Maybe they are ready

Jonah 3:1–5 NRSV

1 The word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time, saying, 2 “Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you.” 3 So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days’ walk across. 4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!” 5 And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

Mark 1:14–20 NRSV

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” 16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Yeah, but, LORD...

Ninevah was a major city of the Assyrian empire. The Assyrians were among the most brutal rulers in all of history. You can see Assyrian artifacts at the Oriental Museum at the University of Chicago. The worst kinds of torture and violence. So the feelings among Israelites may have run very strong toward the great cities of that empire.

It might be similar to God asking Franklin Graham to go to Tehran and warn them that God would judge them unless they repent. No security detail. No letter from the president. Just show up on the streets and speak out your warning of coming judgment. Would any of us sign up for such an assignment? Immediately your mind fills with the yeah, buts. But Lord, they would think I’m crazy.

But Lord, they would likely ignore me completely.

But Lord, they might be really offended.

We might even have a few more like: they tortured members of my family! Or, Lord I just don’t want to and you can’t make me!

Well, if you know the rest of Jonah you know that last one was in play and I recommend that you read how it all turned out. But the verses we read today are enough to show you that we should never assume we know how people will respond.

Prejudging Others

Over the years I’ve learned that you can’t judge a book by its cover or a person by their appearance. I remember the huge scary muscular man who showed up one day. He looked a lot like the Incredible Hulk and a little off. Everyone scurried off and left me alone to talk to him. Thanks a lot, everyone! But much to my surprise, he broke down sitting in my office because he felt weak and invisible. He was sensitive and hurting and probably greatly affected by how everyone responded to his outward form.

I remember travelling to another country that had previously been our national enemy and found the people very warm and mostly uninterested in politics. I spoke the gospel through an interpreter and people listened and responded.

I remember an agnostic philosophy instructor at a large university who took me seriously when I shared my testimony. I thought he might laugh me out of his office. Instead, it moved him and he promised to think about what I said and reflect on it for his own life.

In all three situations it would have been easy to think: what’s the point? But things were not as they seemed. We never know what people are going through. But if we think about it, the Bible tells us what they need.

And they repented...

So Jonah tried everything possible to avoid this assignment but a great underwater creature provided a womb for his rebirth. He thought he was a goner for sure. But thankfully the beast didn’t find him particularly tasty.

So like the Millennium Falcon flying out of the throat of a beast in Star Wars, Jonah was propelled up and out and when he hit the shore, he had a mission to fulfill.

He walked into town. It was such a huge city it took many hours to get near to the heart of the Ninevah. You know, like trying to drive to Hobart on US 30, lol.

Jonah was there. Jonah overcame his internal questions and said: Come on down to see the man juggling flaming stones while riding a camel blindfolded! He set up a stand with popcorn and starbucks. He had face-painting for the kids, it was amazing!

Well some of you know the story and I can tell by those looks that’s not what you think he did. And you’re right. Here was Jonah’s ingenious evangelism plan:

Jonah 3:4 NRSV

4 Jonah began to go into the city, going a day’s walk. And he cried out, “Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!”

That’s it? That’s all he said? Yep. No chance it worked, right?

You tell me:

Jonah 3:5–6 NRSV

5 And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth. 6 When the news reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.

Suddenly all the yeah buts and the running away seemed pretty empty. These people heard the truth, received the truth and repented. First the crowds. Then the king. That’s not how it usually went in those days. This was clearly a God thing. You see God was already at work in their lives, even in this foreign land with foreign Gods. So don’t think God isn’t at work in other places. Because he’s always working.

Jesus didn’t overthink it

Now Jesus had to raise up a group who could spread his message and see to it that things continued once his mission was complete on earth.

So he subscribed to the leadership library and read a ton of John Maxwell books and Harvard Review articles on best leadership practices for Jews living in Roman Palestine. OK, I’ll stop. No he just prayed and prayed. He taught the simple truth that everyone needed to repent because the Kingdom of God had come near. And when the moment came he didn’t overthink it.

He woke up and knew it was the day. He could have said, why today? They need a little more formation time. But he didn’t. He went out to the seashore where he knew they would be.

