The words and acts of Jesus
Again and again in the Gospels, Jesus met fear with the same nearness. In the storm he said, Peace, be still. On the water, Be not afraid; it is I. To a grieving father, Be not afraid, only believe. To terrified disciples after the resurrection, Peace be unto you. Each moment below is quoted from the King James Version and cited. His answer to fear was almost always his presence.
Fear is one of the most common conditions in the Gospels, and Jesus never scolded people for feeling it. He came near, spoke peace, and steadied them. Here is what he actually did.
When the disciples were sure they would drown, he stilled the sea with a word, then gently asked why they had no faith.
When they thought they saw a ghost in the night, his voice was the first thing to calm them.
As word came that Jairus's daughter was dead, Jesus turned the father's dread toward trust, then raised the girl.
When the disciples fell on their faces in terror, he touched them and lifted the fear with a word.
Behind locked doors, hiding in fear, they saw the risen Jesus. His first word to them was peace.
Jesus does not shame the frightened. He draws near, and his nearness is the cure. The refrain of his life is, It is I; be not afraid. Whatever frightens you, the same Christ is in the boat, and he still speaks peace to the storm.
Everything on this page is drawn straight from the Gospels, nothing added, nothing softened. The living Christ is not an argument to be won but a Person to be met, and he still draws near to everyone who comes to him with an open heart. Read his own words, watch what he does, and see. The Gospel of John is a gentle place to begin.
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