Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three, and although there were so many, the net was not torn. (John 21:11, NASB)
I shot 72. Wow. I broke 100. Wow. Both are great accomplishments. Both are just numbers. What do numbers mean in our Spirit-led life?
We read a lot about the number 40. It appears 158 times in the King James translation. It generally means a period of time or testing. It also represents a generation of man.
Moses was 40 years old when he fled to Midian after killing an Egyptian. He then spent 40 years herding sheep. Then, he was called back to Israel, where he led the Jewish people for 40 years before he died. Also, Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness, where he was tested before he started his ministry.
The number 7 represents fullness or completeness. God created the world in 7 days and 7 days complete a week.
Here is an interesting exercise. 5 + 2 = 7, but 5 + 2 + 1 = 5,000. Say what? In Matthew 14, a young lad brought 5 loaves and 2 fish. He probably thought he could feed himself and 4 others a good lunch. It also says that with 5 loaves, 2 fish, and 1 Jesus, they feed 5,000 men or approximately 10,000 men, women, and children.
This did happen! I wonder what the young lad thought who had brought his lunch for himself and four others. Wow!
Now, what about 153? John tells us, Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not torn (John 21:11, NASB). The disciples had fished all night and caught nothing—zero, nada. And they were professionals.
Now, this guy appears on shore (they did not know it was Jesus) and asks, “Caught anything?” Their expletive response is deleted in the Bible. Now, He tells them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat. Now, I am not an excellent fisherman, but if they had fished all night and caught nothing, do you think the answer might be that the fish were on the other side of the boat? Don’t fish swim? You, real fisherman, share that answer with me.
There have been many explanations of the meaning of 153, but the one I like best is that 153 represents “all.” It was said that there were 153 known fish species in the world at that time, so they caught them all.
The scholars now say 153 represents abundance and an overflowing blessing from God. We get it all and then some. We get this life and then are promised overflowing abundance in the next. How about that for a miracle of abundance?
I conclude with the lesson learned in all these numbers. It always involves “the One.” The One who fed 5,000 also pointed to the fishermen to throw their nets on the other side. He knew where the 153 fish were. He is also the One who created the universe in 7 days. He is also the One who spent 40 days in the wilderness preparing for His perfect ministry as the One who sacrificed his life for you and me.
You and I, as one meager soul plus Jesus, can move mountains and be given a new body forever. How about that for a good number?
Closing prayer – Lord, a good number to start and end with is always You, the One and only.