The Mystery Of The Number Three

Today’s a victorious day. Easter celebrates Jesus conquering death and rising from the tomb on the third day. The Gospel accounts in Matthew, Mark, and Luke state that Jesus was crucified at the third hour and died at the ninth hour, with darkness occurring between the sixth and ninth hours. This means that Jesus was nailed to the cross at 9:00 a.m. and gave up his life at 3:00 p.m. The darkness that accompanied his crucifixion lasted for three hours, from noon until 3:00 p.m.

The six hours are seen as symbolic, representing the six days of creation and the sixth day when humans were created. The number six also symbolizes the corruption of creation due to sin, with Jesus’ death on the cross reversing the effects of sin. There are two common factors of three and six: one and three. Therefore, the highest common factor of three and 6 is three.

The number three is significant in the Bible, often symbolizing completeness, perfection, and divine activity. A prime example is the Holy Trinity, which represents God’s three-in-one nature. Additionally, the number three appears in many narratives, highlighting important events or figures throughout the Bible.

In Hebrew: the word for three (shelosh or sheloshah) signifies new life, harmony, and wholeness. 

The earth: was separated from the waters on the third day of creation.

Jesus’s Ministry: Jesus’s earthly ministry is often associated with the number three. It began at thirty and ended at thirty-three, lasting three years.

Peter’s Denials: Peter denied Jesus three times after His arrest, a significant event in the Bible that Jesus foretold.

Jonah in the Whale: Jonah spent three days in the belly of a great fish, a parallel to Jesus’s time in the tomb. 

Moses’s Journey: Moses requested a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to God. 

The Three Divisions of the Temple: The Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem consisted of three divisions: the Outer Court, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies.

Abraham’s Sacrifice: Abraham was instructed to sacrifice his son after a three-day journey to Mount Moriah.

Noah’s Sons: Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

The Three Patriarchs: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are recognized as the three patriarchs of Israel.

The Gifts of the Magi: The Magi brought three gifts to the birth of Jesus: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The Three Angels in Revelation: In Revelation 14:6-16, three angels convey important messages.

The Three Days of Paul’s Blindness: Paul was blind for three days following his encounter with Jesus.

The Three Times Peter’s Vision: Peter’s vision of a sheet filled with unclean animals was repeated three times.

The angelic Seraphim cry: “Holy, Holy, Holy” three times in Isaiah 6:3 and Revelation 4:8. 

There are three verses in the Priestly Blessing: Where God’s holy name appears three times. 

Three angels are mentioned by name in the Bible: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael.

The number 27 (3 x 3 x 3): Is the number of books in the New Testament, symbolizing completeness. 

God’s Word is clear and direct. The number three is significant because it represents the ultimate source. It is a holy number that symbolizes harmony, new life, and God’s triune nature. His spirit lives in all of us; it is the best of us, and because of the empty tomb we celebrate today, we all have eternal life.

Happy Easter!