What’s in a number? I believe all numbers are significant. There is a song that starts “One is the loneliest number”. This week, I would like to use twelve not for being lonely but for being so meaningful. It is a number equivalent to the product of 3 and 4. It is divisible by 2, 3, 4, and 6. Twelve is a number of greatest magnitude that has just one syllable. Twelve is central to many systems such as the Western Calendar, units of time and in old English money, the number of pence to make up a shilling. In Soccer called football in England and in American Football, the 12th man is the fans. Did you know the 12th man tradition started after a game won by Texas A&M in 1922. Interesting read in sports history.
The number 12 is found in 187 places in God’s Word. 12 is a perfect number and symbolizes completeness. Jesus had 12 disciples but what happened to one of them and why was it so important to replace the one to bring the number back to 12? Acts 1:21,22 tells us that they felt compelled to replace Judas as a witness to Jesus’ resurrection. They nominated 2 out of a family of about 120 believers. They cast lots and the lot fell on Matthias to be added as the new 12th disciple.
I believe like the loyal football fan, all of us believers are the 12th person. We may have not been present to see the resurrection but should remain in the game to see His victorious return. Until the game is over let us continue to bear witness to the truth, light, life and word.
T