Where There’s Blayze

If Jesus is the Son of God the One who heals the sick, raises the dead, and wields divine power, why does He begin His ministry by topping up wine glasses?

Thats what we explored in a previous blog, looking at how Jesus first miracle at the wedding in Cana (John 2:1-11) wasn’t just about saving a party. It was a sign of something much deeper.

Today, were looking at another moment that seems almost too ordinary to be miraculous. Instead of a grand display of power, Jesus meets some fishermen in their workplace and helps them catch fish (Luke 5:1-11).

Thats it. Not overthrowing Roman oppressors. Not calling down fire from heaven. Not even a dramatic healing. Just a fishing trip. It’s an encounter that changes everything for Simon Peter and maybe, if we see it rightly, it can change things for us too.

What Do You Expect from God?

When we think of encountering God, we often imagine something overwhelming like Isaiah’s vision in Isaiah 6. He sees the Lord seated on a throne, surrounded by fiery angels, the temple shaking with Gods glory. Faced with such holiness, Isaiah falls to the ground, completely undone.

Thats the kind of divine encounter we expect.

And its what many first-century Jews expected from the Messiah. They were waiting for a warrior king, someone who would overthrow Rome, restore Israels power, and bring justice.

But Jesus? He goes to a wedding and refills wine glasses. He steps into a fisherman’s boat and tells him to try casting his nets again. This isn’t what people had in mind. Even John the Baptists disciples later come to Jesus and ask outright, Are you really the Christ, or should we look for someone else? (Luke 7:19). I don’t blame them.

If Jesus appeared to me today and said, Come, we have much work to do, Id like to think Id follow. But where would I expect Him to go? To political leaders? To the poor and sick? To war-torn regions where people are suffering?

Instead, imagine He says:

“My son, we are going to the local pub. They’ve just run out of IPA.”

What?

“Okay, Lord. But what after that?”

“Then, we shall go to a nearby lake where some nice chaps are struggling to catch fish.”

Honestly, how would you react? Wouldn’t you be a little skeptical? Wouldn’t you want some proof that this was really Jesus?

When a Fishing Trip Becomes a Holy Moment

Luke 5 tells us that Simon (later known as Peter) had already encountered Jesus before this. Johns Gospel tells us that his brother Andrew had met Jesus through John the Baptist and had come running to Simon, saying, We have found the Messiah! (John 1:41).

But Simon didn’t immediately follow. Why?

Because people claimed to be the Messiah all the time. History records multiple self-proclaimed messiahs who gathered followers, only to be crushed by the Romans. Even John the Baptist had to keep answering the question, Are you the Christ? (John 1:19-20).

It would be like falling to our knees every time a politician promised to lower taxes. Simon wasn’t about to believe so easily. Seeing a Miracle Isn’t Always Enough.

Then, theres the moment when Jesus healed Simons mother-in-law (Luke 4:38-39). Surely, that was enough to convince him? Apparently not.

Maybe Simon was just skeptical by nature. Maybe he thought, I don’t know how He did that, but Im not going to drop everything over it. We often think that if we saw a miracle, wed believe instantly. But would we?

I remember hearing someone share a story about a miracle how they had run out of food, only for their supplies to keep refilling. And what was the most common response?

“I struggle to believe that.”

I get it. You weren’t there.

Simon might have felt the same. He saw Jesus heal someone close to him, but maybe healers were just another part of life back then. But then came the fishing trip.

The Moment That Changed Everything

Simon had been fishing all night and caught nothing. He was a professional fisherman, this was his trade, his livelihood. If there were fish to be caught, he would have caught them. And now, Jesus, a carpenter, is telling him to try again.

Simons response?

Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word, I will let down the nets. (Luke 5:5)

I can almost hear the sarcasm. Oh sure, Jesus. You stick to filling wine glasses. Fishing is my department. But then, the nets overflow. The boats nearly sink. Simon knows this is impossible.

This isn’t a healing that could be debated. This isn’t a sleight-of-hand trick he doesn’t understand. This is raw power. This is authority over creation itself.

And suddenly, Simon realises:

This is not just a teacher. Not just a healer. Not just another messianic pretender. This is God, standing in his boat. And like Isaiah before the throne of God, Simon falls to his knees and says, Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord. (Luke 5:8)

This is no longer about what he’s heard from others. Its not about secondhand stories. This is personal. More Personal Than Isaiah’s Vision Isaiah saw Gods glory in the heavens. Simon saw Gods glory in his workplace. Isaiah’s vision was overwhelming and distant. Simons encounter was intimate and direct.

This is who Jesus is. He doesn’t just want people to know about Him. He wants to know them. Personally.

Jesus Calls You As You Are

And what does Jesus do next? He doesn’t say, Forget fishing; now you’re a theologian. He says, From now on, you will fish for people. (Luke 5:10) Jesus doesn’t erase who Simon is. He transforms him. And thats what happens when we truly encounter Jesus. We don’t just become different, we become more fully ourselves.

Do You Know Jesus?

This is why the real question isn’t Are you a Christian? but Do you know Jesus?

St. Augustine wrote 1,500 years ago:

“Give me a man in love; he knows what I mean. Give me one who yearns; give me one who is hungry But if I speak to a cold man, he just does not know what I am talking about.”

Jesus isn’t waiting for you to figure out theology. He’s not hiding behind religious rituals. He’s stepping into your boat. Meeting you where you are. Calling you by name.

The question is, how will you respond?