"The Divine Pursuit of Undeserving Sinners – A Gospel Story in Jonah

Introduction: God’s Pursuit of Sinners

Good morning, church!

Today we are wrapping up our series in the book of Jonah.

As we have seen over the past 6 weeks This story isn’t just about a prophet, who Got swallowed by a big fish—it’s about God’s relentless pursuit of sinners.

From Jonah, the sailors, and the people of Nineveh, we see that God’s love and mercy pursue people in rebellion, it pursues people in deep idolatry, and it pursues people whose lives are plagued with complete wickedness.

And one of the most precious truths we see from this story in Jonah is that This divine pursuit is not because anyone of these people deserved it, but it was all because of God’s grace.

Ultimately, Jonah’s story points us to the greatest demonstration of God’s pursuit: His pursuit of us through Jesus Christ.

Today, as we bring it all back together, we’ll walk through how God pursued Jonah, the sailors, and Nineveh. Then, we’ll see how Jonah’s story foreshadows the gospel—the ultimate picture of God’s pursuit of you and me through Jesus.

Lets jump in and begin by looking at..

I. God’s Pursuit of Jonah – The Rebel Prophet

Text: Jonah 1:1-17, 2:1-10, 3:1-4, 4:1-11

Jonah’s story is a powerful example of God’s relentless love toward His people, even when they rebel.

From start to finish, Jonah resists God’s call, but God never gives up on him.

In Jonah 1:1-2 We see God Pursue Jonah , Look at what it says

Jonah 1:1–2 ESV

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.”

God Came to Jonah

God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh and share His message of mercy.

But in verse 3 we read

But Jonah’s rebellious heart leads him to run the other way, heading to Tarshish, thinking if he can escape God’s presence, he won’t have to obey.

Jonah 1:3 ESV

3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

Jonah’s rebellious heart leads him to run the other way, heading to Tarshish, thinking if he can escape God’s presence, he won’t have to obey.

But God in His sovereignty still pursued Jonah in His rebellion!

and so

God Sends the Storm (Jonah 1:4-16):

… to stop him Look at Jonah 1:4 "Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up" (Jonah 1:4)

While the sailors desperately try to save the ship, Jonah is fast asleep, indifferent to God’s call.

When the storm intensifies, The sailors wake Jonah up and Jonah tells them to throw him overboard—not expecting deliverance, but hoping to escape God through death. Once Again Jonah is still trying to run from Gods Plan

Yet, even as the sailors come to Believe in God, Jonah’s heart remains hardened.

and so the sailors out of great desperation throw Jonah over board.

Nut instead of letting Jonah Die God Sends a great fish to Swallow Him. And in realty save his life!

and So…

God Sends the Fish (Jonah 1:17, 2:1-10):

Jonah is now put in a very cozy spiritual and literal time out! For 3 days Jonah is in the belly of this great fish- But God does not let Him die.

and it was Inside the fish, Jonah finally begins to have true conversation with God:

He had no where else to run, He had no one else to complain to..

and from His heart He cried out to God

”"In my distress, I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead, I called for help, and you listened to my cry" (Jonah 2:2).

Though Jonah’s prayer is more about rescue than repentance, God hears him and the fish spits him onto dry land.

But to Jonahs Suprise - His rebellion hasn’t disqualified him from the misison God gave him—God still has a purpose for his life.

And in Chapter 3 verse 2 we see God’s Divine Pursuit of Jonah still has not changed and God gives Him a 2nd Call

Jonah 3:2 (ESV)

2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.”

God (now) sends Jonah (Jonah 3:1-4):

God gives Jonah the same command as before.

This time Jonah obeys, though reluctantly, preaching a message of doom: "Forty more days, and Nineveh will be overthrown" (Jonah 3:4).

Miraculously, the entire city of 120,000 people repents, and God shows mercy.

Jonah should be overjoyed, but instead, he’s angry—resentful that God spared Nineveh.

In fact in chapter 4 verse 2 Jonah speaks and He says

Jonah 4:2 (ESV)

2 …“O Lord, is not this what I said when I was yet in my country? That is why I made haste to flee to Tarshish; for I knew that you are a gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and relenting from disaster.

Jonah really hasn't changed - He is still rebellious against what God’s mission was all about- He didn't want these people to receive God’s Mercy Because they deserved His judgement.

But yet what we see is that God is still not finished pursuing Jonah … and He teaches Him a lesson from A Plant

God sends a Plant (Jonah 4:1-11):

After the revival of Nineveh, Jonah sits outside the city, hoping to see its destruction.

But as He sits there sun begins to beat down on his head, and so God provides a plant for shade, and Jonah is finally happy about something.

But the next day, God wanting to teach Jonah a lesson, makes the plant wither and die , and Jonah becomes furious:

He is mad that the only good thing in his life is now Gone too.. He’s mad that this plant died

and then God responds

"You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow... And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh?" (Jonah 4:10-11).

Through this lesson, God shows Jonah that His mission is about mercy for all people, not just those Jonah deems worthy.