Mark 1:16–17 NRSV

16 As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you fish for people.”

All right so he’s a bit more creative than Jonah and a lot more willing! But it’s a simple image and a simple call:

Come, Follow Me

Come, follow me. Boom. Come away from a life of your own choosing and find your purpose in my guiding presence. And that is the real kernel of it, isn’t it? It’s the promise and the challenge of the gospel. It requires a decision.

Now Jesus should have realized he was asking too much, right? I mean they had a good business going here. Probably handed down in the family. Providing needs in the village. What’s he doing messing all that up? And I gotta say Jesus will do that. He will absolutely mess with your plans sometimes. You can try to run from him, but he has a way of showing up. Hopefully it doesn’t require seeing the insides of a giant fish to get your attention. For me it was a beautiful girl with spiritual questions and an invitation to speak at a youth service.

But here’s the thing: God cares about people. God really really does. God doesn’t want people living meaningless lives.

Jonah went so far as to be upset with God that he forgave those people who repented. Those horrible Ninevites who outclassed him in their complete repentance and obedience. Jonah sits sulking outside the city. A little like those Bernie Memes with the mittens. Arms folded. Leaning back. Disengaged. God makes a little plant grow and it gives him shade while he’s on this sulk-fest. It’s great! Then the hot sun kills the plant and it withers and the air conditioning is gone. Jonah is upset. Like George Costanza leaving a really bad voicemail. He says: it would be better for me to die than to live.

Here’s what God said to him and maybe to us today:

Jonah 4:10–11 NRSV

10 Then the Lord said, “You are concerned about the bush, for which you did not labor and which you did not grow; it came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should I not be concerned about Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also many animals?”

Even the cows had fasted! God says: you care about your little comforts that got taken away but I shouldn’t care about a great city with many innocent people? Is that a word to us? Do we care about people? Do we care enough to let them know that God loves them; that he wants to change their lives? Sometimes people are caught in a cycle of even violence they would love to end if they believed it could. On this day Ninevah believed again.

People-Fishers

Back to the shores of Galilee: Jesus just extended his huge invitation that contained an incredible challenge. Come, follow me and I will make you fish for people.

So many live every day in darkness just swimming along with the crowd. But there’s a whole world of light and love and purpose above the surface. Jesus was calling them and maybe he is calling us to care. To help pull them out of the murky darkness and into a life of light and purpose… Was he imaging Jonah coming out to fulfill his purpose? I can’t say but I think a connection is there for us to see.

But first of all we have to care. We have to see beyond our own comfort and convenience. We have to find ways to reach into people’s lives. More importantly we CAN do it. Because Jesus has invited us to do it.

Now Jesus was asking too much. Surely these guys said, uh, sure Jesus sounds interesting, we’ll get back to you after the busy season is over…Nope.

Mark 1:18 NRSV

18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.

That was Simon and Andrew. He went a little farther down where James and John, the Zebedee boys.

Mark 1:20 NRSV

20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Now that’s awesome. I’m sure it stung a little for old Zebedee but I’m hoping his heart was full that day. As he saw his sons following Jesus with their whole lives.

So don’t be Jonah. Or do be Jonah, because he at least got the job done. Many lives were saved and a whole city was changed. But it has to happen in each generation.

Jesus knew that people are often more ready than we realize. It’s so much better to invite them to the party than to assume they won’t be interested.

We were meant to thrive. Thriving begins with settling the spiritual questions of life. Jesus is at the center of all of that awesome. If we’ve been living another story; a lesser story then we need to repent and believe the good news. Jesus is here. The kingdom of God is at hand. You don’t have to have it all figured out. I sure don’t. You just have to have an open heart and be willing to surrender to the truth.

Do you have peace with God? Is Jesus guiding your life? Settle things today before it’s too late. The Ninevites were just 40 days away from destruction when they repented. Just in time.

And for some of us who know the truth and are on the journey with Jesus and sharing life with God’s people, there is something more here. Not just keeping our little flock happy.

But opening ourselves to the deep heart of a God who loves everyone! A God who wants to bless even animals according to the last line of Jonah. Will we share this incredible pulsing neverending heart of love with our world? With people different than us?

Are we willing to make the priority of our lives fishing for people who long to be free? Jesus is here. Come, follow me, I’ll make you what you can’t be on your own. I’ll give you the words. Will you tell them?

He’s Calling…will you answer?

Let’s pray...