Who Jesus is
Jesus and Fear
Jesus meets fear not with scolding but with his presence. In the storm he stilled the waves and asked, 'Why are ye so fearful?' Again and again he said, 'Fear not,' 'Be of good cheer,' 'Let not your heart be troubled.' He never pretended the danger was unreal. He simply proved himself larger than it, and stayed in the boat with the frightened.
Jesus and Fear
The clearest picture is the storm on Galilee. The disciples, several of them seasoned fishermen, were certain they would drown, and they woke Jesus with panic. He rebuked the wind, then turned to them: 'Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?' (Mark 4:40). He did not shame their fear so much as point past it to himself.
'Fear not' is one of the things he said most often. To Jairus, whose daughter had just died, he said, 'Be not afraid, only believe' (Mark 5:36). Walking toward the terrified disciples on the water he called, 'Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid' (Matthew 14:27). To a small, anxious band he said, 'Fear not, little flock' (Luke 12:32).
On his last night he gathered it into a promise: 'Let not your heart be troubled... Peace I leave with you' (John 14:1, 27). He never claimed the storms were imaginary. He claimed to be with them inside the storm.
What Jesus said and did
Where this points
Jesus does not stand outside our fear giving orders. In Gethsemane he was sore amazed and heavy, sweating as it were great drops of blood. He knew dread from within, and went to the cross anyway. Because he faced the worst and rose, his 'fear not' comes from someone who has already been there.
People also ask
Did Jesus ever feel afraid himself?
In Gethsemane he was 'sore amazed, and very heavy,' and prayed in agony (Mark 14:33, Luke 22:44). He did not float above dread. He felt it fully and still trusted his Father, which is why his comfort to the fearful carries weight.
What did Jesus mean by 'fear not'?
Not that danger is unreal, but that his presence and power are greater than it. Nearly every 'fear not' comes attached to who he is or what he will do, not to a demand that we simply feel braver.