One of the main themes of the Bible is man’s sinful rebellion against God and God’s redeeming love in reaching out to man. God’s love is always associated with His sacrifice. God’s love and man’s sin met at the cross.
There is a number that is used in the Bible to point to both man’s rebellion but also to God’s love. That number is the number 13. The link below has my teaching page where I show how 13 points to man’s rebellion in the Bible.
Next, let’s consider how the number 13 is connected with God’s love. First, think about almost every wedding you have ever attended. What scripture passage is read? It is 1 Corinthians 13 and this chapter has 13 verses.
In John 13:34,35, Jesus gave His disciples a new commandment to love one another and He said that all men would know that we are His disciples if we love one another. John 13 describes Judas’ rebellion but it also describes godly love.
Romans 13 works the same way. You will see the same contrast here as in John 13: man’s rebellion and godly love. Consider 2 John with its 13 verses and see again these two themes again.
It is interesting that the word love is used 26 (2 x 13) times in Song of Solomon and also 13 times in the major prophets of Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. It is used 26 times in the synoptic Gospels. The word cross is used 13 times in the synoptic Gospels.
The message of the cross is that man has rebelled against God but God has loved man. God’s love is shown in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross. He loved us while we were yet sinners. The number 13 is just one more way to point to my need for my Savior’s love.