The Sign of Jonah
Jonah the Evangelist • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 16 viewsIn this sermon, we explore the powerful parallel between the sign of Jonah and the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, showing how no human effort can bring salvation—only the sacrifice of Christ can. Just as Jonah spent three days in the belly of the fish, so Jesus spent three days in the grave, conquering death to offer eternal life. Today, the only sign we bear to a skeptical world is the baptism of death and resurrection—putting off the old self and rising to new life in Christ. This journey of transformation requires more than just belief; it calls for deep spiritual renewal, intentional work, and a heart surrendered to God’s guidance. As you listen, consider what you need to put to death in your life, so the resurrection power of Jesus shines through you.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
One thing I love about the Lord is He doesn’t make things complicated.
1 Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”
Why the warning sign? If God was displeased and has the power to wipe them out, then why the warning?
Because warnings gives opportunity to change your direction.
Warnings are an act of kindness to keep you from harm.
Warning is different than condemnation.
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
The hell, fire and brimstone pastors got a bad wrap because people thought they were condemning when many of them were just warning.
Jesus is the way of salvation that will save you from your condemnation. You will either receive it or reject it but it doesn’t change that the world is condemned already.
39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Exposition
The Sign of Jonah
The Sign of Jonah
No human effort will save you
No human effort will save you
11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. 12 He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” 13 Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them.
One sacrifice to save many
One sacrifice to save many
14 Therefore they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.”
A sacrifice of innocent blood.
A sacrifice of innocent blood.
A sacrifice of the Lord.
A sacrifice of the Lord.
The anger of the Lord satisfied.
The anger of the Lord satisfied.
15 So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.
Fear is the beginning of Wisdom.
Fear is the beginning of Wisdom.
Sacrifice and vows of thanksgiving.
Sacrifice and vows of thanksgiving.
The Sign of Jesus
The Sign of Jesus
What is a sign? Proof of your divine calling.
What is a sign? Proof of your divine calling.
Jesus was performing miracles among the people.
Jesus was performing miracles among the people.
The man with the withered hand (Matt. 12:9-14)
The man with the withered hand (Matt. 12:9-14)
The man oppressed by a demon (Matt. 12:22-23)
The man oppressed by a demon (Matt. 12:22-23)
The people believed, but the Pharisees did not.
The people believed, but the Pharisees did not.
23 And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”
Asking for a sign is a sign of disbelief.
Asking for a sign is a sign of disbelief.
39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
There is never enough proof for the skeptic.
There is never enough proof for the skeptic.
God has given us two proofs.
God has given us two proofs.
Creation
Creation
19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Conscience
Conscience
14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them 16 on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.
The only sign given is Jonah.
The only sign given is Jonah.
40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
17 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Jonah was baptized into death.
Jonah was baptized into death.
Cast into the water.
Cast into the water.
Buried under the water for three days.
Buried under the water for three days.
He was raised from the water to walk in newness of life.
He was raised from the water to walk in newness of life.
The sign of Jonah is Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
The sign of Jonah is Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
Jesus was the single sacrifice for the souls of many. By Him, all people can be saved. (Just like the Mariners.)
Jesus was the single sacrifice for the souls of many. By Him, all people can be saved. (Just like the Mariners.)
Jesus would spend Three days and nights in the heart of the earth. (“Sheol” is the place of the dead.)
Jesus would spend Three days and nights in the heart of the earth. (“Sheol” is the place of the dead.)
1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, 2 saying, “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.
Jesus conquered death and the grave to bring eternal salvation.
Jesus conquered death and the grave to bring eternal salvation.
The Sign of the Saints Today
The Sign of the Saints Today
What if I told you that the only sign we have to give to this evil and adulterous generation is the sign of Jonah?
The Baptism of Death
The Baptism of Death
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Crucified with Christ
Crucified with Christ
20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Buried with Christ
Buried with Christ
6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died has been set free from sin.
The Resurrection to New Life
The Resurrection to New Life
8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. 10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. 11 So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
The Sign of Resurrection
The Sign of Resurrection
Put off the old man
Put off the old man
Anxiety
Attitudes
Actions
One of the concepts we learn in Emotionally Healthy Spirituality is that you may have Jesus in your heart, but you have Grandpa in your bones. The old man runs deep and must be rutted out. Putting off the old man takes work and guidance.
You should walk with a Never Alone life coach if you struggle to put off the old man.
Put on the new man in Christ
Put on the new man in Christ
Faith
Hope
Love
Applying the gospel to your life is much more than covering your sin; it is walking in a newness of life. You don’t know what you don’t know. Our Spiritual Mentors are trained to help you put on the new man or woman you are in Christ.
Prayer Response
What do you need to put to death in your life so that people can see the resurrected Savior in you?
