John 6 pt. 1 - Why did they think He was a ghost? 2021

John 6:20
But He said^ to them, "It is I; do not be afraid."

John 6:21
They were willing therefore to receive Him into the boat; and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

We are told in Matthew that Yeshua went to the mountains and prayed alone. When the disciples saw Him walking on the water, they were greatly afraid and thought He was a ghost.

Matt. 14:23-27 And after He had sent the multitudes away, He went up to the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone. 24But the boat was already many stadia away from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary. 25And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea. 26And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were frightened, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.”

Why did they think He was a ghost? Why did they not recognize Him? It is likely because Yeshua spoke with His Father when He was alone and His face shone, just like Moses. The people were afraid of Moses also for the same reason.

Exodus 34:29-30 And it came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him. 30So when Aaron and all the sons of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone, and they were afraid to come near him.

Yeshua told them to not be afraid. The message of Yeshua is the same one that comes from His Father as written in the Tanakh.

Isa 41:10-14 ‘Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ 11“Behold, all those who are angered at you will be shamed and dishonored; Those who contend with you will be as nothing, and will perish. 12“You will seek those who quarrel with you, but will not find them, Those who war with you will be as nothing, and non-existent. 13“For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand, Who says to you, ‘Do not fear, I will help you.’ 14“Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel; I will help you,” declares the LORD, “and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel.

And this was also the message of Elohim given through Moses.

Ex. 20:20 And Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid; for God has come in order to test you, and in order that the fear of Him may remain with you, so that you may not sin.”

The boat was immediately at the other side of the sea and was landed.