2. Poor in Spirit
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)
Today’s Reading: Luke 5:1-11
Meet Cute with the Messiah
The four Gospels tell how Jesus and Peter met in slightly different ways. That's because each Gospel highlights something unique about Jesus. Matthew focuses on Jesus as the promised King, showing how Peter and the other fishermen immediately followed his call (Matthew 4:18-22). Mark has a similar take, emphasizing Jesus' authority and adding the story of him healing Peter's mother-in-law (Mark 1:14-20, 29-31). John's account feels like a chain reaction—disciples bringing more disciples into the fold (John 1:35-44). But Luke's version stands out. It feels more personal as if Jesus and Peter already knew each other. In fact, Luke may give us the full backstory that Matthew and Mark only hint at.
For instance, John's Gospel says Peter first met Jesus through Andrew, and Jesus didn't call him to follow at that moment. Plus, remember the story about Jesus healing Peter's mother-in-law? Luke places that earlier in his Gospel (Luke 4:38-39). This shows us that Peter had already experienced Jesus' power before the day Jesus chose his boat.
Before Jesus called Peter to follow him, he invested in a relationship with him. He even brought healing into Peter's household. This reminds us that living like Christ means being relational—investing in others' lives before asking for a more profound commitment. So, what made the day described in Luke 5 different from any other day Peter spent with Jesus?
Fishing Failure
Peter was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee, but let's be honest—he didn't seem to have the best luck at it. Every time we see him fishing in the Gospels, he's struggling to catch anything. That's how life feels sometimes. We pour our efforts into something—a job, a relationship, a dream—and come up empty. All of us are on a search for belonging. As humans, we are wired to make sense of a reality that constantly doesn’t. Attaching our identities to certain expectations based on our desires is one way we try to find ourselves.
On this particular day, Peter's empty fishing boat symbolizes his failure. But it was also the perfect setting for Jesus to step in—literally. Jesus used Peter's boat as a pulpit, filling Peter's emptiness with his presence. This story wasn't just about a miraculous fishing trip, but what Jesus wanted Peter to see. He was turning Peter’s humiliation into humility.
Feeling empty and powerless—what the Bible calls "poor in spirit"—isn't something we usually associate with being blessed. Yet Jesus says the poor in spirit are blessed because they’ve received access to the Kingdom of Heaven. When Peter let Jesus into his boat, he took the first step of faith, even though he wasn't expecting much.
"Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets" (Luke 5:5).
That "because you say so" was a moment of trust. When the miracle happens in verse 7 and 8, we see a portrait of Peter’s purpose. The catch of fish was so big that the nets started to break, prompting others to help bring in the catch. Peter’s bold trust in Jesus, despite failure, led to this massive catch. (This is a foreshadowing of Peter’s first spirit filled sermon on Pentecost in Acts 2). Seeing all this, Peter fell to his knees—not just because of the power he witnessed but because Jesus had revealed something deeper about Peter.
“theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven”
Peter's failure wasn't the end of his story—it was the beginning. Jesus showed him a glimpse of the Kingdom of Heaven, a reality where his life had a bigger purpose.
"When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, 'Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!'" (Luke 5:8).
But Peter was overwhelmed by Jesus' power and the realization of who he was called to be. Perhaps Peter was so familiar with 'lacking' that 'abundance' frightened him. It can be unsettling when we truly recognize what God is calling us to. Sometimes the plans that God has for us seem beyond our ability; and in truth, they are. But Jesus reassured him:
"Don't be afraid; from now on you will catch people" (Luke 5:10b).
Peter's desire to fish wasn't wrong; it just needed the right direction. It was always in him! Jesus transformed his failure into his calling, showing him that he wasn't just a fisherman but an evangelist. Without that moment of emptiness and surrender, Peter wouldn't have become the leader of the early church we know today.
It's easy to think we've failed when we feel stuck, discouraged, or powerless. But Jesus can fill our emptiness with purpose. Of all the Beatitudes, "the poor in spirit" are the only ones who receive an immediate reward. The rest of the statements say "for they will," but to the poor in spirit, it says, "theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven." The Kingdom of Heaven is a reality that you awaken to. Like Peter, all we have to do is allow him into our failures and take that first step of trust—even if it's just a "because you say so" faith.
*Video was edited and produced by David Tregde. Script and direction by Julius Shumpert.
Murray, Andrew. Humility: The Journey Toward Holiness. Bethany House Publishers, 2001.
Mackie, Tim. “This Is Who Experiences the Good Life (According to Jesus) • Visual Commentary.” YouTube, The Bible Project, 4 Mar. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9fR7sHw9Y8.
“Matthew 5.” Holy Bible: New International Version, Cambridge University Press, New York, NY, 1984.
Peterson, Eugene. “Matthew 5.” The Message: The Bible in Contemporary Language, Nav Press, Colorado Springs, CO, 2002.
