Once was my home

I couldn’t help thinking of the number 3 today as a few years ago, I bought a home at 333 S. Maya Palm Dr. in a private residential section of Boca Raton, FL.  

Then two years later, I sold it for a little less than what I paid because it needed a new roof.  Today this property at 333 has nearly tripled in value.  Oh well, I’m much better at PR than real estate.  

Today on Good Friday it got me thinking about that magical number 3 in that it holds so much spiritual significance across different cultures and religions, especially for us Catholics.

In Christianity, The Holy Trinity (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), harkens to Jesus’ resurrection on the third day, not to mention the three-time denial of Jesus by Peter.

The number three is active also in folklore and literature evidenced by the three little pigs, the three bears and can you guess how many billy goats gruff? 

In math, which is not my cup of tea, three is a prime number and in ancient philosophy, a chap named Pythagoras considers three as perfect, representing harmony, wisdom and understanding, but I wish I was wiser when I sold that 333.

Now from Boca Raton the story of 333 goes all the way back to Jerusalem. It’s April 3, 33 A.D.

That’s when the authority to carry out the death penalty on Jesus, whom the Sanhedrin had found guilty of the capital offence of calling himself a king had been removed from Israel, according to the Jerusalem Talmud.

Because it was Friday, April 3, 33 A.D., the Sanhedrin lacked this authority in this case and had to obtain the ratification of the Roman provincial ruler, Pontius Pilate, who reserved to himself the jus gladii, the “law of the sword.”  He inquired:

“What accusation do you bring against this man?”

The Sanhedrin presented three specific charges that would appeal to the governor: subverting the nation, withholding tribute money due to Emperor Tiberius Caesar, and claiming to be the King, i.e., the Messiah (Greek: Christ).

At this point, St. John’s gospel tells us Pilate took the initiative and suggested flogging Jesus as an object lesson before releasing him, but flogging alone was unsatisfactory to the Sanhedrin who then pulled out their trump card, the ace up their sleeve.

“If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar, everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar.”

This was the key that would link religious and political issues. Pilate’s status as amici Caesaris, or “friend of Caesar,” was in danger. His political career would be over, if not his life as well. Emperor Tiberius had already directly warned him once.

Pilate then passed sentence against this “king of the Jews”: constructive treason — implied maiestas.

And ultimately Christ would be hanged on the cross and die around one of the saddest 3’s in 333–3 PM.  Yet, it turns out, also the most uplifting as we see on Easter Sunday

Good Friday (today)

Throughout the world, Good Friday is marked by diverse traditions and rituals that underscore its significance. In many churches, services are held in the afternoon to coincide with the time of Jesus’s crucifixion, estimated to be around, you guessed it,      3 PM.

Tom Madden has a three-track mind, writing books, like Planetary Lifeguard, his weekly MaddenMischief blog, and press releases at TransMedia Group, the PR firm he started when he left NBC, then only one of three TV networks back in the 80’s.