Lucky Number 13

Disclaimer: The following is semi "tongue in cheek". Please don't misunderstand, misquote, or misuse the following. I'm in no way endorsing a particular day as being "lucky" nor "unlucky". I also am not trying to poke fun at people who are sincerely afraid of the number "13". Well… at least not too much fun…

Oh, the abominable number thirteen. It strikes terror into the hearts of those who have triskaidekaphobia. Today is Friday the 13^th, thus it's the day when people shoo cats away and keep a white knuckled grip on their mirrors (if they pick them up at all). But why is that?

While there are many mythological reasons as to why the number thirteen is so despised, the most famous one appears to center around the final supper before our Lord's crucifixion. According to Matthew 26:20, Jesus sat down with the twelve. Do some quick math, and you come up with thirteen total people in the room. Add to that the day of the week that Jesus was crucified (Friday), and you have the superstitious thought.

An article on National Geographic's website lists a few other reasons that this combination of number and day are considered to be "unlucky". Let's focus on the "Biblical" reasoning for a moment, though. Why is this combination of date and number considered so "unlucky"?

Note with me for a moment the meaning of the word "luck". Luck is dependent upon chance, so therefore, there is no planning to be involved in luck. "Good luck" is perceived as coming from positive circumstances, whereas "bad luck" comes from negative circumstances.

Many might consider Jesus crucifixion to be a bit of "bad luck" on His part. The truth is far from that notion.

Even a casual student of the scriptures can see that Jesus' death was ultimately part of God's plan to redeem us. The passages which discuss this idea are too numerous to list. It starts as early as Genesis 3:15, His coming foretold in Isaiah 9:6-7, and His agony described in Psalm 22. Jesus said that's the way things would be (see Matthew 16:21), and it indeed happened that way (Luke 24:44). How could such be merely because of chance? It wasn't.

By the way, if you did want to stretch your mind to think about "luck" in this way… couldn't Friday the 13^th then be perceived as a "lucky day" for us? After all, it was because of Christ's death that we have the forgiveness of our sins (Colossians 1:14). Maybe this is the treatment for those with triskaidekaphobia. Realize the potential for good!

Maybe "Friday the 13^th" could be your "lucky day". Ever thought of it that way?

~Daniel