The answer is: 153

John 21:11

What a fascinating detail tucked away in John 21:11—the number 153! In the midst of this post-resurrection appearance of Jesus, this miracle of catching fish carries profound symbolism. We can think of this as more than just a fishing story; it's a small glimpse into the richness of symbolism that mirrors broader themes found in scripture.

Why 153? Scholars of the Bible have had quite the field day trying to decode this number. Some suggest that 153 was significant in the ancient world because it could be seen as representing the boundaries of humanity—reflecting the realms of known nations and how Jesus' teachings were meant to extend to all. Others suggest that 153 is a triangular number because, if you add together all integers up to 17, you get 153. Hence, it reminds us of completeness and the fullness of God’s creation.

Interestingly, in biblical times, fish was a major staple in diets and represented abundance—but the miracle here isn’t just about the fish. It signifies the abundance of the Spirit that the disciples would go forth with, highlighting that they were called to be "fishers of men" (Matthew 4:19). After all, in this tale, it's not only the physical fish caught in that net but the spiritual journey ahead of the disciples being circling back to Jesus' teachings. It’s all about the mission of embodying love and extracting blessings for all humanity—casting the net fully wide!