with Bob Condly

153

Math may not be your strong point, but God likes numbers. The Bible uses them to communicate spiritual points.

  • For example, 7 represents perfection. God created the world in 6 days and rested on the 7th.
  • The 12 sons of Jacob formed the 12 tribes of Israel. Jesus chose 12  apostles as the beginning of His church.
  • 40 symbolizes trials–the Israelites wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and Jesus fought the devil in the desert over a span of 40 days.
  • And 666 is the number of the beast, the antichrist who will rule the world in the end times.

What about the number 153? What does it mean?

153 doesn’t pop up often in the Bible. In fact, I could find it in only two places.

The first is John 21. After His resurrection, Jesus periodically visited the disciples before His ascension. Perhaps they grew tired of a delay, so Peter and six other apostles (that makes seven, the perfect number!) decided to go fishing. Unsuccessful as usual (see Luke 5), they caught nothing. But Christ showed up, advised them, and they hauled in 153 fish. Quite a catch!

Does this number symbolize anything or does it merely record the actual count?

I never knew how to answer that question. However, in my devotional time a few days ago, I read 2 Kings 1. Ahaziah, a wicked king of Israel, sustained an injury but rather than ask God for healing, he sought it from Baal, a false god.

Elijah the prophet condemned this action, so the king tried to arrest him. Three times Ahaziah sent a military captain accompanied by 50 soldiers to take Elijah into custody, but twice God wiped them out. The third leader humbled himself and begged that his life and the lives of his men would be spared and God granted that request. Elijah accompanied them, confronted Ahaziah again, and pronounced final judgment on the unrepentant monarch.

As I was reading the chapter, I did some quick addition in my head. “Let’s see, 3 groups of 50 soldiers, each group under the command of a captain. That’s 51 + 51 + 51. Hey, I get 153! I recognize that sum! It’s the same number in John 21!”

So I revisited the question of meaning. I hadn’t discerned anything in the passage in John’s gospel, but 2 Kings 1 could shed some light.

Except that it seemed to contrast quite a bit with John 21.

Elijah confronted an evil king, defeated a small army, and judged idolatry. Jesus met His disciples, engineered a miracle, and provided them a free breakfast. Those stories don’t have much in common!

But then I remembered something I’d read several years ago. In The New Testament Concept of Witness, theologian Allison Trites unearths the forensic character of biblical witnessing. While ancient legal systems may not have been as elaborate as they are today, people back then took them seriously. They were careful to ascertain the veracity of testimony in disputes, including legal and military contexts.

Trites outlines how each chapter of the gospel of John bares witness to the claim that Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. The account of the miraculous catch of fish is no exception.

John 13-17 shows that before His arrest, Jesus prepared His followers to continue His work in His absence. And, lest they swell with pride at their accomplishments, Jesus reminded the apostles that their success in ministry would depend on His grace.

The miracle of the 153 fish demonstrates that the Risen One has authority to provide for His people. Only by the power of Jesus Christ will the witness of the apostles convince people and bring souls into the church.

But serving the Lord can be dangerous. Sometimes authority figures want to stop you. They want your tongue silenced. How do you respond when the world comes against you?

Don’t fight back; rely on the Lord. The same God who can provide 153 fish can protect you from 153 soldiers. When you serve Jesus, you need both provisions and protection. He will give you both.

 

with Bob Condly

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