The Hidden Treasure's at the End of John's Gospel

Dr. John Bergsma, author of "Jesus and the Dead Sea Scrolls", reflects on the mass readings for April 8, 2021. If you have any further questions about this or any topic, feel free to leave them in the comment section below!

Acts 4:1-12
PS 118:1-2 and 4, 22-24, 25-27a
Jn 21:1-14

[richards]

Loved your Book "Stunned by Scripture: How the Bible Made Me Catholic." Good for non-catholic but also a faith-strengthening help for Catholics.

[insight]

Stunningly beautiful! Thanks Dr. Bergsma!!

[MathWithHeather]

I love Dr Bergsma’s “NOOO” when answering his own questions! Just awesome!

[stephaniewhiting]

What a fantastic teacher!!! Thank you for all your YouTube’s and devotion to evangelizing.
🙏🏻✝️

[CliffordErich]

Hey Dr. Bergsma,

First of all, thank you. I have such deep respect and admiration for your scholarship. I was really hoping to catch you and Dr. Hahn in Waltham on the 5th, but—God’s timing!—my wife went into labor during Mass that Sunday. (Yes, we stayed through the whole liturgy—hard to explain, but it was incredibly meaningful.)

Anyway, I wanted to comment on this video and dive into something that’s been stirring in me for a while now—something my wife and I have written a bit about, though we continue to wrestle with its depth. It's that fascinating passage in John 21, when Jesus tells the disciples to cast their nets and they haul in 153 fish. A detail so specific, and yet so often brushed past. You touch on some fantastic things here, but this number—153—keeps echoing louder and louder in my prayer life and study. I’d love to hear if you’ve written or spoken more on it elsewhere.

As we’ve prayed and studied it (we use what we call the PARDES method in our Lectios—basically an expansion on the traditional interpretive model), I’ve become nearly obsessed with what this number means across levels: the surface, the hinted, the contextual, and the mystical. And, maybe even more important, how it connects to the earlier moment in Luke 5—the first miraculous catch—and what that implies about restoration, vocation, authority, and ecclesial mission.

Gematria, as you know, opens a floodgate of associations. The number 153 is the triangle number of 17, meaning if you add all integers from 1 to 17, you get 153. And 17 itself has long symbolized spiritual perfection combined with the law (10 + 7), fullness, and divine order. Some scholars point out that 153 is also the sum of the numeric values of the Hebrew expression Ani Elohim—“I am God.” Another fascinating layer: St. Jerome mentions that ancient zoologists believed there were 153 species of fish in the sea—so the catch, in a sense, symbolized the universal mission of the Church to "catch" all nations.

That number’s appearance, post-Resurrection, is no throwaway detail. When we study the difference between the Luke and John accounts, it feels like Jesus is intentionally bringing Peter back full circle—not just forgiving his denial, but restoring his vocation. In Luke, Peter falls to his knees in shame. In John, he leaps into the water. That’s not just forgiveness—it’s transfiguration. It’s Peter 2.0. The unbroken net, full to bursting, is like the Church itself—unified, diverse, held together not by Peter’s strength alone but by Christ’s Word and presence on the shore.

The unbroken net is incredibly rich with meaning. It can be seen as a symbol of the Church’s unity, the very thing that holds the vast and varied members of the Body together. Despite the overwhelming number of fish, the net does not tear, illustrating how the Church, while consisting of people from every nation and every walk of life, remains unified and unbroken. Even in the face of adversity, division, or overwhelming diversity, the Church is sustained through Christ’s power. The net’s durability shows that even when it seems like the Church is at its most fragile, it is ultimately held together by God’s will. The Church will not falter, no matter how many diverse or difficult situations it encounters.

There’s also something beautifully Trinitarian here. 153 isn’t just symbolic—it’s layered. If we use sod interpretation (the mystical sense), the fact that this number relates to triangularity—that it literally forms a triangle (17 rows of 1–17)—feels deeply intentional. So much of our faith is expressed in threes: Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Faith, hope, love. Body, soul, spirit. And here we have the threefold repetition of love and commission (“Do you love me?... Feed my sheep…”), a threefold undoing of Peter’s denial. The geometry itself tells a story—of symmetry, of relational balance, of divine harmony.

And I can’t help but see the connection to the Greek word ichthys (fish), which is used as an early Christian symbol. When broken down, ichthys is an acronym for Iesous Christos Theou Yios Soter—Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior. The fish becomes a symbol not just of nourishment and abundance, but of Christ Himself—our sustenance, our savior, the one who calls us into the depths to fish for souls. The catch of 153 fish then can be understood as an echo of this salvific call: the Church, through the nets, draws in the people (the "fish") for salvation, under the authority and grace of Christ, who sustains it all.

Lastly, the mystical lens reminded me that Hebrew is a tri-layered system by default. Letters are symbols, sounds, and numbers. That triple function gives even a single word (like Elohim) a multifaceted resonance. The rabbis have long said Scripture has 70 faces, and the gematria and symbol structure support that. Words have peshat (plain meaning), remez (hint), derash (homiletical/instructional), and sod (mystical/hidden). This moment in John feels like one of those “all layers active at once” passages.

