 (Jesus Walks on the Lake)--Mark 6:48-50.