153 FISH

153 is my favourite number.

I understand that that is a strange statement for a lot of people to hear.  It is strange because they think that I just pulled it out of the air, and maybe I’m trying to be funny or something.  Then it’s kind of awkward, because hey, that’s not funny.

I don’t know enough about numerology to appreciate or express all of the unique qualities of this fabulous number, but let me just give you a few examples that might help to explain why even someone with my limited understanding would choose this number to be a favourite.

• It is a triangle number.  The 17^th to be exact    1 + 2 + 3... + 17 = 153
• It is the sum of the first 5 factorials    1! + 2! + 3! + 4! + 5! = 153
• It is a hexagonal number,( the 9^th)
• It is a truncated triangle number, (meaning that 1, 15, and 153 are all triangle numbers)
• It is divisible by the sum of its own digits    153 / (1 + 5 + 3) = 17
• The sum of its digits is a perfect square    1 + 5 + 3 = 9 = 3²
• The sum of its divisors is also a perfect square       1 + 3 + 9 + 17 + 51 = 81 = 9²

Now, I know what you’re thinking.  “Enough already!  These are all extremely rare qualities, how is this possible?!  This number is incredible!”  No?  Ok, well then perhaps you would be willing to do an experiment:

·         Pick any number that is divisible by 3.  (You can tell if a number is divisible by 3 if you add up all of the digits, and the sum is divisible by 3)

o   For example, I’ll pick... 81

·         Separate it into its individual digits

o   8; 1

·         Cube each one, and add them together

o   8³ + 1³ = 512 + 1 = 513

·         Repeat steps 2 and 3

o   5³ + 1³ + 3³ = 153

o   1³ + 5³+ 3³ = 153

If you’ve done it right, you will end up at 153.  EVERY TIME.  And as if that's not enough, the term used to describe our little experiment?  The Trinity function!  If that doesn't blow your mind a little bit, then we probably wouldn't be very good friends. 

 

Alright, I think I’ve gotten my nerd on enough for one day; but let me just tell you what got me asking questions about this number in the first place.  John 21:11, “So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them.  And although there were so many, the net was not torn.” 

Sometimes even the things that seem like the smallest details can be full of meaning and mystery.  Why did they stop to count the fish?  Why did they write that number down and record it in the pages of Scripture?  Surely saying, “there was an unusually large number of fish”, or, "wow, what a catch!", or, "who knew all the fish in the sea would be gathered on the other side of the boat?", would have sufficed.  What is it about this number that the Holy Spirit wanted it in that passage?  What else is he telling us?

There are many more interesting qualities about the number 153 that I haven’t brought up here, but I hope that this post has whet your appetite a little bit for this passage of Scripture, this incredible number, and the little details that so often get overlooked.  Thanks for reading.