Mat 14:27 Be of good cheer; it is I; do not be afraid.

Christ said this when he walked on water and the apostles thought he was a ghost. Symbolically, walking on water demonstrates the power of the spirit over physical nature, but Christ's message is simpler. In the original Greek, Christ is telling us to have confidence. He is with us. What we fear comes from God. God is with and taking care of us so there is no reason to be afraid. What we don't understand if always frightening, but we don't understand most of the universe. We have to trust that it is from God.

Alternate version: Have confidence, I am here. Fear not.


"Be of good cheer" is from tharseô, which has both the sense of "to be of good courage" and, in a negative sense, "to be over-bold." It also have the meaning of "having confidence in," and "to fear not about."

"It is I" is from eimi (to exist, to be present) ego (I).

"Fear" is from phobeô, which means originally, "to put to flight" and means "to be seized with fear."