[2026. 2. 8.] It Is I, Do Not Be Afraid | John 6:16–21

[2026. 2. 8.] It Is I, Do Not Be Afraid | John 6:16–21

Sermon by Rev. Jinkook (Danny) Sohn (Hope of Heaven Baptist Chuch) 

 

2026. 2. 8. 주일예배 설교- 요한복음 강해 19
본문: 요한복음 6:16-21
제목: 내니 두려워하지 말라

설교자: 손진국 목사 (하늘소망교회)

 

Today’s passage records what happened as the disciples left the hillside of Bethsaida, where the miracle of the five loaves and two fish had taken place, and crossed the Sea of Galilee by boat at night on their way to Capernaum. What happened as they crossed the sea? It is written in verses 17–18. [Verse 17–18] They got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough.

Night also comes into our lives. There are times when the future is not visible and we are placed in situations where we do not know what to do or how to go on. In such moments, major problems arise that shake our daily lives, and waves of worry, anxiety, and fear rush in.

But in the midst of such problems, Jesus comes to the disciples and says, “It is I, do not be afraid.” When darkness lies thick over our lives today, when strong winds and waves rise up and shake our hearts and lives, I hope that we too may hear the same voice of the Lord: “It is I, do not be afraid.”

Through today’s passage, the word given to us is this:

 

1. Remember The S-Curve Of Life

Our lives are often described as an S-shaped curve. Life is like a curve laid on its side. There are times when life goes up—times of growth, progress, and success. But how good would it be if life only went upward? Life is not like that. There are sections where it comes down from a peak. There are times when things do not work out, when life is hard and stagnant. Then, after hitting the bottom, the time comes to rise again. This is life.

Today’s passage shows us this. Just moments earlier, the disciples had been at the site of an incredible miracle on the broad field of Bethsaida, where only five barley loaves and two fish fed a crowd of five thousand men—about fifteen to twenty thousand people if women and children were included—until all were satisfied. This miracle of the five loaves and two fish completely changed how people viewed Jesus.

They had likely followed Jesus thinking of Him as a powerful teacher sent by God, one who healed diseases and spoke good words of grace. But this miracle became the turning point that led them to see Jesus as their king.

This was last Sunday’s passage. Let us read verse 15, which comes immediately before today’s text.
[John 6:15] Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.

Why did they suddenly try to make Jesus king? What was their most serious problem? It was the problem of food. Why had such a large crowd gathered on the fields of Bethsaida? Of course, many came because they heard about Jesus. Also, many people had gathered in the region of Jerusalem for the festival season. Still, the number was extraordinarily large. Another reason was that many of them were unemployed. According to scholars, the unemployment rate at the time of Jesus was around 70–80 percent. For them, the issue of daily survival was the most serious concern. Seeing the miracle of the five loaves and two fish, they thought, “If this Jesus becomes our king, He can solve our economic problems and our struggle to survive.”

After witnessing such an amazing miracle, the disciples’ hearts must also have been lifted. If Jesus became king, they might have dreamed of rising to high positions and achieving success in life. Their devotion to Jesus may also have burned brightly: “I will follow Jesus no matter what.” But what happened next? As they crossed the sea, deep darkness fell, and strong winds and waves arose. The sudden storms of the Sea of Galilee were so violent that they could swallow boats and take many lives. Even though the disciples were fishermen, they cried out to Jesus, “We are going to die.”

Just when it feels as though we have gained the whole world, a great storm can arise in our lives, making us feel as though we are about to perish. Our faith and spiritual life are the same. There are times when our faith is strong and burning with passion. But is it always like that? No. Because of certain situations or problems, that faith can cool. There are times of struggle, wandering, and spiritual stagnation. Sometimes, it can even grow completely cold.

Do not think this is strange. Cast away thoughts such as, “This will never happen to me,” or “This must never happen.” Otherwise, when the curve descends, you may blame and torment yourself over what has happened, and collapse even further.

As you reflect on the S-curve of life, I urge you always to be humble. When things are going well and it feels as though you have achieved great success, remember that there may also be times of descent, and bow your head in humility. And when times are difficult and hard, do not lose heart. Endure well with faith, believing that through this hardship the Lord is refining you, and that in due time He will lift you up.

[Ecclesiastes 3:1–4] There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

And trust in God. [Ecclesiastes 3:11] He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

We cannot know what God is doing, but we believe that God leads us beautifully and goodly in His time. Whether things are going well or whether times are difficult, may we all be believers who praise the Lord, who always gives us what is best, and who abide in Him.

[Application] How do my thoughts and attitudes toward the Lord and toward others change when things are going well and when they are not? What is God’s will for me today?

 

2. The Lord Comes To Us In The Midst Of The Storm

When the disciples were crossing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus was not in the boat with them, and their decision to cross by boat was not made by their own will. In Matthew 14, which records the same event, we see that Jesus Himself directed them to go. [Matthew 14:22–24] Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 

The reason Jesus sent the disciples ahead was so that He could go up the mountain alone to pray. We see that Jesus regarded the moment when large crowds were following Him not as success, but as a potential crisis, and therefore devoted Himself to prayer.

Dear brothers and sisters, when our work is going well, when we are recognized by people and our popularity rises, we tend to think of it as success and feel at ease. But learn from Jesus. When our popularity rises and things seem to be going just as we want, we should sense danger and kneel before God with even greater humility. Many people pray when times are hard, but when things start to go well and life becomes busy, they stop praying.

