A thought I did not have time to include in our online video Bible Class entitled “John 6:14-21 … Jesus Walking on the Sea!”

The Lord, in John 6:20, uses the great Phrase … “I AM!” It’s true that in English those two words are translated “It is I.” But the Greek Text our King James translators followed reads … “EGO EIMI.” No doubt meaning … “I AM.” (Please note … this is in no way a criticism of the beautiful King James Bible!)

John uses these Words of our Lord again and again in His Gospel. Reporting Jesus’ Speech verbatim. “I AM,” claims our Lord! “I AM” is our Lord! (Our King James Bible included … John 6:35 and 8:12 and 10:7 and 10:14 and 11:25 and 14:6 and 15:1, for starters!)

But in John 6 here Jesus adds another Clause … “It is I; be not afraid.”

Since Jesus was (still is) so seeped in the Word of God, the Old Testament included … I thought a search for that “coupling” would be profitable. “I AM” … along with … “FEAR NOT!”

I was amazed at the results of that endeavor …

Here they are … the “I AM” and “FEAR NOT” Couplets of Scripture …

Genesis 26:24 … And the LORD appeared unto him (Isaac) the same night, and said, I am the God of Abraham thy father: fear not, for I am with thee, and will bless thee, and multiply thy seed for my servant Abraham’s sake.

Genesis 46:3 … And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee (Jacob) a great nation …

Jeremiah 1:8 … Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee (the Prophet Jeremiah) to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 1:17-19 … Thou therefore gird up thy loins, and arise, and speak unto them all that I command thee: be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee (Jeremiah again) before them. 18 For, behold, I have made thee this day a defenced city, and an iron pillar, and brasen walls against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, against the princes thereof, against the priests thereof, and against the people of the land. 19 And they shall fight against thee; but they shall not prevail against thee; for I am with thee, saith the LORD, to deliver thee.

Jeremiah 42:11 … Be not afraid of the king of Babylon, of whom ye are afraid; be not afraid of him, saith the LORD: for I am with you to save you, and to deliver you from his hand.

Jeremiah 46:28 … Fear thou not, O Jacob my servant, saith the LORD: for I am with thee; for I will make a full end of all the nations whither I have driven thee: but I will not make a full end of thee, but correct thee in measure; yet will I not leave thee wholly unpunished.

The very practical point being … if the “I AM” is with you … the “FEAR NOT” is automatic!

Hallelujah!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

With the help of some good commentaries and concordances!

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