153 fish

[Rose Hardy]

Ive often pondered over the passage in john 21:1-14. In particular verse 11. Why are we told there were 153 fish caught that day. ive never been convinced by various explainations involving numerical calculations, meanings of numbers etc. they always seem to be stretching the point to me. And then the other day it struck me! What if the number itself doesnt matter, but its more the fact that they were counted!
If Jesus called his disciples to be fishers of men, then here is a large haul of fish - symbolically representing those who respond to the call. Not one of them is lost because the net isnt broken - and each and every one is precious to God - that they are each counted. - He knows the EXACT number of those who are His.

What do others think?

[Evangelion]

It is typical of John to provide detail that the other Gospel writers do not. The number may be symbolic of... something. I have heard various theories.

To me, it's just a lot of fish. John happened to know the exact number, so he tells us.

[Peter]

For those interested 1^3 +5^3 +3^3 =153

[Chester Draws]

I think that's a delightful thought Rose. Not 152 not 154, whoops, but 153.

[dkiversen]

Originally Posted by Evangelion

To me, it's just a lot of fish. John happened to know the exact number, so he tells us.

In the similar account in Luke 5:1-10, where we're just told "they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking",

So maybe it's the difference between the account of a physician and the account of a professional fisherman with the expertise to appreciate how amazing it was that a net full of 153 large fish wasn't torn.

It's interesting that no fish needed to be discarded which would go along with Rose's suggestion. There could also be a parallel with Jesus saying that he wouldn't lose any of those given to him.

I'm sceptical about numerology, I think Bullinger's taken far too seriously.

[Jon Davies]

Judgment - 2 Kings 1, three captains (3) and their fifties (150).

[gaz]

Wow I've never come across that one before Jon, that's interesting.

I've had a look through Bullinger's book and although I take this sort of thing with a pinch of salt, this particular bit is very interesting:

Quite a new thought has recently been given by Lieut.-Col. F. Roberts, who finds that amongst the multitudes who received direct blessing from Christ there are recorded exactly 153 special individual cases! We append his list, with one or two alterations: and if any names appear to be missing, it will be found on examination that there is good reason for omitting them; e.g., Nathanael is the same as Bartholomew; while Matthias, and Barsabas (Acts 1:23), Joses, Barnabas (Acts 4:36), Stephen, though they with many others may have received blessing from Jesus Himself, and probably did, yet it is not so stated. Of course Zacharias, Elisabeth, John the Baptist, Joseph, Simeon, and Anna, are not included, as they were all in blessing before the birth of Jesus.
The following is the list:—

The leper, Matt 8:2 (1)
Centurion and servant, Matt 8:5 (2)
Peter's wife's mother, Matt 8:14 (1)
Two possessed with devils, Matt 8:18 (2)
Palsied man and bearers [Mark 2:3], Matt 9:2 (5)
Jairus and his daughter, Matt 9:18 (2)
Woman with issue of blood, Matt 9:21 (1)
Blind men, Matt 9:27 (2)
Dumb man, Matt 9:32 (1)
Eleven Apostles, Matt 10:2 (11)
Man with withered hand, Matt 12:10 (1)
Blind and dumb devil, Matt 12:22 (1)
Brethren of the Lord [Acts 1:14] Matt 13:55 (4)
Syrophoenician woman and daughter, Matt 15:22 (2)
Lunatic child and father, Matt 17:14 (2)
Blind men (leaving Jericho),* Matt 20:30 (2)
Simon the leper, Matt 26:6 (1)
Mary (sister of Lazarus. See Nos 32 and 47), Matt 26:7 (1)
Centurion; Matt 27:54 (1)
Salome (mother of Zebedee's children), Matt 27:56 (1)
Mary (mother of James, and wife of Cleopas), Matt 27:56 (1)
Mary Magdalene, Matt 27:56 (1)
Joseph of Arimathaea, Matt 27:57 (1)
Man with unclean spirit; Mark 1:23 (1)
Man, deaf and dumb, Mark 7:32 (1)
Blind man, Mark 8:22 (1)
Son of the widow of Nain, Luke 7:12 (1)
A woman, a sinner, Luke 7:37 (1)
Joanna and Susanna, Luke 8:3 (2)
A disciple—"follow Me", Luke 9:59 (1)
The seventy disciples, Luke 10:1 (70)
Martha, Luke 10:38 (1)
Woman with infirmity, Luke 13:11 (1)
Man with dropsy, Luke 14:2 (1)
The ten lepers, Luke 17:12 (10)
The blind man (approaching Jericho),** Luke 18:35 (1)
Zaccheus, Luke 19:2 (1)
Malchus [John 18:10], Luke 22:51 (1)
Penitent thief, Luke 23:43 (1)
The two disciples at Emmaus, Luke 24:13 (2)
Nicodemus, John 3:1 (1)
Woman of Samaria, John 4:4 (1)
Nobleman and sick son, John 4:46 (2)
Impotent man (Bethesda), John 5:1 (1)
Woman taken in adultery, John 8:11 (1)
Man born blind, John 9 (1)
Lazarus, John 11 (1)
Mary, mother of Jesus, John 19:25 (1) = (153)

[Evangelion]

Originally Posted by dkiversen

In the similar account in Luke 5:1-10, where we're just told "they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking",

So maybe it's the difference between the account of a physician and the account of a professional fisherman with the expertise to appreciate how amazing it was that a net full of 153 large fish wasn't torn.

It's interesting that no fish needed to be discarded which would go along with Rose's suggestion. There could also be a parallel with Jesus saying that he wouldn't lose any of those given to him.

I'm sceptical about numerology, I think Bullinger's taken far too seriously.

Well said. I totally agree. Especially about Bullinger.

[Peter]

Dear Gaz
That's amazing!!