Encountering the Miraculous: How Jesus Changes Everything

World Changers
Apr 17
3 min read

“Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.”That was Peter’s response after he pulled in the biggest catch of his life. But why would someone react like that to a miracle?

Because in that moment, Peter realized something life-altering—he had just encountered God Himself.

Fishing, Failure, and the Power of Jesus

Luke 5 starts with an ordinary scene: fishermen cleaning empty nets after a long, fruitless night. These weren’t rookies—they were professionals. But even on their best days, fish don’t always show up. That’s fishing. You can control the boat, the bait, the net...but not the fish.

Then Jesus steps in.

He tells Peter to try again, this time in deeper water. Against all odds—and every logical instinct—Peter obeys. Suddenly, the nets are bursting. The boats are sinking. And Peter is no longer thinking about fish—he’s face down in front of Jesus, overwhelmed by the power and holiness of the one who just redefined what was possible.

When You See God, You See Yourself

Peter isn’t the only one to have this kind of moment. In Isaiah 6, the prophet has a vision of God’s throne room—angels crying “Holy, holy, holy,” the place shaking, smoke filling the temple. His reaction? “Woe is me.” He’s undone. Isaiah sees God’s holiness, and instantly recognizes his own unholiness.

Both Peter and Isaiah experienced the same thing: when you encounter Jesus—truly see Him—you can’t help but see yourself more clearly too.

He’s Not Like Us

The miraculous catch wasn’t really about fish. It was a moment Jesus used to show His divine authority. Nature listens to Him. Fish obey Him. Why? Because He created it all (Colossians 1:16). And not only is He powerful—He’s holy. Set apart. Perfect.

That’s the gap between us and Jesus: we’re broken and sinful, trying to define truth on our own terms. But Jesus is the standard—not just a moral teacher, but the very definition of good and right. Whether we recognize His authority or not, He has it.

(Kind of like taxes—you might disagree with them, but that doesn’t change the government’s authority to collect them.)

What’s Even More Miraculous

Here’s the most incredible part: Jesus wants to be known. He didn’t have to fill the nets. He didn’t have to show up in Isaiah’s vision. He didn’t have to dwell among us (John 1:14). But He did.

The most miraculous thing about encountering Jesus? He chose to reveal Himself to us. And not just to awe us—but to invite us to know Him.

Seeing Our Need

When we truly see Jesus, we see our sin. Not small mistakes. Not just “bad habits.” But rebellion against a holy God. And when we understand who He is, we realize what we are not. Like teeth compared to a white sheet of paper—we might look fine on our own, but up close to perfection, every flaw shows.

Still, Jesus doesn’t reject Peter. He doesn’t reject Isaiah. Instead, He says: “Don’t be afraid...from now on you will fish for people.”He forgives. He calls. He sends.

What About Us?

Here’s the reality check:

If we’ve encountered Jesus, that should change how we see ourselves.
The more we know Him, the more we should grieve our sin.
If we claim to follow Him, our lives should reflect His authority.
If we feel nothing toward sin, maybe it’s time we spend more time in His presence.

If Jesus is Lord, then He gets to define our lives—not us.

A Final Thought

It doesn’t always take a miracle for someone to believe. But every encounter with Jesus is miraculous. The fact that He came near, that He reveals Himself, that He invites us to follow—that’s grace.

So what’s your response?

Questions to Reflect On

Have I truly encountered Jesus? How did I respond?
Do I see Jesus as Lord—or just someone I turn to when life gets hard?
What parts of my life show that Jesus has authority over me?
Have I minimized God’s holiness or made Him smaller than He is?
What would it look like to follow Him, fully and freely?

Whether you're already a follower or still unsure—Jesus is calling. Just like He called Peter. Just like He called Isaiah.

The boats were full. The nets were bursting. But the real miracle wasn’t the fish—it was the Savior standing in the boat.

If you would like to see this blog formatted as a lesson to use with your students please use this link below to access our previous Pre Project Study and the slides for lesson 1