The 11
What? Yep, they are called the eleven!
Doesn’t sound right does it? We’ve heard of a baker’s dozen (13) and we’ve heard of the twelve (apostles), but what in the world we do with the eleven?
Twice in Luke 24, as he is sharing the story of Jesus resurrection, Luke refers to the apostles as the eleven (Luke 24:9 & Luke 24:33). Ouch! We feel the deep wound in even saying the number 11. This number is a reminder of the night of failure – the night that Jesus’ closest three friends couldn’t stay awake with him in prayer (Peter, James, & John in Gethsemane), and Judas betrayed him, and Peter denied the him three times, and the rest of the twelve abandoned him to die alone. It is most clearly a reminder of Judas, the betrayal for thirty pieces of silver and the suicide in sorry for what he had done and how the apostles were left incomplete after the horrors of it all.
The term 11 reminds us of the flawed nature of our best intentions to never forsake the Lord. The number 11 is a reminder of our brokenness and incompleteness and failure. Even the mere thought of the number 11 is the jarring number reminder to us of the wounds in Jesus’ side and even deeper wounds in his heart. And, 11 reminds us that the account of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection does not sugar coat the unfaithfulness of the early church’s greatest heroes. So 11 reminds us to be humble about our biggest promises to the Lord.
The Bible is filled with all sorts of great numbers:
- 3 for divinity
- 4 for creation
- 7 for perfection
- 10 for greatness
- 12 for the twelve tribes of Israel, the people of God, and the apostles
- 40 years for the lifetime of a generation
- 1,000 for an exceedingly long time or large amount of something
But 11 is the perfect number for us.
- Flawed people , but remade by God’s grace
- Disciples carrying the scars of our own failures, but made whole by Jesus’ sacrifice
- Followers who are broken, but forgiven and called back to service
- Worshipers who are wounded, but being healed by the Savior’s touch
- People who can be crushed on their darkest Fridays, but for whom Sunday is coming
11!
Great thoughts, Phil! I am reminded of the 11th chapter of Hebrews where flawed people looked to the Almighty God with faith, used by God to build His kingdom, and looked forward to the life God promised through His Messiah!
I agree 11 is a number I want to be counted by!
Carolynn
30 Mar 09 at 10:17 am
Wow, great follow up thought. Thanks!
Phil
phil
30 Mar 09 at 1:13 pm
How very enlightening. I have never heard this and never thought of it this way.
Glenda
31 Mar 09 at 8:34 am
Thanks Phil for sharing these thoughts, especially in the season of Lent. Just to add on to your thoughts, I’ve always felt 11 is a wonderful number, because it speaks of companionship! Its 1 beside 1, and it reminds me that 1 (us as individual) was saved by 1(Jesus), and now 1 accompanies 1, which reminds me of the fellowship of believers, even as we remain in fellowship with God. Yes…11 is a wonderful number that reminds me both of our brokeness, which is made whole by God coming alongside us.
Michael
6 Apr 09 at 9:42 pm
Great comments! I didn’t understand the number 4 reference for the “creation.” Do you suppose Matthias that was chosen to take Judas’ place is still involved in the mission of the 12 – to judge the house of Israel etc? I have to get “out” more! I didn’t notice this blog before today – or the site for receiving a Bible verse daily. It reminds me of gospelverseaday.com that I’ve posted. Thanks for your blog and comments! Jerry
Jerry Fox
7 Apr 09 at 11:58 pm