Even though Jonah’s heart remained rebellious through this entire story, God pursued him to the very end— not just to gain obedience, but to transform his heart.

So what do we learn from Jonah?

No matter how far you’ve wandered or how much you’ve resisted, God has not given up on you.

You are not too far gone for Him to use.

Just as He pursued Jonah, He can still use you to accomplish His purpose—maybe even to impact others in ways you never thought possible.

Friends if you are running from God- stop turn around and let Him use you today?

Although Jonah is the central figure in this story, there are two other groups of people whom God also pursued with His divine mercy.

II. God’s Pursuit of the Sailors – The Desperate Pagans

Text: Jonah 1:4-16

The sailors were caught in the middle of Jonah’s rebellion, worshiping false gods and desperately trying to save themselves through their own strength.

Jonah 1:5 describes their frantic attempts:

Jonah 1:5 (ESV)

5 Then the mariners were afraid, and each cried out to his god. And they hurled the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them. But Jonah had gone down into the inner part of the ship and had lain down and was fast asleep.

At first, the sailors feared the storm, but when Jonah revealed that it was caused by his disobedience, their fear shifted toward the God behind the storm. Convinced that Jonah’s God was furious, they asked Jonah what they needed to do to survive. Jonah told them, “Throw me overboard, and the storm will stop.”

These men, unwilling to sacrifice Jonah at first, tried everything in their own power to save the ship, but the harder they tried, the worse the storm became. Finally, out of reluctant obedience, they threw Jonah into the sea—and immediately, the storm stopped. The Bible suggests the sea became completely calm, like glass.

What happened next was remarkable. Jonah 1:16 says:

Jonah 1:16 (ESV)

16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

These sailors went from worshiping idols to worshiping the true God.

They experienced a transformation—from fearing the storm to having a reverent fear of the Lord.

Even in Jonah’s rebellion, God pursued these pagan sailors and revealed Himself to them.

His mercy extended to those outside His covenant, showing that God’s pursuit knows no boundaries.

God’s plan to save wasn’t limited to Jonah or Nineveh—

He was also working in the hearts of these sailors, revealing His power and love to them.

Just as God pursued the sailors, He pursues us even when we’re lost, relying on the wrong things to save us.

No matter what idols we’ve chased or how hard we’ve tried to fix things on our own, God’s mercy is still freely available to us.

Then there is the city of Nineveh…

III. God’s Pursuit of Nineveh – The Wicked City

Text: Jonah 3:1-10

Nineveh was a city known for its violence, cruelty, and wickedness. They were the enemies of God’s people, responsible for tormenting Jonah’s family, friends, and nation. By every measure, they deserved God’s judgment.

But instead of bringing destruction, God sent Jonah with a message of warning. Despite Jonah’s reluctant and half-hearted obedience, something incredible happened.

Jonah 3:5 tells us

Jonah 3:5 ESV

5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

The entire city—from the king on his throne to the lowest citizen—repented and turned to God. What looked like a city beyond hope became a place of revival, not because of who they were, but because of who God is.

God’s mercy extended even to Nineveh, proving that no one is beyond His reach.

Your sins are not too great for God to forgive.

Your past is not too dark, nor your wickedness too severe, for Him to want to pardon you.

Transition- So, friends, what does this Old Testament story mean for us today?

Let me be absolutely clear—God is still in the business of pursuing undeserving sinners, just like Jonah, just like the sailors, just like the Ninevites—and just like you and me.

And the greatest evidence of His pursuit is found in His pursuit of us through Jesus.

IV. God’s Pursuit of Us Through Jesus – The Gospel Message

Text: Romans 3:23, Romans 5:6-11, John 3:16, Matthew 12:40

The story of Jonah shows us vivid examples of God’s pursuit of different kinds of sinners.

Jonah ran from God in rebellion,

the sailors worshiped false gods,

and the Ninevites lived in violent wickedness.

Yet, all of them had one thing in common—they were hopeless without God’s intervention, lost in their sin, and condemned to die because of it.

But God pursued them—not because they deserved it, but because of His mercy.

Mercy is God withholding the punishment we deserve for our sin.

In the same way, God is pursuing each of us today through Jesus Christ, no matter how sinful our past has been.

Whether you identify with Jonah’s rebellion, the sailors' idolatry, or the Ninevites’ wickedness, God’s mercy is available to you through the gospel.

And, friends, He is pursuing you right now.

For the rest of our time this morning, I want to show you how God pursues us through Jesus.

How God Pursues Us Through Jesus

Church, just like the sailors, the Ninevites, and Jonah, every one of us needs God’s mercy.

Some of us may be like the sailors—chasing after success, relationships, or possessions, hoping they’ll fill the emptiness inside.

Others may feel like the Ninevites—trapped in sin and rebellion, believing we’ve gone too far for God to forgive.

And some may be like Jonah—knowing God’s truth but resisting His call, running from Him or growing bitter.

But here’s the good news: No matter how far you’ve wandered, God is still pursuing you.