At some point, prayer has become something we do only when we have time. Yet in the Gospels, we see Jesus going up to the mountain to pray even after ministering late into the night. The Lord’s priority was prayer, not ministry. He valued fellowship with the Father more than anything else. May all of our priorities be changed to be like the Lord’s.

As the disciples were going toward Capernaum and suffered because strong winds blew and waves rose, Jesus came to them walking on the sea. What was their reaction? [Verse 19] When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened.

Their reaction was fear. They were already afraid because of the strong wind and waves, and then something completely unimaginable happened—a man was walking toward them in the middle of the sea where no one should be. It must have felt as if they were seeing a ghost. To those fearful disciples, Jesus said, [Verse 6:20] But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.”

As I meditated on today’s passage, I thought about this question: “What is the most frightening thing in my life?” When I was a teenager, I feared, “What if I can’t go to college when all my friends do?” After graduating from college, when I was looking for a job, I feared, “What if I can’t find a job?” When I immigrated to New Zealand alone as a single person, I feared, “What if I fail after coming all this way?” I got married at the age of thirty-four, but from my college years I had a vague fear that I might never get married, and after turning thirty that fear felt like it might become reality: “What if I really don’t get married?”

As people live, they feel fear according to their circumstances. There is no one without fear. But after believing in Jesus at the age of thirty-three and living a life of faith since then, the object of my fear has changed. When I ask myself, “What is the most frightening thing in my life?” I think the greatest fear is the thought that Jesus might not be with me.

I believe the real reason for the disciples’ fear in today’s passage was that Jesus was not in the boat with them. Yet what is truly amazing and something to be thankful for is that Jesus did not abandon the disciples who were suffering in the storm at sea, but came to them.

And the Lord did not come after calming the storm. He came walking right in the middle of the storm. This means that we are to look to the Lord even in the storm. Why should we look to Him? When Jesus said, “It is I; don’t be afraid,” the words “It is I” were not simply meant to reassure them by saying, “I am not a ghost or some strange being.” They were a declaration: “I am God, who has authority even to calm the fierce wind and waves.” In the storm, in suffering and difficult situations, the Lord who is greater than all problems is with us, so we do not need to be afraid.

Dear brothers and sisters, where is true safety and peace found? It is found where God is. Do you still have fear? The Lord speaks to each of us: “It is I; don’t be afraid.” This voice is not heard because the storm has disappeared, but because the Lord is with us even in the storm.

May we all look to the Lord who comes to us in the midst of the storms of our lives, and by the presence of the Lord who is with us, overcome all fear and anxiety.

[Application] What am I afraid of right now? Am I looking to the Lord who comes to me in the storm of my life?

 

3. When We Receive The Lord, We Arrive At The Destination.

What was the disciples’ response after they heard Jesus’ words, “It is I; do not be afraid,” when He came to them as they were suffering in the storm? It appears in the last verse of today’s passage, verse 21. [Verse 21] Then they were glad to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land to which they were going.

In the storm, the disciples rejoiced and received the Lord who came to them into the boat. Even though the problem had not yet been resolved, they rejoiced because of Jesus who came to them. They were no longer held by the problem but looked to Jesus, rejoicing and receiving Him with faith in Jesus.

In our lives as well, when Jesus comes to us, what should we do? We should receive Him with joy. [John 1:12] Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. What does the name of our Lord, Jesus, mean? It means “Savior.” I hope you believe that those who believe and receive Him as the Savior who saves me and as the Son of God become children of God. When we receive Jesus in this way, an amazing thing happens.

What was the problem the disciples faced in the boat? They were feeling that their lives were in danger because of the strong wind and waves. When I watch movies, I am not very afraid of most horror movies. But there are movies that still feel a bit scary to me, and those are movies that take place in the water. So, compared to a movie like Friday the 13th, the movie Jaws feels more frightening. In the water, people cannot act freely as they want.

When was the problem of the strong wind and waves, which was the object of the disciples’ fear, resolved? It is not clearly described in today’s passage, but it is clearly shown in the Gospel of Matthew. [Matthew 14:32] And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. When Jesus got into the boat, the wind stopped and the waves became calm. When we receive the Lord, all the problems of our lives are resolved. Do you believe this? “But even after receiving Jesus, there are still problems left.” That is true. But receiving Jesus means acknowledging and accepting Him as the Lord of my life. Therefore, it means entrusting all the problems of my life to the Lord. Even if the problem is not solved right now, I hope you believe that the Lord will solve everything in His own way.

That is what verse 21 says. Let us read it again. [Verse 21] Then they were glad to receive Him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land to which they were going. 

When they received Jesus, the boat they were on reached the destination they were heading for. Please remember this today. When the Lord is in the boat of our lives, the way is opened. When the Lord gets into the boat of our lives, we can reach the right destination. When the Lord who rules over heaven and earth gets into the boat of our lives, nothing can hinder us. For us believers living today, our daily destination is not a place without storms, but a place where the Lord is with us. Today as well, I bless you to be believers who, even in the midst of the storm, walk together with the Lord, holding not fear but peace and hope, and move forward toward our final destination.

[Application] What am I afraid of right now? Am I looking to the Lord who comes to me in the storm of my life?

 

 

하늘소망교회(담임 손진국 목사)는 뉴질랜드 오클랜드 북부 실버데일에 세워진 한인교회로 '하나님의 마음으로 사람을 살리는 교회'입니다.

Hope of Heaven Baptist Church (Senior Pastor: Rev. Jinkook Sohn) is a Korean church established in Silverdale, Auckland, New Zealand. It is a church that saves people with the heart of God.