From the desk of Pastor Ben

Jesus and Jonah – Part 1

“For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”         (Matthew 12:40)

There was one sign Jesus was willing to give the Jewish leaders — the sign of Jonah. The prophet Jonah disobeyed the divine call to preach to Nineveh and headed for Tarshish on a ship. God sent a storm and had Jonah thrown into the sea to save the sailors on board. God then “appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah” (Jonah 1:7), and he remained in its stomach for three days and nights.
Based on Jesus’ own words, the account of Jonah is a prophecy that typifies or foreshadows the person and work of Messiah. Rather than using specific words of prediction about Christ, Jonah pictures what would happen to Him. Jonah was buried in the sea; Jesus was buried in the earth. Jonah came out of the fish after three days; Jesus rose from the tomb after three days.
By comparing Jonah’s experiences to Himself, Jesus verified the history and accuracy of the book of Jonah. The savior trusted the biblical account. If Jonah had not been actually swallowed up and then delivered from harm, those occurrences could not have typified Christ’s actual burial and resurrection. This demonstrates for us that our Lord looked to the Old Testament as a totally reliable divine record that pointed ahead to His earthly ministry and redemptive work.

Ask Yourself:
Many would claim that the story of Jonah is merely that — a story, a fish tale. But what are the real, underlying reasons behind such attempts to question the reliability of the Bible? In what ways have you found yourself resisting His authority and questioning His ways?