Romans 5:6-8 tells us: "You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." —

Please don’t miss this—God hasn’t given up on you. He sent Jesus to meet you exactly where you are right now. even if you are lost in your sins.

How amazing is this verse?

At just the right time—when we were powerless and undeserving—Christ died for us.

Jesus Took On Our Sin:

Jesus came to bear the full weight of our sin and rebellion upon Himself.

In 2 Cor. 5:21 it says…

"God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."

What does it mean that Jesus took our sin?

it means that -He willing paid our debt in full and took the judgment we deserved so we could go free.

Friends Romans 6:23 tells us that the penalty of our sin is death

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." — Romans 6:23

death is a separation from God

Jesus took our sin upon himself and went to the cross to pay its debt in full.

Jesus Endured Our Cross

Friends, Jesus didn’t just suffer physically because of our sin—He experienced spiritual separation from the Father so we would never have to.

On the cross, He carried the full burden of every sin we’ve committed, paying the price on our behalf.

But thats not the end of the story.

Jesus didnt just die in our place He Conquored death

Jesus Conquered Death

Just as Jonah spent three days in the belly of the fish, Jesus spent three days in the tomb, buried under the weight of our sin and shame.

But unlike Jonah, Jesus didn’t just escape death—He defeated it.

When Jesus rose from the grave, He broke the power of sin and death forever.

His resurrection is God’s ultimate victory, proving that the grip of sin has been shattered.

Friend because of Jesus- Death no longer has the final say—Jesus does.

And what we need to realize this morning is that it is Through this resurrected Jesus, that God offers us Mercy Grace and forgiveness

Mercy, Grace, and Forgiveness for Us Today

Mercy: God withholds the judgment we deserve and offers us forgiveness. Grace: God gives us salvation—not because we’ve earned it, but because of His love. Forgiveness: God removes the stain of our sin and no longer holds it against us.

The gospel is God saying, "No sin is too great for my grace. No sin is too evil for me to forgive."

Whether we are like the sailors, the Ninevites, or Jonah, His forgiveness covers it all—unconditionally, without discrimination, and completely.

When God forgives our sins, Psalm 103:12 tells us He casts them as far as the east is from the west.

This means; They are gone forever—completely erased, never to be held against us again.

How can God do this? How Can God remove our debt of sin and set us free- Because when Jesus died, He paid for our sin in full.

Now, the most important question remains: How will you respond to God’s pursuit in your life through the gospel?

How Should We Respond to God’s Pursuit?

Just as the sailors turned to worship the true God and Nineveh repented of its sin, we must respond to God’s pursuit through Jesus. Here’s how:

Admit Your Sin The first step is to acknowledge that you are a sinner in need of God’s mercy."For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." — Romans 3:23 Our sin condemns us to eternal separation from God—we cannot save ourselves. We need a Savior, and only God can do what we cannot: pay our debt in full through the blood of Jesus.

Believe in Jesus Next, we must trust that Jesus died for our sins and rose again to give us new life.

Rom. 10:9 says ”If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

In Acts 16 a man asked what must I do to be saved and the answer was simply

Acts 16:31 Believing in Jesus means trusting completely that His death and resurrection paid your debt of sin in full. It’s accepting that only He has the power to save you.

Acts 16:31 ESV

31 And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.”

Believing in Jesus means trusting completely that His death and resurrection paid your debt of sin in full. It’s accepting that only He has the power to save you.

Commit to Following Him True belief in Jesus leads to turning from sin and following Him as your Lord and Savior.

It’s confessing your need for Him and surrendering your life to His will.

And here’s the beautiful promise: When we turn to Jesus, His grace is enough to cover every failure, every sin, and every stain on our record. He wipes it clean, and we are made new. So how will you respond today?

God’s mercy and grace are waiting. Will you admit your need, believe in Jesus, and commit to following Him? The choice is yours—He is pursuing you right now.

Bring It Home:

God pursued the sailors, the Ninevites, and Jonah—and Friends He is pursuing you today.

Mercy is available to you through Jesus Christ.

No matter how far you’ve gone, His love will meet you where you are right here today!.

Will you respond to His pursuit today?

Invitation: If you’ve never accepted Jesus as your Savior, today is the day. Stop running. Stop trying to find your joy in things that will not last, God’s grace is waiting for you.

God’s pursuit of you is relentless, complete, and available through Jesus.

Will you embrace the One who has been pursuing you all along?

Just like The sailors Just like Nineveh

Rom. 10:13 Proclaims that whoever…..

Romans 10:13 ESV

13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

“Lord, I admit that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus died for my sins and rose again. I confess my sins and turn from my sin and ask You to be the Lord of my life. Amen.”

Christian this message is not just for those who still desperately need Gods Salvation- This message is what should compel us to go into all the World and make more disciples.

Dont be like Jonah and ran from that calling- We can do this together -

Together we can make and Equip more disciples When we fall in love with the Gospel that brought Mercy into our own sinful lives!