ἐγώ εἰμι
I remember when I learned the ἐγώ. (pronounced eg-o’). It was summer Greek or maybe before, I was an over achiever… All I could think of was Let go of my ego!
But what does ἐγώ εἰμι mean? In our lesson from Mark 6:45-52 it is translated in the ESV as it is I. But does this really help with understanding the text?
You see this text is the one where Jesus walks on water out to the disciples, or actually if you read the text closely it says that Jesus was not going to the boat, but He wanted to pass the boat as to beat the disciples to the other side of the lake. Now remember that He was just asleep on the boat when they were getting killed by the storm, and now He is a ghost walking on the water as they are passing over the lake at night.
They saw something and started to cry in terror and the ESV says that He saw this “
for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” Jesus saw they were terrified and said take heart, do not be alarmed it is I, or it is me? Now have you ever been terrified I mean really scared out of your wits? Can you hear correctly when this happens? Not always. Did the disciples really know who He was from this? I’m not sure but what Jesus really said probably scared them more than seeing a ghost walking on the sea! You see what we miss in translation is something that would not have been missed in the original language.
Jesus said “take heart, I am!” Yes He said “I am.” Which is of course the name of God given to Moses at the burning bush, the name every good Jew would know is the unspeakable name the name of God! In this statement Jesus calms them by saying that He is God. And the text of Mark says He stepped into the boat and they were utterly astounded or more appropriately they were out of their minds beside themselves, or insane! They were going crazy because the person they are traveling with who is doing things no human should be able to do just said He was God!
But that is comfort isn’t it. Jesus came here to know all about us to live as we do, and to help us understand it is possible to do what God wants us to do and still be human.
So take heart, for Jesus is God, and God cares for you.
aSacredRebel 