So, in sum, what seems like a quiet detail—a number—has become, for us, a portal. A way into the mystery of Peter, the Church, and Jesus’ patient, stunning plan to reclaim not just the hearts of men, but the cosmos itself.

And Dr. Bergsma, you might appreciate this: We had a little girl, and we named her Thyatira Moriyah Erich, pronounced THIGH-uh-TEE-ruh mohr-EE-yah Err-RICK, born on April 6th, 2025. This day is layered with sacred meaning, providence, and prophecy.

Her name, drawn from both Koine Greek and Paleo-Hebrew, bridges the story of salvation from Genesis to Revelation. It speaks of the one who endures with faith and love, and upon whom the Lord looks and provides.

THYATIRA (pronounced THIGH-uh-TEE-ruh) — From Revelation 2:18–29, this is the name of one of the seven churches—the least and most humble among them—whom the glorified Christ speaks directly to. Though the name appears only in verse 18, the entire message is for those bearing it. The church in Thyatira is known not for might or size, but for enduring love, faith, service, and perseverance. Christ promises the Morning Star to them—His divine authority and final victory for those who persevere to the end (Revelation 2:26–28). Thyatira means to endure in love and faith, even when surrounded by compromise. It is a name spoken by the Spirit, recorded for all generations, and now carried forward in hers.

MORIYAH (pronounced mohr-EE-yah) — Spelled in Paleo-Hebrew: M-O-R-I-Y-A-H. The etymological root is M-R-Y-H, a proto-Hebrew structure denoting one upon whom the Lord sees, is seen by, and provides for. This is the mountain of Genesis 22—where Abraham bound Isaac, declaring “The Lord Will Provide.” It’s where God intervened with a ram, and where the name YHWH-Yireh was declared—meaning “God sees and God provides.” The mountain where Solomon’s Temple would later rise, the holy meeting point of heaven and earth (2 Chronicles 3:1). Moriyah signifies vision, providence, and sacrificial love—not just a location but a declaration: the one upon whom the Lord gazes with favor and for whom He provides.

Together, her name tells a story:
“Thyatira Moriyah…”
“The daughter who endures with faith and love, upon whom the Lord looks and provides.”

We thought it was absolutely beautiful, and I’d love to share more of the symbolism I researched behind her birth. If you’re interested, you can read a tiny bit more of what we wrote in Announcing Her Birth here [link].

If you've written on this or have any thoughts I might be missing, I’d be so grateful. Thanks again for all you do, and for continuing to nourish the Church with such thoughtful, faithful exegesis.

Grace and peace,
– Cliff

[jamesanderson]

I am so glad and blessed that you have become a Catholic Christian as well as a scholar.

[carolplan]

Thank you Dr. Bergsma, looking forward to your next talk. Will keep Pope Francis in our thoughts and prayers always.

[marietheresa]

THANQ Dr Bergsma. Such invaluable words of truth and inspiration.
Loved the "fish hauls" at the start And at the close of HIS earthly Ministry.
Appreciate your pointing it out.
Also the : charcoal fire .
Stay Blessed, Dr Bergsma.

[misterbean]

Really insightful and illuminating thoughts Dr John thank you 😃 Happy Easter and God Bless you friends :) Alleluia He is Risen!!!

[milagrosamistoso]

Thanks again for this further explanation of the readings and gospel. Thanks Dr.Bergsma. God bless🇨🇦

[davidthehermit]

I think the real question here is can Dr. Bergsma, as good as he is, be able to deliver the same message without moving his hands??? Thanks Professor Bergsma for taking the time, God bless.

[stmartin]

A master. Grateful for Dr Bergsma. 'No good deed goes unpunished, expect to be kicked out of the youtbue synagogue because of intolerable Truth. As contingency in beast system perhaps syncing to Odyssey (income from earned token via crypto currency exchanges for sovereign currency), or other decentralised p2p platforms is worthwhile.

[davidfabien]

Jesus said to Peter once: "You will be a fisher of men."

[kennethcalvert]

Check spelling. Plural does not have apostrophe. Bless you.

[theclapaolini]

You cleared false beliefs regarding only Jesus is the one who is a SAVIOR.I HOPE AND PRAY THAT IT IS CLEAR TO THOSE WHO CONSIDER Mohammed Buda and the other teachers CANNOT GIVE US SALVATION. ONLY JESUS.

[helenleach]

We need A holy, spirit led pope. Don't think its this one somehow.

[krzysztofciuba]

This present kiddy-'Peter"? "Gesu consostanziale alla ..madre" (17 December ASD 2013) or Laudat Si.. John Paul II, Fides et Ratio, AD 1998 was the last and final call to wake up after that there is simply....a theological junk, childish, scandals and idiocy in words and actions. You, Mr. Boy, don't see either