The Sign of Jonah
Matthew 12:38-42
38 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.”
39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now something greater than Solomon is here.
The above scripture sets up for us a direct reference from Jesus to the prophet Jonah, and how the prophet’s life is a typology of the coming messiah. This same language has been used all throughout the Old Testament, I talked earlier in the series about typology and the significance of it in the Hebrew writing, just like Joseph and King David were both typology of the Messiah, Jonah served as a typology of what to look for to confirm that the one claiming the Messiah is indeed said person.
What does Jonah teach us about the nature of God? This is one of the key elements of the life and story of Jonah, if we miss what God is showing us through His life then we miss his character. Take some time this weekend and read the book of Jonah, it’s only four short chapters and it will help to give you some context for Sunday’s message.
Peace,
Nathan Bentley