What Would Jesus Say About Fear?

Jesus would say “Be not afraid,” as he did again and again to frightened people in the Gospels, and he would point you to a reason to trust: his presence, the Father's care, or his victory over the world. He said it on a stormy lake, to a grieving father, and to the women at his empty tomb.

What did Jesus say about fear in the Gospels?

Jesus' own words about fear, the “red letters,” are listed below with the setting of each. Read them slowly, and notice that he rarely says “fear not” without telling people why.

• Matthew 14:27 — “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” The disciples were rowing against the wind in the dark when they saw a figure walking on the water and cried out in fear. His reason is himself: “it is I,” which in the Greek of Matthew 14:27 is simply “I am.” The wind hadn't dropped yet when he said it. His presence came before the calm. Mark and John record the same words (Mark 6:50, John 6:20).
• Mark 5:36 — “Be not afraid, only believe.” Messengers had just told Jairus that his daughter was dead and there was no point troubling the teacher further. Jesus spoke before the man had time to despair. Not every story ends in this life as Jairus's did, but the same Lord walks into the house with you when the worst news comes.
• Luke 12:6–7 — “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Jesus said this to disciples who would face hostility for following him. Sparrows were among the cheapest things in the market. If God remembers each one, he will not forget you. A few verses later he calls his followers his “little flock” and tells them the Father is glad to give them the kingdom (Luke 12:32).
• John 14:27 — “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” He said this at the Last Supper, hours before his arrest. The world's peace depends on circumstances settling down. His held steady on the night he was betrayed, and it's the peace he gives.
• John 16:33 — “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” This may be the most honest “fear not” in the Gospels. Jesus tells his friends plainly they will have trouble. Their courage is meant to rest on something larger than their circumstances: he has already overcome.

Is Jesus disappointed when I'm afraid?

One of Jesus' sayings can sound harsh at first:

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Mark 4:39–40

Look at the order in Mark's account. Jesus calms the sea first, then asks the question. (Matthew tells it the other way around, but in both he stills the storm; he doesn't leave them in it.) It's a teacher's question, inviting them to notice who is in the boat with them. When Peter began to sink after walking on the water, “immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him” (Matthew 14:31), and only then asked why he doubted.

The rescue comes before the lesson. Your fear doesn't make Jesus turn away. It gives him the chance to do what he did for them: come near, hold on, and teach you to trust him a little more next time.

Was Jesus ever afraid?

The Gospels don't use the word “afraid” of Jesus, but in Gethsemane they describe him as “sore amazed” and “very heavy” (Mark 14:33), words of deep distress. Luke adds that he prayed in agony, his sweat falling like drops of blood. And Jesus told his friends plainly how he felt:

Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me. And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

Matthew 26:38–39

Notice what Jesus did with his anguish. He named it to his friends. He asked them to stay near. He prayed honestly, even asking for another way. And he entrusted himself to the Father.

Hebrews 4:15 says Jesus is “touched with the feeling of our infirmities.” When you bring your fear to him, you're bringing it to someone who has felt that weight from the inside.

How can I hear Jesus' “fear not” today?

1. Read the whole scene. Each “fear not” has a setting and a reason. Read the story around it and ask which reason you need right now: his presence, the Father's care, or his victory.
2. Tell him first. Before you try to feel brave, tell Jesus what you're afraid of, as plainly as he told his friends in Gethsemane.
3. Pray his prayer. Ask honestly for what you want. Then add his surrender in your own words: yet not my will, but yours.
4. Let him lift you up. When the disciples fell on their faces at the Transfiguration, Jesus came, touched them, and told them to arise and not be afraid (Matthew 17:7). His help often comes through other people, so let a friend, pastor, or counselor help you stand.
5. Take the next step. At the empty tomb, Jesus told the women not to be afraid and then gave them something to do: go and tell (Matthew 28:10). Courage usually grows as you move.

For promises of peace from across the Old and New Testaments, see these Bible verses about peace and fear. For more of Jesus' own words, read Jesus' words on love, mercy, and truth.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it a sin to be afraid?

No. Fear is a normal human response to danger or loss, and Jesus himself felt deep anguish in Gethsemane without sinning. When he says “be not afraid,” he's inviting trust, not scolding a feeling. Fear becomes a problem when it rules your choices, keeping you from doing what is right or from turning to God. Bring it to him as soon as you notice it.

Did Jesus ever tell people to fear?

Yes, in one striking saying. In Luke 12:4–5 (and Matthew 10:28) he tells his friends not to fear people who can only kill the body, but to fear God, who holds final judgment. That “fear of God” means reverent awe. In the very next breath he says this same God counts the hairs on your head. Awe of God is what frees you from lesser fears.

What did Jesus say about the fear of death?

Jesus spoke about death with calm authority. At the Last Supper he told his disciples not to let their hearts be troubled, because he was going to prepare a place for them and would come again to receive them (John 14:1–3). In Revelation 1:17–18 the risen Jesus tells John not to fear, because he was dead, is alive forever, and holds the keys of death.

What does “be of good cheer” mean?

In the King James Version, “be of good cheer” translates a Greek word meaning “take courage” or “take heart.” It isn't a call to feel cheerful. Jesus says it to people in danger, in illness, and facing trouble, and he always grounds it in who he is: “it is I,” or “I have overcome the world.” Courage is something he gives.

What would Jesus say to someone with anxiety?

Jesus would likely speak as he did to Martha: gently, using her name twice, noticing that she was worried about many things and inviting her back to the one thing she needed most, time with him (Luke 10:41–42). In the Sermon on the Mount he also told his listeners not to be anxious about tomorrow, because their Father knows what they need (Matthew 6:32–34).