Passover this Year, begins on the evening of April 19th which falls on a Saturday.
In the Gematria, the number value of the letters and words of the Holy Scriptures, words and phrases that carried the same totals were considered "connected" by rabbinic teachings.
The Hebrew word for "Passover" is "Pesach" a combination of two words, pey and sach, meaning "the mouth speaks". The numerical total of this word is 148, which when multiplied x 10 = 1480 the same as "CHRIST" in the Greek text of the NT.
However, when this word is prefixed with the 5th letter of the Hebrew Aleph-Bet, the Hey, with it's Gematria of 5, the grammatical result is "THE Passover" and the word's total is changed to 153
This number 153 leads us to amazing discoveries in our quest to understand the Spiritual teachings of the Passover.
The total of the Hebrew word for sacrifice "Zebach" is 17.
If we take the numbers 1-17 and add them consecutively on a calculator, 1+2+3+4....etc, when we reach the number 17 and hit the total key, the answer is 153
The number 17 is also the word total of "Gedi" meaning "kid' or "young goat". It is also the total of the Hebrew word "Deeg" meaning "fisherman" or "to fish".
In John's Gospel, chapter 21, the risen LORD tells His disciples, who are by trade, "FISHERMEN" to "cast the net on the right side of the boat" (John 21:6).
The GREEK words for "the net", used in the text is "To Diktuon" and it's total is 1224 which is a multiple of 153. 1224 divided by 153 = 8 which is the number of new life, new beginning. Dividing 1224 by 8 brings us back to 153.
This amazing number connects us even closer to the LORD and the blood of the Passover sacrifice when we realize that it is the word total of the Greek word "Merai" or SIDE (John 21:6)!
It is written:
But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. John 19:34 KJVIn 1st John 5:1-8 it is written:
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. 1Jo 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. 1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. 1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1Jo 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? 1Jo 5:6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth. 1Jo 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 1Jo 5:8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. Now we see that we have three witnesses to the fact that we who are saved by the blood of the passover sacrifice, are the ones who come by blood and by water.
And why are we told of a strange, specific number of "Great fish" caught in this net?
The precious number 153, the "number" of "The Passover" is also the total of the hebrew phrase "Beni HaElohim", and it means "The Sons of God" or The posterity/children of God"!
The spiritual meaning of this teaching is, the waters represent the Nations, the net represents the Gospel of Jesus Christ which is cast into the "sea" (Nations) to "catch" and hold secure (
and for all there were so many, yet was not the net broken.) [verse 11ff] all those who believe on His Name and who are given the authority to become the Beni HaElohim, the sons of God. This is the special meaning of the 153 Great fish, they are the sons of God!
Finally dear friends, 153 is the total of the Hebrew phrase " Ani YHVH Elohikah", "I AM THE LORD THY GOD" and the phrase " Hua Nameen" He is faithful" and the word " yinchilena" meaning " He shall cause to inherit" (Deut. 1:38).
There is one more connection I would like to make. There was an acrostic in use in the time just after the LORD ascended into heaven. The phrase "Jesus Christ. son of God, the Savior" which as we can see. spoke of Jesus and named Him as the "son of God" and "the Savior", when the first letters of each word were used, formed the acrostic "Icthus" or "Fish". Another wonderous connection between the "fish" and Jesus Christ, the son of God, the Savior.
Recall the number 17, total of the Hebrew word "deeg" and marvel and give praise to Him to whom all praise is due.
To Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith, for strengthening our faith here today, yet again. Let us offer up the spiritual sacrifices, the praise of our lips giving thanksgiving to God for our eternal salvation and security.
Let us delight in the revelations of light from His word of life.