Fish, A Meal Jesus Might Have Eaten (and Why That Matters More Than You Think)

Sometimes when I read the Gospels, I find myself wondering about the little details.

Not the big miracles (though those are pretty amazing), but the quiet moments in between. What did the air smell like when Jesus sat down to eat? What did dinner look like when no crowds were watching and no sermons were being preached?

Because Jesus didn’t just meet people on hillsides and in temples.He met them at tables. He met them in boats. He met them while walking dusty roads and sharing very ordinary meals.

And I love that… because most of us live in very ordinary places, doing very ordinary things, wondering if God is still right here with us in the middle of laundry piles and “what’s for dinner?” debates.

(If you’ve ever stared into your fridge like it personally betrayed you, welcome. You are among friends.)

So today, I wanted to share a simple, comforting meal inspired by foods that would have been common in Jesus’ time — not bread, not lentils, but fish, olives, herbs, figs, and honey. Foods from the Sea of Galilee region. Foods of everyday life.

And maybe, just maybe, a reminder that God loves to meet us right where we are.

“He took the five loaves and the two fish… and gave thanks.” — Matthew 14:19

Even simple food becomes sacred when gratitude sits at the table.

Why Food Matters in Faith (and in Life)

If you read through the Bible, you’ll notice something kind of beautiful: God does a lot of meaningful things around meals.

• Covenants are made.

• Forgiveness is offered.

• Friendships are restored.

• Miracles happen.

• Hearts soften.

Jesus ate with sinners, skeptics, tax collectors, and close friends. He cooked breakfast on the shore after the resurrection. He used dinner tables as places of healing and belonging.

Which tells me something important: Faith isn’t meant to live only in quiet church moments. It’s meant to live in kitchens, too.

It lives in the passing of plates. In laughter over slightly burned food. In conversations that start small and end somewhere holy.

And that makes me want to slow down sometimes… even just enough to say,“Thank You, Lord, for meeting me here, too.”

A Simple Galilean-Inspired Meal-Fish

This meal is inspired by what historians and Scripture tell us was common in the region where Jesus lived and ministered:

• Fresh fish from the Sea of Galilee

• Olive oil and olives

• Wild herbs

• Figs and honey for sweetness

It’s simple, nourishing, and honestly? Still really delicious all these years later.

Galilean-Style Herb Fish with Olives

Ingredients

• 4 white fish fillets (tilapia, cod, or haddock)

• 3 tablespoons olive oil

• 2 cloves garlic, minced

• 1 teaspoon dried oregano

• 1 teaspoon dried thyme

• Zest of 1 lemon (optional, but bright and lovely)

• ½ cup sliced olives (green or Kalamata)

• Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Lightly oil a baking dish and place the fish fillets inside.

3. In a small bowl, mix olive oil, garlic, oregano, thyme, lemon zest, salt, and pepper.

4. Spoon the mixture over the fish, making sure each piece gets coated.

5. Sprinkle olives over the top.

6. Bake for 18–22 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork.

(Or until you’ve checked it five times because you’re not emotionally prepared to overcook fish again.)

Honeyed Figs (or Dates) — A Sweet Little Side

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried figs or dates, chopped

• 1 tablespoon honey

• ½ teaspoon cinnamon

• ¼ cup water

Instructions

1. Add everything to a small saucepan.

2. Simmer gently on low for 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Serve warm on the side or spoon a little over the fish for sweet contrast.

This is one of those quietly fancy sides that makes people think you worked harder than you did.

What This Meal Reminds Me About Jesus

Jesus didn’t rush through relationships. He lingered. He listened. He shared meals and stories and space.

He didn’t separate spiritual life from everyday life —He blended them together until they were inseparable.

And maybe that’s something we need more of, too. Not more pressure to “do faith better,”but more permission to invite God into the middle of what already exists.

Into dinner. Into family conversations. Into quiet evenings.I nto the mess and the joy and the ordinary.

Because love doesn’t always shout. Sometimes it simmers. (And sometimes it smells like garlic and olive oil.)

A Little Love-Led Encouragement for Today

If your life feels busy…If your faith feels quiet…If your heart feels tired…

Let this be your reminder that God is not waiting for you to get it all together before He shows up.

He shows up at tables. He shows up in simple moments. He shows up in ways that feel gentle and familiar and safe.

And maybe tonight, when you sit down to eat — whether it’s this recipe or a bowl of cereal — you can take just a second to whisper, “Thank You, Lord, for being here with me.”

Because He is. He always has been.

And that, sweet friend, is something worth savoring.

If you make this recipe, I’d love to know how it turned out for you — and who you shared it with. Because food, like faith, was never meant to be kept to ourselves.

XO, Marie